Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
The United States and the United Arab Emirates have held high-level discussions on the continuing crisis in Sudan, as well as on broader strategic ties between Washington and Abu Dhabi, both sides confirmed on Friday.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by phone with UAE Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to review joint diplomatic efforts aimed at halting the devastating conflict in Sudan.
According to the State Department, the two ministers continued their consultations on securing a humanitarian ceasefire in Sudan, where more than two years of civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has produced one of the world’s fast-growing humanitarian disasters. Millions have been displaced, and international agencies warn that parts of the country are on the brink of famine.
Pigott added that both officials reaffirmed the strategic partnership linking the U.S. and the UAE, describing their cooperation as essential to broader regional stability.
Emirati Support for Trump’s Call to Halt Atrocities in Sudan
The UAE foreign minister also welcomed recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump urging an end to the “horrific atrocities” committed against civilians in Sudan’s war. Trump has signaled a renewed American push to stabilize the country, which has splintered into multiple conflict zones amid the collapse of state institutions.
The UAE has played an increasingly prominent role in diplomatic initiatives around Sudan, though it has also faced scrutiny over alleged links to armed actors in the conflict, accusations Abu Dhabi has repeatedly rejected. Friday’s statement emphasized the UAE’s intention to support U.S.-led efforts to halt the violence.
Discussions Extend to Gaza and the New ‘Peace Council’
The talks between Rubio and Sheikh Abdullah also covered developments in the Gaza Strip, particularly in light of the recent adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2803, drafted by the United States.
According to the Emirati Foreign Ministry, both sides discussed ongoing plans related to the creation of a proposed “Peace Council” for Gaza, a new diplomatic mechanism referenced in the resolution as part of an evolving post-war stabilization framework.
Sheikh Abdullah stressed the importance of supporting President Trump’s broader regional initiative to end the conflict in Gaza. He said the comprehensive plan, details of which Washington is gradually unveiling aims to deliver long-term security, stability, and economic prosperity for the region as a whole.
Broader Regional Stakes
The intensified dialogue between Washington and Abu Dhabi comes at a moment of deepening geopolitical realignment in the Middle East, with multiple conflicts, including in Gaza, Lebanon, and Sudan, placing strain on regional institutions.
Analysts note that a coordinated U.S.-UAE strategy could play a decisive role in attempts to broker ceasefires, reopen humanitarian corridors, and shape post-conflict governance arrangements.
But with violence in Sudan escalating and political divisions in Gaza widening, diplomats caution that translating high-level commitments into sustainable solutions remains a formidable challenge.
