Jaishankar meets Ras Al Khaimah ruler on UAE visit, pledges stronger ties

External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar was on a three-day visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). On the last day, he met His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and member of the UAE Supreme Council. During the visit, he said India would further strengthen its friendship with the UAE.

The visit comes at a time when the situation in West Asia is fragile. The conflict in Iran and rising tension between Yemen's Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia have created serious uncertainty across the Gulf region. The war has also affected global energy supplies and sea routes.

The emirate of Ras Al Khaimah lies in the far north of the UAE and shares a border with Oman. The area is close to the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world's crude oil passes. Amid the current Iran crisis, the security of this route has become critical for India's and the world's energy security.

After meeting the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, Jaishankar expressed his gratitude on social media. He wrote that Sheikh Saud's views on strengthening ties between the two countries and deepening engagement with the region were valuable to him. He also said the situation in the Gulf came up in the talks. The two leaders held in-depth discussions on the war-like situation in the Gulf, security and disruptions to energy supplies. The aim is to ensure that the direct impact of the Iran war does not hit the economies of Gulf countries and India's fuel security.

India imports a large share of its crude oil from Gulf countries, so peace and cooperation on this route are of the highest importance to India. The support the rulers of Ras Al Khaimah have given to the India-UAE strategic partnership is seen as a sign of mutual trust between the two countries.

At the start of the visit, Jaishankar arrived in Abu Dhabi. There he met UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The two leaders reviewed in detail the progress in the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They agreed to give new direction to cooperation in trade, investment, technology and security.

In Abu Dhabi, Jaishankar also took part in a special session of the Raisina Dialogue, titled "The Next World: Power, Purpose and Possibility". He said the world is changing rapidly and that globalisation is a process that cannot be reversed.

In his address, Jaishankar said the current multilateral system is struggling with many challenges. In such a situation, every country takes decisions according to its national interests and looks for new, trustworthy partners. According to him, showing strategic understanding by moving beyond the old framework is the need of the hour.

He said the partnership India and the UAE have shown over the past decade is the best example of adapting to a changing world. The two countries have not only increased trade but also stood firmly by each other in times of crisis. Jaishankar expressed confidence that the global order can be reformed through small but strong partner groups (mini-lateral groups). He said India's active diplomacy with the UAE would prove important in maintaining peace and stability in the Gulf during this difficult period of conflict in Iran and Yemen.