India and UAE Sign Major Strategic, Energy and Defense Agreements Amid Regional Tensions

The agreements include a framework for a strategic defense partnership, the storage of 30 million barrels of crude oil in India’s strategic petroleum reserves, long-term LPG supply arrangements, and the development of a ship-repair cluster in Vadinar, Gujarat. In addition, the UAE pledged investments worth $5 billion in India’s infrastructure sector, RBL Bank and Sammaan Capital.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Abu Dhabi as part of a four-nation European tour, just days after the UAE was targeted by Iranian missile and drone attacks. According to Indian media reports, the brief stopover reflected a significant advancement in India-UAE relations.

During talks with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Modi stressed the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz “free, open and secure” and reaffirmed that India stands firmly beside the UAE. Condemning the recent attacks on the Emirates, he described such targeting as “unacceptable.”

Modi also reiterated India’s support for efforts to restore peace and stability in the region. Referring to the UAE president as “my brother,” he praised the Emirates for handling the current crisis with restraint and responsibility.

“The current situation has been managed by the UAE with remarkable composure, and that deserves appreciation. India stands with the UAE and will continue to do so in the future,” Modi said.

He added that the impact of the West Asian conflict is being felt globally and that India is ready to provide all possible support for restoring peace in the region.

In a statement, India’s Prime Minister’s Office said the two leaders held extensive discussions on regional security and economic cooperation. Modi strongly condemned the attacks on the UAE and emphasized India’s commitment to ensuring safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as essential for long-term regional stability as well as global energy and food security.

The UAE president personally welcomed Modi at the airport, where the Indian leader received a guard of honor. In a special gesture, Modi’s aircraft was escorted by UAE fighter jets upon arrival.

In a social media post, Modi thanked the UAE president for the “warm hospitality” extended to him in Abu Dhabi and expressed gratitude for the care shown toward the Indian community living in the Emirates.

President Sheikh Mohamed said the UAE and India share a long-standing strategic and economic partnership and noted that discussions focused on expanding cooperation in priority sectors including energy and technology.

“We remain committed to sustainable progress for our countries and to maintaining peace and stability across the region and the world,” he said.

Modi’s visit came just a day after he met Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi in New Delhi during the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting.

Energy security emerged as a key focus of the visit. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, both sides praised the growing energy partnership between the two countries. The UAE continues to play a vital role in India’s energy security by supplying crude oil, LNG and LPG.

The two countries welcomed a strategic cooperation agreement between Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. Under the agreement, the UAE’s participation in India’s strategic petroleum reserves will increase to 30 million barrels, while both sides will also collaborate on establishing strategic gas reserves in India.

They also welcomed a long-term LPG supply agreement between Indian Oil Corporation Limited and ADNOC.

Last year, the UAE was India’s fourth-largest source of crude oil, accounting for around 11 percent of India’s total demand. The UAE is also India’s largest supplier of LPG, providing nearly 40 percent of the country’s requirements.

The UAE became the first country to participate in India’s strategic petroleum reserves in 2018, when ISPRL and ADNOC agreed to store more than 5 million barrels of crude oil at the Mangaluru reserve facility.

India’s strategic petroleum reserves are managed by ISPRL under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. The organization maintains 5.33 million metric tons of crude oil across three underground storage facilities to ensure energy security during supply disruptions.

The UAE’s proposed $5 billion investment package includes three major components. Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and National Investment and Infrastructure Fund will jointly explore up to $1 billion in infrastructure investments in India. Emirates NBD will invest $3 billion in RBL Bank, while International Holding Company will invest $1 billion in Sammaan Capital.

India’s Prime Minister’s Office said the investments reflect the UAE’s long-term confidence in India’s growth story and will further strengthen bilateral strategic investment cooperation.

On defense cooperation, the statement said both leaders recognized bilateral defense ties as a key pillar of the overall strategic partnership.

The two countries also welcomed the signing of a “Strategic Defense Partnership Framework,” under which both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in defense manufacturing, advanced technology, innovation, military training, joint exercises, maritime security, cyber defense, secure communications and intelligence sharing.