Australia and UAE to Explore Deeper Defense Ties

Australia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will explore closer defense ties after a meeting on Sunday between a senior Australian government minister and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan.

News ID: 72471

Date: 20 February 2017 - 11:27

According to MANA, Australia's Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne and Sheikh Mohammed, who is also Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, met on the sidelines of the biennial International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi.

The two agreed to consider a 10-year defense plan that could include more than 1 billion Australian dollars ($767 million) in sales to the UAE, Pyne told Reuters.

Sales could include everything from ammunition to large data-x-items such as high-speed support vessels.

"We have very significant capabilities, particularly around coastal protection and surveillance, which I think we should be sharing with our Middle Eastern partners."Pyne,senior Australian government minister told.