External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Friday co-chaired the 15th India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) in New Delhi, where they held extensive discussions on enhancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations.
The talks covered a broad range of topics, including economic and commercial relations, defence cooperation, energy security, people-to-people ties, and cultural and heritage linkages. The two leaders also witnessed the exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Polar Research Collaboration, underscoring the growing collaboration between the two countries in various sectors.
In a post on X, Jaishankar expressed his satisfaction with the productive discussions, stating that the meeting addressed critical aspects of the partnership, including regional stability, security, and prosperity. He added, “The discussions covered various facets of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership including economic & commercial relations, energy security, defence cooperation, people-to-people ties, cultural & heritage linkages and promoting the stability, security & prosperity of both our regions.”
Jaishankar emphasized that the two nations share a common interest in maintaining regional stability, with a particular focus on expanding defence and security cooperation. He called the JCM an essential mechanism to facilitate discussions on the growing bilateral ties, noting that the relationship between India and the UAE, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is a model for strategic cooperation.
Highlighting the growing economic ties, Jaishankar pointed out that the UAE is among the top sources of investment for India, and India has been increasing its investments in the UAE as well, leveraging its strategic location as a trade hub for the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. “Our energy cooperation has been further consolidated with long-term oil and gas contracts. We are also exploring cooperation in renewables and nuclear energy,” Jaishankar said.
The Minister also referred to the close military cooperation between the two nations, with bilateral military exercises enhancing camaraderie and synergy between their armed forces. He reiterated India’s commitment to scaling up military engagements for mutual benefit.
Regarding trade, Jaishankar noted the steady growth in bilateral trade, particularly following the implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in May 2022. “Since the entry into force of CEPA, our trade has steadily grown and reached USD 85 billion,” he said. He expressed confidence that the trade target of USD 100 billion in non-oil trade would be achieved in the coming years, with new initiatives like the Bharat Maat and the virtual trade corridor providing a further boost.
Jaishankar also mentioned the increasing presence of Indian educational institutions in the UAE, including IIT Delhi and IIM Ahmedabad, as well as the inauguration of Symbiosis University’s first international campus in Dubai, reflecting the deepening educational ties between the two countries.
UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan expressed his appreciation for the enduring relationship between the two nations, which continues to thrive under the leadership of UAE’s President and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He referred to the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) as a landmark achievement that has energized bilateral trade to record-breaking levels.
“We remain confident that this agreement, alongside our growing portfolio of the Joint Investment Economic Initiative, will propel our partnership to even more dynamic horizons,” he said. He also emphasized the focus on cultural and technological cooperation, particularly in the fields of nuclear energy and space.
Al Nahyan also highlighted the expanding global cooperation between India and the UAE, mentioning their joint efforts at multilateral platforms such as BRICS and G20. He further underscored the importance of initiatives like I2U2, which exemplify the countries’ commitment to regional and global progress.
(With ANI inputs)