During a meeting yesterday in Palam between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan agreed to greater cooperation with future closer partnerships in business, energy, and space. The game of global alliances plays out in the background, with Israel and the Abraham Accords casting their shadow.

Mumbai (AsiaNews) – The rivalry between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, which recently turned violent in Yemen, is crossing the Gulf and taking on the character of a global challenge.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) responded to the recent defence cooperation agreement (including a nuclear shield) signed by Saudi Arabia and Pakistan with a similar deal with India.

In addition to the strategic defence sector, the two countries plan to boost cooperation in many other areas, from space and energy to new technologies and artificial intelligence, without neglecting food security.

The goal for the two countries is to reinforce a long-standing partnership, thanks also to consolidated ties with other international players like the United States and, above all, Israel.

Like India, but unlike Saudi Arabia, the UAE boasts a solid relationship with the Jewish state, as evinced by the signing of the Abraham Accords sponsored by US President Donald Trump.

Despite US efforts, the Saudis have not joined this framework of alliances, partly due to the brutal war in Gaza.

The UAE and India are part of the global trade route connecting Asia and Europe. The recent talks in New Delhi between UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi can be seen from this perspective.

The UAE leader was welcomed at Palam Air Base by the Indian Prime Minister for the signing of a series of strategically important deals, including a letter of intent on a strategic defence partnership, exchanged between UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

Speaking about the meeting, Prime Minister Modi noted that the UAE president’s “visit illustrates the importance he attaches to a strong India-UAE friendship.”

It is important to note that India and the UAE are key players in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) initiative, which aims to connect the Asian giant to the Old Continent via the Middle East.

This strategic route also includes Israel, with which both India and the UAE maintain strategic partnerships.

Defence ties between the UAE and India have been strengthened recently, following the official visit by India’s Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi to Abu Dhabi earlier this month, with the aim of deepening military cooperation and strategic dialogue.

Furthermore, last December, troops from the two countries took part in joint military exercises in the UAE capital.

Speaking to reporters after yesterday's visit, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri clarified that the letter of intent does not imply India's involvement in regional conflicts.

“Our involvement on the defence and security front with a country from the region does not necessarily lead to the conclusion that we will get involved in particular ways in the conflicts of the region,” he said.

The statement hints, without directly naming it, at the agreement signed in September by Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, India's regional rival, both nuclear powers with an unresolved border dispute that led to tensions and wars in the past.

In the joint defence plan, Islamabad and Riyadh (both of which are predominantly Sunni Muslim) state that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.”

This gives the Saudis a secure nuclear cover from Pakistan in the event of an attack.

Finally, yesterday, the UAE and India also signed a 10-year liquefied natural gas (LNG) agreement, with the leaders of the two countries pledging to double bilateral trade to US$ 200 billion by 2032.

The ten-year pact involves Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and ADNOC Gas for the delivery of 0.5 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas per year, starting in 2028.

• india
• united arab emirates
• uae
• saudí arabia
• pakistan
• defence
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• energy