The American president on Saturday congratulated his “
longtime friend
” Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed (MBZ), elected president of the United Arab Emirates, of which he was already the de facto ruler.
Read alsoMohammed bin Zayed elected president of the Emirates by a Supreme Council
“
The Emirates are an essential partner of the United States
” assured the American president in a press release stressing that he was eager to “
strengthen the ties
” between the two countries, and saluting the memory of Khalifa ben Zayed al-Nahyan, the half -brother of Mohammed ben Zayed, who died the day before.
Read alsoPresident of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Khalifa is dead