UAE Deputy PM and Jaishankar focus on trade, defence and West Asia tensions

Jaishankar welcomes UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Photo: Jaishankar/X handle

IBNS-CMEDIA: UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday evening landed in Mumbai on a two-day visit that is expected to focus on further enhancing bilateral ties in key areas of trade, energy and defence.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, who is also his country’s Foreign Minister, is expected to hold wide-ranging talks with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday.

The two foreign ministers are also expected to deliberate on the overall situation in West Asia, including the recent attacks on Saudi Arabia.

The leader of the influential Gulf nation was received at the airport by Maharashtra’s Skill Development Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha.

“This high-level visit reflects the close and regular engagement between India and UAE, and will further strengthen our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” said External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on social media.

Last week, Jaishankar joined Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan for a Raisina Dialogue Middle East panel in Abu Dhabi on global shifts in power and partnerships.

He stressed the fast pace of change in the world order driven by long-term trends and shocks, urging nations to form new alliances beyond traditional zones and pursue sharper strategic awareness.

Jaishankar pointed to multilateral reform via stronger minilateralism, positioning the decade-long India-UAE partnership as a prime example of adaptive diplomacy amid evolving geopolitics.

The two foreign ministers are also expected to deliberate on the overall situation in West Asia, including the recent attacks on Saudi Arabia.

The leader of the influential Gulf nation was received at the airport by Maharashtra’s Skill Development Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha.