India signs Letter of Intent to elevate defence ties with UAE
BILATERAL – INDIA-ASIA
20 JANUARY 2026
- Against the backdrop of growing military tension in the Gulf region, the United Arab Emirates and India signed a “Letter of Intent for a Bilateral Strategic Defence Partnership”.
- The Letter of Intent was sealed during the three-hour visit by the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, when the two sides set a goal of doubling bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032.
- the two leaders also discussed the situation in Yemen over which Saudi Arabia’s relation with the UAE has nosedived.
- The Saudi-Pakistan defence cooperation has intensified since the two countries signed a mutual defence agreement on September 17, 2025.
- During the brief visit, the two sides also signed an energy deal involving the Hindustan Petroleum Company Ltd (HPCL) and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Gas (ADNOC) that will allow purchase of 0.5 Million Metric Tonnes Per Annum (MMPTA) LNG by the HPCL from ADNOC over 10 years starting from 2028.
- Another Letter of Intent was signed between the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre and the Space Agency of the UAE for the development of space industry in the UAE.
