Biden talks joint investments with Israel, India and the United Arab Emirates

US President Joe Biden held joint investment talks with Israel, India and the United Arab Emirates on Thursday as Washington seeks to counter China’s global reach.

The multilateral summit was convened in Jerusalem, where Biden is on his first Middle East tour as president, with leaders from India and the United Arab Emirates joining from afar.

During the summit, the UAE announced it would invest 2 million euros (dollars) in agricultural projects in India that will supply the country.

Private companies from Israel and the US are invited to fund the program as well.

An Indian solar and wind energy project was also discussed in Jerusalem.

Biden attended the summit before speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, at which the president said he wanted to secure US interests in the Middle East.

“I want to make it clear that we can continue to be leaders in the region and not create a vacuum, a vacuum filled by China and/or Russia against the interests of Israel and the United States and many other countries,” he said. said Biden.

The president is leaving for Saudi Arabia on Friday after talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the occupied West Bank.