The United States and the United Arab Emirates have signed a new defense cooperation agreement, the Pentagon said, Reuters reported May 16. The new agreement establishes "the magnitude and conditions" of the U.S. military presence within the United Arab Emirates and allows the U.S. military to better respond to a host of possible scenarios around the United Arab Emirates, a Pentagon official said. The United Arab Emirates is part of a Saudi-led counterterrorism alliance and has played a significant role in Yemen's ongoing civil war . News of the new agreement comes a day after U.S. President Donald Trump met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Emirati armed forces Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan at the White House.