Name: United Arab Emirates hosts Frances Macron for security talks
Uploaded: 2025-12-21T16:09:32.195Z
Duration: 1 min 43 s
Description: French President Emmanuel Macron is spending two days in the United Arab Emirates to celebrate the Christmas holiday with nearly 900 French troops stationed at three bases near Abu Dhabi, highlighting France’s military presence in a region facing multiple overlapping crises.

French President Emmanuel Macron is spending two days in the United Arab Emirates to celebrate the Christmas holiday with nearly 900 French troops stationed at three bases near Abu Dhabi, highlighting France’s military presence in a region facing multiple overlapping crises.

Abu Dhabi

French President Emmanuel Macron visited the United Arab Emirates for a series of security-focused discussions with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan. The talks centered on regional issues, including the conflict in Gaza and the UAE's involvement in areas such as Yemen and Sudan.

During his visit, Macron met with approximately 900 French military personnel deployed in the UAE, attended a Christmas dinner with the troops, and observed a military demonstration. French forces in the UAE are involved in operations supporting the international coalition against the Islamic State and in protecting maritime traffic in the region.

United Arab Emirates hosts France's Macron for security talks

Visiting French forces deployed abroad is a Christmas tradition. This year, the destination for the French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday and Monday is the United Arab Emirates. The UAE is a strategic partner in several areas, including defence. It's been the largest buyer of French weaponry over the last decade. Macron's visit will include a meeting with the UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan. He will discuss mainly about two things. Middle East, of course, because with the war in Gaza, Saudi Arabia is concerned by that, but the Emirates too. Then you've got other places where you've got the Emirates involved, in the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb, with Yemen, and also in Sudan, where the Emirates are involved. Around 900 French military personnel are deployed in the UAE, spread across a naval base, an air base and an Emirati camp. Macron will attend a Christmas dinner for them, and he will see a military demonstration in a desert area on Monday morning, as part of the visit. The 5th Cuirassier Regiment, as part of French forces in the United Arab Emirates, is able to take part in protecting French interests. This was demonstrated a few years ago in 2021, when the regiment was deployed to Afghanistan to protect French nationals who needed to be evacuated. French soldiers in the UAE are involved in Operation Chamo, as part of the international coalition against the Islamic State, focused on Iraq, and in efforts to protect maritime traffic against attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen. For more UN videos visit www.un.org

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