AHMED MURAD (CAIRO)

Striking developments have characterised the current stage of UAE-India relations, based on deep and longstanding diplomatic ties spanning several decades. The two countries exhibit mutual understanding on various regional and international issues, with strong bonds of friendship between the two leaderships.

The UAE and India stand as a unique model for effective partnership in regional and international affairs, as evidenced by their continuous coordination and consultation within various international organisations, including the Group of Twenty (G20), the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the I2U2 Group, the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and the BRICS group.

A New Milestone

In mid-July 2023, UAE-Indian relations reached a new milestone in their dynamic partnership following Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UAE. The Prime Minister’s visit included discussions with President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on enhancing cooperation towards peace and stability both regionally and globally. Both leaders affirmed their support for any initiatives and efforts aimed at promoting peace and settling conflicts peacefully.

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed highlighted India’s influential role in international issues, deeming the country a significant partner in this sphere. Prime Minister Modi emphasised his desire to further UAE-India relations at various levels, reflecting mutual eagerness to unlock their full potential for development.

India’s inclination to advance its strategic ties with the UAE is evident in various indicators, primarily through multiple official visits. Out of the Indian Prime Minister’s 10 visits to the Gulf region since taking office in 2014, the UAE has hosted five individual visits (August 2015, February 2018, August 2019, June 2022, July 2023). The fifth visit in July 2023 reflects the accelerating pace of relations between the two countries. These ties are further underscored by the inauguration of a new UAE consulate in Hyderabad, the country’s third consulate in India after Mumbai and Kerala.

Effective G20 Partnership

The UAE and India have forged an impactful partnership within the meetings and summits of the G20, evident in India’s presidency of the group. The UAE received an official invitation from the Indian presidency to participate as a guest in the G20 events and summit in 2023, marking the country’s second consecutive invitation after it participated in the 2022 G20 Summit in Indonesia, and the third invitation since 2020 under Saudi Arabia’s presidency.

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed participated in the 18th G20 Summit, held in India in September 2023, where he received exceptional thanks from US President Joe Biden, said: “I want to thank Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed... Thank you, thank you, thank you. I don’t think we would be here without you.”

On the sidelines of the summit, His Highness held a meeting with Prime Minister Modi, where they discussed various aspects of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries and the promising opportunities available to strengthen ties. The two leaders renewed their support for international collective action, emphasising its importance in promoting global stability.

Throughout India’s presidency of the G20, the UAE actively participated in 25 meetings held throughout the year within various tracks, and both countries demonstrated commendable coordination to reach common positions on various regional and international issues.

The UAE supported India’s presidency of the G20, in alignment with the country’s pivotal role and regional and international influence. The UAE saw the 2023 G20 Summit under the presidency of India as a prime opportunity to establish a sustainable model for constructive international collaboration on several critical issues, including combating climate change and reforming multilateral institutions.

Arenas of Cooperation

The UAE and India have coordinated their roles and positions in their membership in various regional and international organisations, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, of which the UAE became a “dialogue partner” during a meeting of the organisation’s foreign ministers, held in India in early May 2023. This step reinforced the UAE’s efforts to maintain balanced and diverse partnerships, particularly with influential regional and international powers such as China and India.

Both countries are also members of the I2U2, established in mid-July 2022, along with the United States and Israel. This positions the UAE and India as significant players in reviving the peace process, as their distinguished relationships with the group’s other members allow them to play a mediating role.

Recently, the UAE and India have also initiated several important initiatives to establish platforms for multilateral cooperation, including the trilateral cooperation partnership between the UAE, India, and France, founded in February 2023. This forum aims to enhance and implement cooperation initiatives in various areas. Additionally, the UAE, India, and France expanded their collaboration through initiatives like the “Climate Alliance”, led by the UAE, and the partnership in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, led by India and France.

The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), established in 1997 and joined by the UAE in 1999, is another international platform bringing together the two countries. Both nations are committed to coordinating their efforts and common positions within the association’s activities, as was evident during the UAE’s 20192021 presidency of the Association under the theme “Towards a Shared and Prosperous Future for the Indian Ocean Region”.

The BRICS group, the latest international platform where the UAE and India share membership, represents a new path for effective partnerships between the two countries. On August 24, 2023, the UAE officially joined the group, which also includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The UAE’s membership in BRICS commenced in early January 2024.

50 Years of Cooperation

The history of diplomatic and political relations between the UAE and India dates back to 1972 with the opening of the UAE Embassy in the Indian capital, New Delhi. This was followed by the opening of the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi in 1973, marking the beginning of multifaceted bilateral cooperation. The two countries share common factors, and a mutual respect that has further strengthened the relationship.

In this context, the historic visit by the Founding Father of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, to India in 1975 laid strong foundations for the present friendship and cooperation between the countries. The following year, the former President of India, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, visited the UAE.

Subsequent visits from the leaders of both countries included President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s first visit to India in February 2016, when His Highness was Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. The second visit took place in January 2017 and culminated in the signing of the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” agreement.

Throughout the decades, the UAE and India have been keen on developing relations, as both countries view each other as strategic partners, particularly in efforts to establish regional peace and security.

The UAE-India Joint Committee is one of the most important institutional mechanisms in which to discuss the range of bilateral strategic partnerships that exist between the countries. During its meetings, both parties focus on assessing the status of strategic relations and devising ways to enhance and develop ties.

Support for Security and Stability

Dr. Mohammed Sadiq Ismaeil, an expert in international relations and the director of the Al Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo, explained that the UAE and India represent a unique model of strategic partnership, both regionally and internationally. The two states are influential global forces engaged in various global issues and events, serving as important supporters of regional and international multilateral action, he said.

Dr. Ismaeil highlighted the many commonalities that the UAE and India share, foremost of which is a shared commitment to supporting peace and stability worldwide. Both countries adopted numerous diplomatic initiatives and political efforts aimed at peacefully resolving conflicts, consolidating global peace, and promoting peaceful coexistence.

Noting the importance of the two countries’ joint consultations in various international organisations and platforms, Dr. Ismaeil stressed that this grants both the UAE and India regional and international weight, enabling them to have significant influence in various domains.

Dr. Nadia Helmi, an expert in Asian affairs and a political science professor at Beni Suef University in Egypt, stated that the ongoing consultations and converging positions between the UAE and India constitute an essential pillar of security and stability at both the regional and international levels.

The UAE and India, as two pivotal forces in Asia and the Middle East, are committed to strengthening their bilateral partnership through participating in regional and international platforms where they share memberships, Dr. Helmi said, citing the UAE’s high level of participation during India’s presidency of the G20 meetings as a key example of the strong coordination between the two countries.