UAE's Crown Prince meets Putin at BRICS summit as bloc navigates Iran-UAE divide
The meeting comes as Iran and the UAE separately signed onto a joint BRICS declaration urging restraint in the Middle East war
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi to discuss strategic relations between the UAE and Russia. The crown prince began the meeting by conveying greetings from UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and extending best wishes for Putin's health and Russia's continued progress and prosperity.
Putin offered his best wishes for the country's enduring success. The two sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties in support of shared interests, and exchanged views on regional and international issues, underscoring the importance of coordinating on the BRICS summit's outcomes to translate its recommendations into practical initiatives.
The meeting came as Iran and the UAE signed onto a joint BRICS declaration Saturday calling for restraint in the Middle East war, seen as a sign of diplomatic progress between the two countries. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also met separately with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi on the sidelines of the summit's first day, marking the countries' highest-level meeting since the conflict began.
The Abu Dhabi media office said the two leaders discussed regional and international issues, de-escalation, stability, and efforts to advance regional peace, but did not indicate they reached any resolution. The joint BRICS declaration expressed "deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions in Middle East/West Asia," calling for "maximum restraint" and the protection of civilians, state sovereignty, global trade, and maritime security.
Iran has repeatedly struck the UAE during the war, most recently in late August when it targeted the Al Minhad Air Base, which houses US forces.
At the BRICS conference, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the BRICS bloc had "come of age" and should translate its unity into concrete results, while Chinese President Xi Jinping said Beijing was ready to play its "due role" in Middle East peace and called for "a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire." Leaders including Putin, Xi, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa attended the summit, which also included Brazil, India, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia.