India–UAE Defence Pact Years In Making
India’s decision to formalise a strategic defence partnership with the United Arab Emirates is being framed by New Delhi as the logical outcome of sustained military engagement over several years, not a sudden recalibration driven by instability in West Asia, according to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
Speaking after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Misri said defence and security cooperation has deepened consistently across leadership transitions, operational exchanges and institutional mechanisms.
“There is already a great deal of substance in defence cooperation and engagement between India and the UAE,” Misri said, adding that the latest step should be seen as a natural evolution rather than a reaction to specific regional events.
He identified last year’s visit by the UAE Defence Minister and the Crown Prince of Dubai as a key moment that elevated the institutional framework of defence dialogue to secretary and vice-minister level, giving the engagement greater continuity. Since then, senior leaders from the UAE Army, Navy and Air Force have visited India repeatedly, while India’s Army Chief travelled to the UAE earlier this month.