Closer ties between the two countries (India-UAE) are good for the stability of the region and the Crown Prince’s visit will add substance to military and security ties between the two
By inviting Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed forces, as the chief guest on this year’s Republic Day celebrations, the Modi Government has signaled importance India attaches to its ties with the Emirates.
Moreover, in a symbolic sign of the close defence cooperation between the two countries, a contingent of the UAE armed forces, the first ever from an Arab country, will join the Republic Day parade.
The Gulf region is not only important for India’s energy security but is also home to millions of Indians who work there and remit billions of dollars annually, contributing to strengthening of the country’s economy. Since coming to power in 2014, Narendra Modi has been focusing on enhancing ties with the Gulf countries to attract foreign investments and push economic growth.
He has not only visited several countries of that region which are strategically important for India, but has also continued to receive high-profile visitors from there over the last two years.
In 2015 when Modi visited the United Arab Emirates, the first by any Indian Prime Minister in 35 years, it was a significant visit that gave boost to strategic ties and set the direction to explore more areas where the two countries could collaborate.
Perhaps the most significant aspect of that substantive visit was the decision to establish a “strategic security dialogue” on counter terrorism and boost India’s defence ties. Since then, the security and defence cooperation has become a centerpiece of the renewed push for closer contacts between the two countries.
In February 2016, during the official visit of Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the two countries had agreed to strengthen collaboration in several key areas like cyber security, money laundering and joint defence production.
Counter terrorism is definitely an important area of cooperation. This is because India has been the target of constant terror attacks emanating from Pakistan.
Similarly the threats from the religious radical forces and elements of the ISIS are being felt by the United Arab Emirates.
The UAE and India in their joint statement had specifically stated that countries had to control activities of “non-state actors” and cut all support to terror outfits operating from their soil while strongly condemning use of religion to justify, support and sponsor the menace of terrorism.
In one sign of how close the two countries have come together on terrorism over the past couple of years, the UAE in October last year expressed solidarity with India while condemning a terror attack on the Army Camp in Uri.
The UAE had said it would support any Indian action against the perpetrators of the terror attack. This was particularly significant as it came after India conducted surgical strikes against terror targets inside the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The very strong statement of support from the UAE reflects the growing proximity between the two countries amid common threats from the ISIS elements and terror groups in Pakistan.
In the area of defence cooperation also, the two sides have repeatedly renewed their commitment to boosting their defence ties. They have been looking at strengthening the existing cooperation in training, joint exercises, and participation in defence exhibitions, as well as in identifying opportunities to cooperate on the production of defence equipments in India.
Being the world’s largest importer of arms, New Delhi is keen to build its own defence industry and has been looking for joint production with foreign counties.
The push in defence production goes both ways with India looking to export arms and weaponry and the UAE could be a gateway to the rest of the Gulf countries as a potential market for indigenous weapons.
India already has a growing presence at Abu Dhabi’s international defence show (IDEX), which is seen as a major opportunity to promote its own military products in the Gulf.
For India, the UAE is an important country as it tries to shore up its naval presence in the Indian Ocean region and beyond. The two countries have been holding joint naval exercises and looking at doing much more. There have been a number of goodwill visits of Indian naval ships to the UAE, with ships of the navies of both countries regularly making port calls. The two countries also hold an “Annual Defence Dialogue” and have a “Joint Defence Co-operation Committee” at the Ministry level.
There is no doubt that closer ties between the two countries are good for the stability of the region and the crown prince’s visit will add substance to military and security ties between the two countries.
(The writer, a former diplomat, is Director, India Islamic Cultural Centre, New Delhi)