By Humeyra Pamuk

ABU DHABI (Reuters – President Joe Biden will send a top-notch delegation of Americans to the United Arab Emirates Monday to condole with the country’s ruler following his death. It is apparently part of an effort to improve relations between America and the Gulf Arab Allies.

Washington’s determination to strengthen ties with the Gulf monarchies gained new urgency after Russia invaded Ukraine. This highlighted the importance of Gulf oil producers for Europe as it seeks to reduce its dependence on Russia.

Over the weekend world leaders visited the UAE to meet Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the new leader of the UAE and offer their condolences for President Khalifa Bin Zayed’s passing.

Nearly all of Biden’s highest national security officials, including the Secretaries of State and Defense and Head of the Central Intelligence Agency, are represented by the U.S. Delegation, which is headed by Kamala Harris.

Omer Taspinar of Brookings Institution, who is a policy specialist on foreign affairs, said “This is a major charm offensive from the Biden administration in order to repair relations.”

So far, the Gulf states are refusing to side with Ukraine in the Ukraine crisis. Saudi Arabia, OPEC’s heavyweights and UAE, have resisted any calls for an increase in production to curb the rise of crude oil prices which has exacerbated global inflation.

According to senior U.S. officials, the delegation’s composition reflects Washington’s determination to demonstrate its support for the region.

Harris will stress the desire to increase ties across all areas, including security and climate as well as space, energy, commerce and trade, they said.

Biden’s administration had made the Middle East a secondary concern. It had focused on China and the Ukraine crisis.

Taspinar stated that “there is an attempt at putting things back on track after UAE frustrations with America by the inability to high-level visitors following the Houthi attacks”.

The Emiratis felt particularly disappointed by the lack of U.S. support following missile strikes in Abu Dhabi by Yemen’s Iran aligned Houthis in January.

In March, the UAE’s envoy to Washington admitted that relations were in stress.

Reuters reports that Biden caused Sheikh Mohammed to be upset, not calling quickly following the attacks or responding with more forceful response.

A source who is familiar with Emirati thinking said that the seniority and large size of the U.S. delegation was a telling sign and would be significant to Sheikh Mohammed, the UAE leadership.

At a meeting with Sheikh Mohammed in Morocco in March, Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured the Emirati leader of Washington’s commitment to the region.

The perceived decline in U.S. security commitments to the Gulf States has caused a resentful reaction from these states, particularly given Iran’s nuclear program and its network of regional proxy countries.

In order to manage tension, the UAE engages with Tehran. On Monday, Iran’s foreign secretary was scheduled to arrive in Abu Dhabi.

Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh were also frustrated by U.S. arms sales conditions. The UAE announced in December that it will suspend negotiations on the purchase of F-35 fighter-jets made by the U.S. because of the conditions.

    The UAE says the United States remains a strategic partner even as it deepens ties with China and Russia.

“There has been some progress but still more work to be done. A source from the UAE stated that the UAE wanted a more defined and closer relationship with America.