Russia and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to bolster their cooperation on security and defense, the aluminum and oil markets, and the economy. The countries also agreed to "coordinate efforts to convert the Middle East into a zone free of weapons of mass destruction."

On June 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Moscow with Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi — who is also deputy supreme commander of the United Arab Emirates armed forces — and signed a strategic partnership declaration.

A pivotal point in the declaration is the countries’ goal of strengthening cooperation in security and defense by re-energizing consultations between their respective government agencies. The UAE and Russia have also called for an international counterterrorism coalition that would operate on the basis of “respect for the sovereignty of states” that had directly suffered from terrorist attacks. The parties also agreed to develop political contacts on key bilateral, regional and international matters.

Russia observes the increasing role for the UAE in the region and the Emirates’ goal to become a serious regional power with its own political interests, agents of influence and military presence from Libya to Eritrea and from Somalia to Syrian Kurdistan. Therefore, it’s important for Abu Dhabi and a more pro-active Moscow to coordinate their positions on key issues and find points of convergence on respective foreign policy priorities. The range is rather broad but at this point focuses on efforts to settle сonflicts in Syria, Yemen and Libya.