Strait of Hormuz can't be used as tool for extortion, reiterates UAE's Lana Nusseibeh

UAE Minister of State, Lana Nusseibeh, has reiterated that targeting commercial vessels or using the Strait of Hormuz as a tool for extortion is unacceptable.

Speaking at the EU – GCC High Level Forum in Brussels, she added that it not only presents a regional challenge but also directly impacts global economic and security interests."

"We are in complete agreement with our European partners on the importance of consolidating peace and security in the Arabian Gulf and ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz," Nusseibeh asserted.

She also participated in the meeting of the donor group for Palestine in Brussels, where participants reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing peace efforts and responding to the urgent humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip.

Discussions emphasized the importance of supporting the Peace Council and its plan for recovery and governance in the Gaza Strip, as well as the necessity of continued international cooperation to create the conditions for a lasting peace between Palestinians and Israelis.

The minister also addressed progress in negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the UAE and the European Union during a meeting with Commissioner Šefčovič.

The agreement aims to reduce a wide range of existing trade barriers. The UAE is the EU's largest export market and its largest investment partner in the Middle East and North Africa region, with trade exceeding €94 billion annually.

"The agreement we are seeking to conclude with the EU goes far beyond tariffs. The UAE and the EU are not merely trading partners, but strategic partners with complementary advantages. Europe leads in technology, institutional efficiency, and market size, while the UAE provides capital, global connectivity, flexible energy supplies, and access to the rapidly growing markets of the Middle East, Africa, and Asia."

She added, "Since launching the Comprehensive Economic Partnership (CEPP) programme in 2021, the UAE has concluded more than 37 agreements with strategic partners worldwide, reflecting its firm commitment to rules-based free trade and mutually beneficial economic cooperation.

"The UAE believes that the future CEPP agreement with the European Union will be among the most important of these agreements, not only as a trade agreement but also as the foundation for a broader strategic partnership built on trust, flexibility, openness, and shared ambition. If concluded, it will contribute to expanding trade, creating new investment opportunities, strengthening supply chains, and broadening cooperation between the business sectors of both sides."