India Hosts Key Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting After Decade, Deepening Ties

The League of Arab States (LAS) was formed in Cairo on March 22, 1945, initially comprising Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Syria. It began with seven members and currently has 22 member states from the Arab world, including countries from North Africa and the Middle East, with Syria reinstated. The League also has observer states including Armenia, Brazil, Chad, Eritrea, Greece, India and Venezuela.

The aim of LAS is to strengthen and coordinate the political, cultural, economic and social programmes of its members and to mediate disputes among them or between them and third parties.

LAS comprises the Council, Special Ministerial Committees, the General Secretariat and Specialised Agencies.

The Council, consisting of foreign ministers of member countries, is the principal political organ and meets twice a year. Each member has one vote, with decisions binding only on states that vote in favour. The League takes decisions on a majority basis but has no mechanism to compel compliance and has faced criticism for internal conflicts and collective inaction on key international issues.

LAS maintains multilateral relations with the AU, the EU, ASEAN and the Union of South American Nations.

China and LAS established an institutional dialogue mechanism in 2008, covering cooperation in economic, trade, energy and strategic domains. The League also maintains relations with Russia, Brazil and France.

LAS has missions in more than 20 countries, including the USA, Russia, China, France, the UK, Brazil and Germany, and also has a Mission in India. The current Secretary General is Ahmed Aboul Gheit.

India and LAS share longstanding ties dating back to ancient times through trade, scholarship and diplomacy.

India and LAS signed an MoU institutionalising dialogue in March 2002. A Memorandum of Cooperation establishing the Arab-India Cooperation Forum was signed in December 2008 and revised in December 2013.

In December 2010, the Indian Ambassador in Cairo was designated India's Permanent Representative to LAS with Observer Status.

The first India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held in Manama, Bahrain, in January 2016, at which the Manama Declaration and the Executive Programme were adopted, covering Economy, Education, Energy, Media, and Culture.

Ministerial meetings are held biennially and Senior Officials' Meetings annually, with three SOMs held so far, including a virtual meeting in January 2021.

Under the Economy vertical, the Sixth India-Arab Partnership Conference was held in New Delhi in July 2023, with the seventh edition to be hosted by the Arab side.

Under Education, the first India-Arab Universities' Presidents' Conference was held in New Delhi on February 5-6, 2025, focusing on higher education, skill development, digital platforms, mutual recognition of degrees, scientific research, including AI, Quantum Computing and Biotechnology, faculty and student exchange, and curriculum development. The second edition will be held early in Ajman.

The first Arab-India Energy Forum was held virtually in June 2021, with India planning to host an Energy Symposium during India Energy Week in Goa from January 27-31.

Media cooperation includes journalist exchanges, with the inaugural Media Symposium held in New Delhi in August 2014.

The Arab India Cultural Festival is a biennial event, with India set to host the third edition.

India-Arab trade stands at over USD 240 billion, with bilateral hydrocarbon trade exceeding USD 107 billion.

India imports over 95 per cent of LPG, 60 per cent of LNG, and 47 per cent of crude oil from Arab League countries, as well as more than 50 per cent of fertilisers and related products.

Over 9 million Indian diaspora reside in Arab League nations.

Indian companies invest in the energy sector across multiple Arab countries, and their partnerships span food and energy, financial services, health and education, IT, renewable energy, and infrastructure.

Capacity-building initiatives include special training courses for LAS diplomats, with nearly 40 per cent of foreign diplomats trained at SSIFS last year coming from Arab countries.

The Arab League condemned the Pahalgam terror attack of April 2025 and earlier attacks in India, conveying solidarity and support.

A high-level Indian delegation met the Secretary General in Cairo on June 3, 2025, following Operation Sindoor.

- ANI