Soft power at the core of UAE foreign policy | Anthony Harris

Soft power at the core of UAE foreign policy | Anthony Harris

There was predictably a lot of attention given to the UAE’s climate ambitions ahead of the Emirates assuming the presidency of COP28, when the formal conference begins in November.

Not all of the coverage was constructive. But what has particularly struck me about the UAE’s COP presidency is how it has enabled the Emirates to develop a crucial aspect of foreign policy, its soft power.

As climate issues have risen up the agenda of global foreign policy priorities, hosting COP will enable the UAE to engage with other countries and strengthen its foreign ties in new ways.