The visit was kept under wraps until Bennett landed in the UAE capital.
The prime minister was met at the airport by UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed along with an honor guard. He was slated to then meet with MBZ in his palace for a private talk, followed by a larger working meeting.
According to a statement put out by Bennett’s office, the two leaders were set to speak about “regional issues,” in all likelihood referring to the stalled Iran nuclear talks in Vienna, Iran’s proxy forces, the Abraham Accords, and fallout from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In a statement before boarding the plane, Bennett said he would bring a message of consolation on the death of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed in May at the age of 73. MBZ, Khalifa bin Zayed’s half-brother, has been the UAE’s effective ruler since the latter’s stroke in 2014. READ MORE
