India-UAE ties deepen across defence, trade and technology: Report

NEW DELHI: India-UAE ties are deepening across defence, trade, investment and emerging technologies, which reflects a broad-based strategic partnership that continues to expand beyond traditional areas of cooperation, a report has said.

The report by The Secretariat noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed stopover in the United Arab Emirates en route to Europe in May underscores the growing importance of the bilateral relationship, particularly at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions in West Asia.

"During the visit of UAE President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in January, India and the UAE signed a Letter of Intent for finalising a Strategic Defence Partnership (SDP) framework to strengthen the defence partnership," the report said.

It further stated that the visit is not only a reflection of India’s engagement with the Gulf leadership amid ongoing regional instability, but also highlights the strategic convergence between the two countries in sectors ranging from energy security to investments and diaspora linkages.

According to the report, India and the UAE are now increasingly aligned as strategic partners, with cooperation extending to defence manufacturing, maritime security and counter-terror coordination.