United States: Mr. Salem Al Zaabi, Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, has urged the international community to tackle the underlying causes of intolerance and extremism by countering disinformation on the internet and social media. Mr. Al Zaabi led the UAE’s delegation during the biennial United Nations Counter-Terrorism Week, which took place from the 19th to the 23rd of June 2023.
Accompanied by Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Cyber Security Council, Mr. Al Zaabi delivered the UAE’s statement during the general debate on the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Throughout CT Week, the delegation, along with Ambassador Ms. Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, the UAE’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, engaged with other UN Member States and international partners on crucial counter-terrorism matters.
One of the key discussions hosted by the UAE focused on the acquisition, weaponization, and deployment of Autonomous and Remotely Operated Systems (AROS) by terrorist groups. This event also marked the launch of a UAE-sponsored report from the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism and Conflict Armament Research. Mr. Al Zaabi emphasized that the report aims to raise awareness about the dangers associated with the proliferation of AROS and their potential misuse by terrorists. It also enhances the preparedness of Member States in preventing and countering threats posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
“Terrorism is a complex, multi-faceted, and global phenomenon that transcends borders, cultures, and religions, and effectively preventing and countering it requires a multilateral and multi-pronged approach. We urgently need to address intolerance and extremism more effectively before these behaviours escalate to acts of terrorism and armed conflict. Prevention strategies must be recalibrated to reflect this pressing reality,” Ms. Al Zaabi stated.
Ambassador Ms. Nusseibeh, in her role as Chair of the UN Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee, co-chaired a discussion titled “Global Threat Landscape: Assessment of Current and Emerging Trends” with the Permanent Mission of Albania to the UN. In her capacity as Chair, she held meetings with the delegations of Iraq and the Russian Federation. Additionally, the UAE delegation met with the delegations of India and the United States.
The UAE and India convened a discussion on multilateral responses to combat the misuse of digital tools by terrorists. Dr. Al Kuwaiti highlighted the UAE’s efforts in strengthening information security, including the “Cyber Pulse” program, which raises awareness about cyber threats and enhances digital security measures. The UAE remains committed to actively addressing the global challenges of terrorism and extremism while promoting international cooperation and information sharing.