Gen. Joseph Votel meets crown prince, discusses military ties,-UAE media reports
WEB DESK /ABUDHABI
The top U.S. general in the Middle East on Monday met Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, state media reported.
Gen. Joseph Votel, head of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees U.S. troops in the region, discussed bilateral ties and cooperation in the military and defense sectors, news agency WAM said.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and General Votel explored ways of further solidifying friendly bilateral ties and reviewed prospects of coordination and cooperation in defence and military fields. Sheikh Mohammed and the top US commander also discussed an array of issues of mutual interest.
Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi, Minister of State for Defence Affairs; Lieutenant General, Isa Saif bin Ablan Al Mazrouei, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces; and Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to the US, attended the meeting.
Roughly 5,000 U.S. soldiers are stationed at the UAE’s Al Dhafra Airbase, while the country also hosts U.S. troops in the Jebel Ali port which, is used by the U.S. Marines.