VP attends Arab Strategy Forum session on state

Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, today attended "The State of the World Politics 2017," a main session held as part of the annual Arab Strategy Forum to explore the political landscape and future of the world next year.

The session featured Leon Panetta, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, and former US Secretary of Defence, and David Cameron, former British Prime Minister.

Cameron spoke about the importance of having wise leadership with a vision for the future to pre-empt future crises.

He also lauded the UAE for being a model for tolerance, moderation and inter-cultural co-existence.

Speaking on the future of relations with the European Union, EU, after Britain’s exit from the bloc, Cameron noted that the country would co-operate with the EU in all areas and explained that Britain never wanted to join the European political union, one of the main reasons why it decided to withdraw from the EU.

The former British Prime Minister also stressed it was important to address three questions: Will we move to counter extremists in our world? Will Europe manage to address domestic tensions? At what pace is the integration of refugees into European societies taking place? Panetta agreed and stressed that wise leadership is indispensable anywhere in the world to counter future challenges.

Speaking on the developments in this region, he further stressed the importance of reaching an international agreement about countering terrorism, promoting trade, supporting growth and saving lives as soon as possible.

What is happening in Syria, Iraq and Yemen provides a hotbed for terrorism, the former CIA chief said.

Others who attended the session included H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE’s Minister of Finance; Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and key figures from the UAE, Arab countries and beyond.