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The #UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Anwar Gargash, (left) has left his position. He has been in position since 2008 and a pivotal figure internationally. He will be replaced by Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan al-Nahyan (right). Many reasons, mostly internal. Thoughts 1/
First, this is a generational shift. Shakhbout bin Nahyan is third generation. The #UAE leadership is very sensitive to this. He is a royal, nephew of #MbZ, close to his powerful son, Khalid bin Zayed. He doesn’t have much experience, but was #UAE Ambassador to #SaudiArabia. 2/
Given his youth & relative inexperience it is fair to say that in the short term the dynamics of decision-making in regional/international policy will remain as they were. But the shifts in the long term consolidate the al-Nahyan grip on the #UAE also vs other power centers 3/
Anwar Gargash will move to the #UAE Presidential Office. This is not a demotion, as sometimes is the case in the #Gulf. It should rather be seen in a long-term timeframe. #MbZ playing the long game. 4/4
