India, UAE underscore growing depth of defence relations
New Delhi, June 26
United Arab Emirates Land Forces' Deputy Commander, Brigadier General Staff Mohamed Khamees Mohamed Al-Hassani, on Friday called on Indian Army chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, here and held discussions on enhancing bilateral military cooperation.
"Brigadier General Staff Mohamed Khamees Mohamed Al-Hassani, Deputy Commander, United Arab Emirates Land Forces, called on General Upendra Dwivedi, COAS. The interaction underscored the growing depth of India-UAE defence relations, with discussions focused on enhancing bilateral military cooperation, expanding professional exchanges and identifying new avenues for collaboration between the two armies," the Indian Army's Additional Directorate General of Public Information wrote on X.
According to the ADGPI, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening institutional ties, fostering mutual trust and advancing a shared vision for regional security and stability.
In January this year, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan paid an official visit to India and held extensive discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
During their discussions, both leaders acknowledged steady and strong bilateral defence and security cooperation as a core pillar of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
"They welcomed the momentum generated by the recent exchange of visits by the respective Service Chiefs and Commanders of the Army, Navy and Air Force of both countries, and the successful conduct of bilateral military exercises. They welcomed the signing of the Letter of Intent towards the conclusion of a Strategic Defence Partnership," according to the joint statement issued after the meeting.
General Dwivedi also paid an official visit to the UAE in January as part of India's continued engagement to strengthen defence cooperation and military-to-military ties with friendly foreign countries. During his visit, the COAS called on senior leadership of the UAE Armed Forces and received briefings on the structure, roles and capabilities of the UAE Army.
He also visited key military establishments and interacted with officers and troops, underscoring the growing defence partnership between India and the UAE.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting how India is balancing ties with both Russia and the Gulf states. Makes strategic sense given our energy needs and the large Indian workforce there. Hope this translates into real technology transfer and joint exercises.
Every time I see such news, I feel proud of how far our defence diplomacy has come. From being seen as just a buyer of arms to being a trusted partner. The UAE visit by Army Chief in January shows consistent engagement. 😊
Honestly, while this is positive, I wish we'd see more concrete outcomes like joint production of defence equipment rather than just high-level visits and MoUs. Actions speak louder than press releases. But yes, glad to see the momentum.
UAE has been a consistent friend to India, whether it's during the COVID vaccine supply or helping during crises. Defence cooperation is just icing on the cake. The strategic partnership with Gulf nations is a smart move given our neighbourhood dynamics.
It's heartening to see the UAE leadership's respect for India. PM Modi and Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed have developed a good rapport. This defence partnership is a testament to that relationship. But we must ensure our own defence industry also grows. 💪
As someone from the defence community, this is
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