ISLAMABAD: India’s Ministry of External Affairs has categorically statedthat the proposed strategic defence partnership with the United ArabEmirates is entirely unrelated to recent regional developments, includingthe Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabiasigned on September 17, 2025. Responding to media reports suggesting theIndia-UAE engagement acts as a hedge against the Pakistan-Saudi pact,officials emphasized that bilateral cooperation evolves organically fromshared interests in security, trade, and technology. This clarificationcomes amid heightened West Asian tensions, including Yemen conflicts andevolving Gulf policies, where analysts interpret UAE moves as assertions ofindependent foreign policy.
The India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, formalized in 2015 andelevated through regular high-level engagements, continues to deepenwithout reactive motivations. In January 2026, UAE President Sheikh Mohamedbin Zayed’s visit to India resulted in a Letter of Intent for a StrategicDefence Partnership Framework, covering joint manufacturing, innovation,cybersecurity, training, and counter-terrorism. These initiatives alignwith bilateral momentum, including a target to double trade to $200 billionby 2032, underscoring economic interdependence rather than geopoliticalbalancing.
Defence cooperation between India and the UAE has progressed steadilythrough the Joint Defence Cooperation Committee, with the 13th meeting heldin July 2025 marking secretary-level elevation for the first time.Discussions emphasized maritime security, real-time information sharing,and co-development in emerging technologies such as artificialintelligence. Regular joint exercises and high-level military exchangesfurther reinforce this trajectory, independent of third-party arrangementsin the region.
The Pakistan-Saudi Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement, formalized inRiyadh, commits both nations to treat aggression against one as aggressionagainst both, encompassing comprehensive military means. Signed by SaudiCrown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister ShehbazSharif, the pact formalizes decades of cooperation, including training ofthousands of Saudi personnel by Pakistan. Analysts view it as enhancingmutual deterrence amid regional uncertainties, though it primarily signalspolitical solidarity without explicit nuclear guarantees.
Defence analysts observe that the UAE’s pursuit of closer ties with Indiaserves as a clear message to Saudi Arabia that Abu Dhabi maintains anindependent foreign policy stance. Following the Pakistan-Saudi pact, theUAE demonstrates willingness to forge strategic arrangements withPakistan’s rivals, preserving autonomy in decision-making. This approachreflects broader Gulf diversification strategies in a volatile environmentmarked by Iran tensions, Gaza instability, and shifting alliances.
Regional frictions, particularly in Yemen, highlight divergences betweenSaudi Arabia and the UAE. Saudi-backed forces have clashed withUAE-supported Southern Transitional Council elements, leading toescalations such as the Mukalla incident in late 2025. The UAE’s withdrawalof remaining counterterrorism personnel from Yemen after a comprehensiveassessment further illustrates independent policy choices, amid accusationsof sovereignty violations in other arenas.
Indian analysts have noted emerging convergence between India and the UAEin areas like Yemen and Somalia, where shared interests in maritimesecurity and countering instability align against certain Saudi positions.In Somalia, recent diplomatic ruptures involving the UAE and federalauthorities underscore broader realignments, with the UAE’s assertiveengagements contrasting Saudi-led initiatives. These dynamics contribute toperceptions of strategic signaling through enhanced India-UAE cooperation.
India’s multi-alignment foreign policy enables sustained partnershipsacross Gulf states, including robust economic ties with Saudi Arabia.Bilateral trade with Riyadh reached significant volumes in recent years,complemented by energy and investment cooperation. New Delhi’s measuredresponse to the Pakistan-Saudi pact involved studying implications fornational security while expressing hopes that mutual interests andsensitivities remain considered.
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The MEA’s firm position dispels notions of competitive hedging, assertingthat India-UAE defence enhancements stem from mutual priorities ininnovation, prosperity, and regional stability. This organic growthsupports broader Asian security without direct linkage to other pacts.
Observers highlight that Gulf states increasingly pursue layered deterrencethrough multiple partnerships, viewing them as complementary rather thancounter-aligning. The UAE’s engagements with India exemplify this trend,strengthening national security amid external threats.
In conclusion, the India-UAE strategic defence framework represents amature, forward-looking collaboration resilient to external speculations.As West Asia navigates complex shifts, such independent partnershipscontribute to balanced regional stability.
Source:https://www.businesstoday.in/india/story/india-uae-set-200-billion-trade-target-as-ties-deepen-across-defence-energy-space-key-details-511576-2026-01-19
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