India-UAE Strategic Ties: Advancing Defence Co-development and Energy Resilience

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Abu Dhabi, India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) significantly elevated their bilateral relationship by signing a Framework for Strategic Defence Partnership. This agreement moves beyond traditional buyer-seller dynamics, focusing instead on industrial co-development and technology sharing. This aligns with India’s 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative, aiming to build a robust domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem through international collaboration. In addition to defence, the two nations strengthened their "Energy Bridge" through Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) concerning Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) and long-term Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) supplies. The UAE’s participation in India’s SPR program is a critical component of India’s energy security strategy, providing a buffer against global supply chain disruptions. Furthermore, the agreement on maritime infrastructure cooperation underscores the growing synergy in the Indo-Pacific and the Western Indian Ocean, reflecting shared interests in regional stability and freedom of navigation.