US Commerce Secretary in Gulf Ahead of Obama Visit

In remarks to business leaders and officials at a luncheon in Abu Dhabi, Pritzker said the U.S. is committed to the Gulf's security and stability, and is working with allies like the UAE through the sales of billions of dollars' worth of defense equipment and fighter jets.

"That commitment will not change even as the United States becomes more energy independent. In fact, America has a growing interest in making sure that oil markets throughout the world remain stable and well-supplied," she said.

As a result of new exploration technologies, the U.S. will become the world's largest oil producer by around 2020, temporarily overtaking Saudi Arabia, which relies heavily on oil exports to support its economy.

The U.S. is also eying the spending power of its oil-rich Gulf Arab allies and wants them to boost investments in America as part of the Obama Administration's "Open for Business Agenda."

In 2006, UAE-backed port operator DP World abandoned plans to operate in the U.S. after several American lawmakers expressed concerns about Mideast ownership and port security.

Pritzker told the AP perceptions in the U.S. have changed since then.

"We value these relationships and we value not just our long-standing security relationships, but we also value our economic relationship and that's one of the reasons that I'm here," she said.


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