S. Jaishankar arrives in Abu Dhabi for India-UAE strategic talks and the Raisina Middle East Forum as rising West Asia tensions put Gulf security under the spotlight. (Images: X)
Abu Dhabi, October 15: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar arrived in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday for a two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates, with a review of India-UAE relations and participation in the second Raisina Middle East Forum on his agenda. The visit comes amid heightened security concerns across West Asia, bringing regional stability and strategic cooperation into focus.
Jaishankar was received by UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al Hashimy. After arriving, the Indian minister thanked her for the welcome in a post on X and expressed his anticipation for the upcoming discussions.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Jaishankar is scheduled to meet UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to review the progress of the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The discussions are expected to cover strategic cooperation, trade and economic engagement, with both sides assessing the progress of their bilateral relationship and exploring opportunities for further collaboration.
India and the UAE maintain extensive economic and diplomatic ties, making regular high-level engagement important for advancing shared interests across multiple sectors.
During his visit, Jaishankar will participate in the second edition of the Raisina Middle East Forum in Abu Dhabi. The forum provides a platform for discussions on geopolitical developments, strategic priorities and challenges affecting the Middle East.
His participation offers an opportunity to exchange perspectives on regional developments at a time when security concerns are drawing increased attention from governments across the Gulf and beyond.
The visit coincides with renewed calls for closer security coordination among Gulf countries. On Monday, UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash advocated reviving joint Gulf action, particularly in defence and security, and strengthening the region's collective security framework. His remarks followed reported Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including an October 10 incident at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
Gargash said the security of Gulf countries was interconnected, warning that an attack against Saudi Arabia could also affect the security of the UAE and other regional states. He called for urgent efforts to strengthen collective defence arrangements, arguing that Gulf security should be treated as a shared responsibility requiring coordinated action.
The reported attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport has added to concerns about the security situation in the region. According to the supplied report, the death toll reached 13 after the Indian Embassy in Riyadh confirmed the death of an Indian national who had been injured in the incident.
The reported casualties have further highlighted the potential human cost of escalating hostilities and the importance of regional coordination to address security threats.
Jaishankar's two-day visit provides an opportunity for India and the UAE to strengthen their bilateral partnership while exchanging views on developments across West Asia.
With strategic cooperation, trade and regional security featuring prominently in the broader diplomatic context, the meetings in Abu Dhabi are expected to draw attention to India's engagement with an important Gulf partner amid an evolving geopolitical landscape.
