Indian External Affairs Minister Meets UAE Minister in Delhi to Strengthen Strategic Partnership

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al Hashimy in New Delhi on Thursday to discuss further strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. The ministers also exchanged perspectives on regional and global situations during their meeting.

This high-level engagement followed a meeting between Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra and Minister Al Hashimy earlier in the day, where they reviewed the entire gamut of multi-faceted bilateral relations between India and the UAE. Kwatra and Al Hashimy discussed ways to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations.

Why this matters: The meetings come as India and the UAE have seen a significant improvement in their relationship over the past decade, with the UAE signing a free trade agreement with India and bilateral trade reaching around $80 billion. The two countries have also collaborated on major initiatives like the construction of the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi.

India and the UAE established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2017, which has served as the framework for deepening cooperation across various sectors, including trade, investment, energy, defense, and people-to-people ties. The UAE is currently India's third-largest trading partner and second-largest export destination, with bilateral trade valued at $72.9 billion in 2021-22.

The iconic BAPS Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi, the first Hindu temple in the UAE, was inaugurated in 2022 in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE officials. The temple serves as evidence of the growing cultural and people-to-people ties between the two countries.

The meetings between Minister Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Kwatra, and Minister Al Hashimy underscore the importance both India and the UAE attach to their strategic partnership. The discussions focused on identifying avenues to further strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest and addressing regional and global challenges. As India and the UAE continue to deepen their engagement, their partnership is poised to play an increasingly important role in shaping the economic and geopolitical landscape of the region.

Key Takeaways

• EAM Jaishankar, UAE Minister Al Hashimy discuss strengthening strategic partnership
• India, UAE review bilateral relations, explore ways to deepen Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
• India-UAE trade reached $80 billion, with UAE as India's 3rd largest trading partner
• India, UAE collaborate on major initiatives like construction of first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi
• Meetings underscore importance of India-UAE strategic partnership in shaping regional landscape