Modi, UAE President Discuss West Asia Peace and Deeper Strategic Ties in Phone Call
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a telephone call from Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, on Friday, during which the two leaders exchanged views on developments in West Asia and on ways to further deepen the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the two leaders "reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation and coordination in efforts to promote regional peace, security and stability."
The PMO said the conversation covered new measures to deepen the strategic partnership, including in the areas of energy, defence, technology, investment and health.
The UAE President conveyed warm greetings on the Prime Minister's birthday. Mr. Modi turned 76 on Thursday.
In a post on X, Mr. Modi said: "Grateful to my brother, the President of UAE, HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for his call and birthday wishes. We discussed measures to further deepen our bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and exchanged views on efforts to promote regional peace, security and stability."
The statement said the UAE President also congratulated the Prime Minister on India's BRICS Presidency. Mr. Modi appreciated the participation of UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled in the BRICS Summit and the UAE's cooperation and partnership in achieving substantive outcomes under India's presidency.
The PMO statement referred to "developments in West Asia" without specifying which issues were discussed. The two sides did not issue any further details about the conversation or announce agreements arising from it.
Context to the ties
India and the UAE have steadily expanded their relationship over the past decade. The two countries elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in January 2017, during Mr. Modi's visit to Abu Dhabi. In February 2022, they signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which came into force in May that year and has since shaped trade and investment flows between them.
The UAE is among India's largest trading partners and a significant source of crude oil and petroleum products. It is also home to an Indian community of roughly 3.5 million people, one of the largest Indian diaspora groups anywhere in the world. Defence and security cooperation between the two countries has grown through joint exercises and exchanges, while cooperation in renewable energy, including solar and green hydrogen, has emerged as a newer area of focus.
India's engagements with Gulf states form part of a broader approach that combines energy security, trade, investment and the welfare of Indian workers abroad. New Delhi has consistently said it favours dialogue and diplomacy in addressing tensions in West Asia, a position reflected in the language of Friday's statement on regional peace, security and stability.
The Prime Minister's Office said the call took place at the initiative of the UAE President. Such leader-level exchanges between India and the UAE have been frequent in recent years, and both governments have described them as part of regular consultations on bilateral and regional matters.
