External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in Abu Dhabi on Saturday for a two-day official visit aimed at strengthening energy security and deepening strategic ties between India and the United Arab Emirates amid evolving geopolitical dynamics in West Asia.
Jaishankar, who travelled to the UAE from Mauritius, will be in Abu Dhabi from April 11 to 12. During the visit, he is expected to meet senior UAE leadership to review ongoing bilateral cooperation and further advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, which has expanded significantly in recent years across sectors including trade, defence, energy and investment.
The visit is part of a broader diplomatic outreach by New Delhi to Gulf nations at a time of heightened regional uncertainty. Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri is also visiting key countries in the region simultaneously. Both visits are being undertaken under the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reinforce India’s energy partnerships and ensure stable supplies.
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Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the coordinated visits are aimed at strengthening India’s engagement with energy-producing nations and safeguarding supply chains.
The outreach comes against the backdrop of ongoing tensions in West Asia, particularly disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route through which a substantial portion of India’s oil and gas imports pass. Any instability in this corridor has direct implications for India’s energy security and economic stability.
In addition to securing its own energy needs, India has also been extending assistance to neighbouring countries. Officials said that 38 metric tonnes of petroleum products were supplied to Sri Lanka recently at Colombo’s request. Furthermore, New Delhi is in the process of finalising a government-to-government agreement with Mauritius for the supply of oil and gas.
The visit underscores India’s dual strategy of strengthening bilateral partnerships with key Gulf nations while also playing a supportive role in regional energy stability. Officials said discussions during Jaishankar’s meetings are expected to focus on long-term energy cooperation, investment opportunities and ways to navigate the evolving geopolitical landscape.
As global uncertainties persist, the India-UAE partnership is likely to remain central to New Delhi’s efforts to secure energy flows and maintain strategic balance in the region.
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