In a brief but unexpected visit, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on October 25, engaging in a whirlwind one-day stopover that wasn't initially
on his official agenda. During his visit, he held customary meetings with French expatriates and discussions with French companies specializing in new technologies. Additionally, he tweeted about "significant discussions on security, judicial cooperation, and the battle against drug trafficking."
This visit, which had to be rescheduled twice due to domestic protests related to France's contentious pension reform and ensuing riots, primarily aimed at his participation in the annual gathering of the International Security Alliance (ISA). The ISA is an international security cooperation consortium consisting of 11 nations. During his time in the UAE, Darmanin also observed demonstrations of drone interventions, particularly in response to serious road accidents.
The primary objective of Darmanin's discussions with Emirati authorities was to reinforce the bonds between Paris and the UAE concerning international judicial cooperation. Photo by Pierrot75005, Wikimedia commons.