US defense secretary arrives in UAE in his first trip to the Middle East
U.S defense secretary,Jim Mattis, arrived in the United Arab Emirates, one of the most important countries to support legitimacy in Yemen, on Saturday on his debut trip to the region as Pentagon chief , according to AFP
Mattis, a retired Marine general who is reviewing U.S. war plans against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, is a familiar figure to Gulf Arab rulers
Jim Mattis was expected to meet Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahayan and U.S. embassy representatives. U.S. officials have not disclosed details about his agenda
A former leader of Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in the region, Mattis said in his Senate confirmation hearings that Iran was "the biggest destabilising force in the Middle East and its policies are contrary to our interests
In late January, Trump and the UAE Crown Prince spoke by telephone and Trump pledged to enhance an additional cooperation to counter terrorism