The BRICS TimesThe foreign ministers co-chaired the 16th India-UAE Joint Commission meeting and the fifth bilateral Strategic Dialogue in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
Boosting the Strategic Partnership
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met his counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed. They agreed on new initiatives for deeper cooperation across key sectors. This meeting took place in Abu Dhabi on Monday. The UAE foreign minister also co-chaired the 16th Joint Commission meeting. They also led the fifth bilateral Strategic Dialogue. Both ministers reviewed the strong bilateral ties. They covered trade, investment, energy, and connectivity. Defence, security, technology, health, and education were also discussed.
Charting the Course for Future Collaboration
Jaishankar and Sheikh Abdullah voiced satisfaction with their partnership’s depth. The External Affairs Ministry stated they “agreed on new initiatives and an action-oriented agenda for the coming year to further deepen cooperation across priority sectors.” They also discussed regional and global events, including the West Asia situation. Both parties “reaffirmed the shared interest in protecting and promoting regional peace, stability and prosperity,” the ministry noted. To achieve this, both agreed to improve coordination and cooperation. They restated their dedication to the IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor). They also committed to supporting the Global South.
Key Support and High-Level Meetings
Sheikh Abdullah confirmed the UAE’s support for India’s AI Impact Summit in February. He also backed India’s leadership of the BRICS group in 2026. Jaishankar also engaged with other senior UAE officials. He met Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister. He also met the National Security Adviser, Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Furthermore, he met Khaldoon Mubarak, CEO of Mubadala. Mubadala is the state-owned sovereign wealth fund.
Reaffirming Vision and Next Steps
These high-level talks confirmed a shared vision between the nations. The ministry said this vision includes deepening strategic trust. It also involves expanding economic collaboration. Exploring new areas for bilateral and trilateral cooperation is key. Jaishankar also attended the Sir Bani Yas Forum from December 13-14. He exchanged views with global leaders on geopolitical and security issues. Following the UAE visit, Jaishankar will travel to Israel. He will hold bilateral talks with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. This visit follows a recent phone call between PM Modi and PM Netanyahu. They “agreed to meet very soon.” Several Israeli ministers, including Bezalel Smotrich, visited India this year. The two sides signed a bilateral investment treaty. They also finalized free trade agreement terms during Piyush Goyal’s recent visit.
