The US secretary of defence, Chuck Hagel, arrived in Saudi Arabia yesterday on a five-nation tour devoted largely to discussions about the civil war in Syria and a US$10 billion (Dh36.7bn) arms deal to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Israel.
Mr Hagel flew into Riyadh from Amman, where he held brief meetings with Jordan's army chief, Gen Masbal Al Zaben. Earlier in the day, he held talks with the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in Jerusalem.
The new secretary's travels come at a time when regional tensions are running high over the crisis in Syria and Iran's nuclear programme.
"This is a difficult and dangerous time," Mr Hagel said in a joint news conference with Mr Netanyahu.
Discussions in Jordan focused on the war in Syria, which has sent more than 500,000 Syrians streaming into Jordan. Mr Hagel revealed last week that 150 US military specialists had been deployed to Jordan since last year and announced that Washington planned to increase that number to 200.
An unnamed senior US defence official said one aim of the stop in Jordan was for Mr Hagel to "hear directly from the Jordanian military officials about their needs" and discuss what the US "may be able to do to help them more".
In Riyadh, talks are expected to focus on the details of the $10bn weapons deal, which is intended to bolster the military capabilities of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Israel against Iran.
The deal, announced last week, would pave the way for Riyadh and Abu Dhabi to acquire missiles that can be fired with greater precision from a greater distance than their current systems allow. The UAE is also expected to purchase 25 F-16 Desert Falcon fighter jets at a cost of just under $5bn.
In 2011, Saudi Arabia ordered 84 F-15SA fighter jets at an estimated cost of $29.4bn. US defence officials announced last week that the first shipment of aircraft had come off the assembly line and were undergoing flight tests in the US.
Mr Hagel's visit to Riyadh was also expected to touch on the crisis in Syria, where the US has pushed for broader coordination between the countries supporting opponents of Bashar Al Assad.
Last weekend John Kerry, the US secretary of state, promised to double non-lethal aid to the opposition Syrian National Council, after telling the US Senate on April 18 that he hoped to get Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE and Turkey on the "same page" regarding a policy on Syria's post-Assad future.
From Riyadh, Mr Hagel travels to Cairo next before concluding his trip in Abu Dhabi.
edickinson@thenational.ae
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Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
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Five hymns the crowds can join in
Papal Mass will begin at 10.30am at the Zayed Sports City Stadium on Tuesday
Some 17 hymns will be sung by a 120-strong UAE choir
Five hymns will be rehearsed with crowds on Tuesday morning before the Pope arrives at stadium
‘Christ be our Light’ as the entrance song
‘All that I am’ for the offertory or during the symbolic offering of gifts at the altar
‘Make me a Channel of your Peace’ and ‘Soul of my Saviour’ for the communion
‘Tell out my Soul’ as the final hymn after the blessings from the Pope
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In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
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Schedule:
Pakistan v Sri Lanka:
28 Sep-2 Oct, 1st Test, Abu Dhabi
6-10 Oct, 2nd Test (day-night), Dubai
13 Oct, 1st ODI, Dubai
16 Oct, 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi
18 Oct, 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi
20 Oct, 4th ODI, Sharjah
23 Oct, 5th ODI, Sharjah
26 Oct, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
27 Oct, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
29 Oct, 3rd T20I, Lahore
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Director: Deon Taylor
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Michael Ealy, Meagan Good
One star
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Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
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PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)
West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)
Sunday
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)
MATCH INFO
Europa League final
Marseille 0
Atletico Madrid 3
Greizmann (21', 49'), Gabi (89')
The biog
Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus
Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India
Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes
Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island
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Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5