External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in Abu Dhabi on Saturday for a two-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates, as India intensifies diplomatic outreach across the Gulf amid evolving
regional dynamics in West Asia.
Jaishankar, who travelled to the UAE from Mauritius, will be in Abu Dhabi from April 11-12. He is expected to meet senior UAE leadership to review bilateral cooperation and deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
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The visit is part of a broader, coordinated diplomatic push by New Delhi. Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri is simultaneously visiting other Gulf nations, with both trips directed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bolster India’s energy partnerships and secure stable supplies at a time of significant regional turbulence.
“Under the directions of the Prime Minister, our Ministers are visiting Gulf countries to strengthen energy security,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at an inter-ministerial briefing, adding, “He will hold discussions with leaders in the UAE to foster stronger India-UAE ties.”
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This comes as the ongoing conflict in West Asia and Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global energy flows and sharpened New Delhi’s focus on the security of its oil and gas imports, a significant portion of which pass through the Gulf region.
India is also extending energy support beyond its own borders. Jaiswal said 38 metric tonnes of petroleum products were delivered to Sri Lanka two weeks ago at Colombo’s request, and that New Delhi is in the process of finalising a government-to-government agreement with Mauritius for the supply of oil and gas.
“Even as we work to strengthen our own energy security, we are also providing support to neighbouring countries, at their request, to meet their energy needs,” Jaiswal said.
