India and UAE seek to strengthen defense ties

New Delhi and Abu Dhabi have signed a statement of intent for wider strategic partnership

India and the United Arab Emirates have signed a letter of intent for a wider strategic defense partnership with security cooperation at its core.

The letter was signed on Monday during a brief visit by UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to India.

The agreement will cover defense industry collaboration, defense innovation and advanced technology, training, education and doctrine, special operations and interoperability, cyberspace, and counterterrorism.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the partnership between the countries is not a response to security-related developments in the Middle East and will not lead to India’s involvement in conflicts in the region.

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In September last year, Saudi Arabia entered into a defense agreement with Islamabad. A joint statement by Riyadh and Islamabad said that any attack against Saudi Arabia or Pakistan “shall be considered an aggression against both.”

New Delhi said it was aware of security ties between Riyadh and Islamabad and that a defense agreement between them had been in the works.

On Monday, a letter of intent was also signed between the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center and the UAE Space Agency for a joint initiative to enable space industry development and commercial collaboration, Misri said.

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New Delhi and Abu Dhabi also condemned terrorism, saying: “no country should provide safe haven to those who finance, plan, support, or commit terrorist acts.” They agreed to continue working within the framework of the Financial Action Task Force to check terrorist financing and money laundering activities.

The two sides said they will explore partnerships in advanced nuclear technologies, including the development of nuclear reactors and cooperation in nuclear power plant operations and nuclear safety.

India and the UAE also signed a ten-year deal for half a million tonnes of LNG per year. The countries have set a target of doubling bilateral trade to $200 billion over the next six years.