Jaishankar lands in Abu Dhabi for Raisina Middle East Forum
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrives in Abu Dhabi to review India-UAE strategic ties and attend the 2nd Raisina Middle East Forum.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has arrived in Abu Dhabi for a high-stakes two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates. The visit is aimed at reviewing the robust Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and the UAE and includes his participation in the 2nd Raisina Middle East Forum.
Upon his arrival on Wednesday, the Indian External Affairs Minister was greeted by Reem Al Hashimy, the UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation. Taking to social media, Jaishankar expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome and noted his anticipation for the upcoming discussions.
Strengthening India-UAE Strategic Ties
The visit is set to feature a critical bilateral meeting between Jaishankar and his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. This meeting is intended to provide a comprehensive review of the progress made under the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the discussions are expected to delve into several key areas, including:
- Deepening strategic cooperation: Enhancing the collaborative framework between the two nations.
- Trade and economic engagement: Exploring new avenues for economic growth and bilateral commerce.
Addressing Regional Geopolitical Tensions
Beyond bilateral talks, Jaishankar will participate in the Raisina Middle East Forum, an event designed to address the complex geopolitical and strategic challenges currently facing the region. This visit comes at a highly sensitive time, as West Asia continues to grapple with escalating tensions.
The regional security landscape has been further complicated by recent attacks, such as the one on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh has confirmed that the death toll from the October 10 attack has risen to 13, following the death of an Indian national who was injured in the incident.
Calls for Unified Gulf Security Action
The heightened security concerns have prompted calls for increased collective action among Gulf nations. UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash recently emphasized the need to revive joint Gulf action, particularly regarding security and defense frameworks.
Gargash noted that recent aggression against Gulf states has demonstrated that the security of these nations is indivisible. He argued that attacks targeting Saudi Arabia inherently undermine the security of the UAE and other neighboring states. He stressed that strengthening the collective security framework is a pressing necessity, as the neglect of this dimension has emboldened aggressors to overreach.