Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the UAE on May 15 for the first stop of a five-nation tour, with energy security, maritime trade and defence cooperation all on the agenda for his talks with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Speaking to ANI ahead of Modi’s arrival, Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al Hashimy said energy had been “weaponised” through threats to the Strait of Hormuz, with supply disruptions felt at the household level in countries including India. “That is something that will certainly feature in our conversations tomorrow,” she said.
Al Hashimy also addressed the UAE’s recent departure from OPEC, saying the “primary reason” was that the country “was not producing to the full potential” of its capacity at a time when global supply is already under pressure. “It is important to highlight that the UAE has always been, and continues to be, a responsible global player in the energy space,” she added.
Discussions between the two leaders are also expected to cover the uninterrupted flow of trade through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil transit corridors. On defence, both sides are expected to build on a Letter of Intent signed during Sheikh Mohamed’s visit to India earlier this year, which covers defence industrial cooperation, cybersecurity and counter-terror coordination.
