ABU DHABI, MAY 15 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Friday finalized a series of major agreements spanning defense, energy security, and maritime infrastructure. The high-level talks, held during the Prime Minister’s stopover in the UAE, resulted in a new Strategic Defence Partnership and significant investment pledges for the Indian economy.
A central outcome of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Petroleum Reserves and an agreement for a long-term supply of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). These energy pacts are intended to stabilize India’s fuel supply amid ongoing volatility in international oil markets. Additionally, the UAE announced a $5 billion investment package targeting Indian infrastructure and the financial sector, specifically naming RBL Bank and Samman Capital as beneficiaries.
“New Delhi was ready to extend all possible assistance to help restore stability in the region,” the Prime Minister stated while discussing the current security situation in West Asia. He affirmed that the manner in which the Gulf nation has been targeted by recent attacks is “not acceptable,” and he praised the UAE’s leadership for exercising restraint.
The visit also included an agreement to establish a Ship Repair Cluster at Vadinar in Gujarat, further linking Indian maritime development with UAE logistics expertise. Officials maintained that these developments represent a shift for India from being a passive energy buyer to becoming a strategic security partner in the Indian Ocean Region.
