Canada, UAE sign defense cooperation deal

OTTAWA, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Canada and United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a defense cooperation arrangement here Monday, according to Canadian National Defence Ministry.

The Canada-UAE Defense Cooperation Arrangement was signed by Canadian Defense Minister Harjit S. Sajjan and Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi, UAE Minister of State for Defense Affairs.

The arrangement, which represents the renewal and strengthening of Canada and the UAE's bilateral defense relationship, is expected to advance shared interests, including increased personnel training opportunities, defense engagement, and the promotion of regional stability.

Both Canada and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) share a mutual commitment to regional security, including countering terrorism and violent extremism in the Middle East.

Canada and the UAE have an established history of military cooperation and have served together in joint operations. This includes serving in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, formed under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1386 of 20 December 2001 to maintain security in and around Kabul, and more recently as part of the Global Coalition against Daesh in Iraq and Syria. Enditem