No nation should provide safe haven to terrorists India UAE

India and the United Arab Emirates on Monday reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms, including “cross-border terrorism”, asserting that no country should provide safe haven to those who finance, plan, support or commit terrorist acts. The strong message was delivered during talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who was on a three-hour visit to India.

The two leaders agreed to deepen cooperation under the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) framework to counter terror financing and strengthen anti-money laundering measures. The commitment was reflected in the joint statement issued after Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s official visit to India—his fifth in the past decade and third since assuming office as UAE President.

The UAE President was personally received by PM Modi at the airport, a gesture Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri described as “reflective of the extremely close and warm relationship” shared by the two leaders.

Calling it “short but extremely substantive”, Misri said the importance of the visit was evident from the composition of the UAE delegation. “The delegation comprised members of the royal families of both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, along with several ministers and senior officials. Even for this short visit, it was a really high-powered delegation,” he said.

Misri said the two leaders held detailed discussions on key regional developments. “Be it the developments in Yemen, the conflict in Gaza or the situation in Iran, all these issues were discussed between the leaders. Both had the opportunity to share their views in detail,” he said, while declining to go into specifics.

On trade and tariffs, Misri said the focus remained on bilateral commerce and the positive impact of the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The leaders discussed ways to further expand trade in the coming years, he added.

Reviewing the full spectrum of bilateral ties, Modi and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed noted that the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership had steadily deepened over the past decade. They also welcomed recent visits by the Crown Princes of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, describing them as symbols of generational continuity in the relationship.

Economic cooperation featured prominently, with bilateral trade touching $100 billion in FY 2024-25 following the signing of CEPA in 2022. Both sides agreed to work towards doubling trade to $200 billion by 2032 and called for faster implementation of initiatives such as Bharat Mart, the Virtual Trade Corridor and Bharat-Africa Setu to better integrate MSMEs.

On investment, the leaders welcomed discussions on UAE participation in the Dholera Special Investment Region in Gujarat and invited UAE sovereign wealth funds to consider investing in the second National Infrastructure Investment Fund, scheduled for launch in 2026. The establishment of DP World and First Abu Dhabi Bank branches in GIFT City was highlighted as reinforcing India’s position as an emerging international financial hub.

The two sides agreed to deepen cooperation in future-oriented sectors, including space, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies and digital infrastructure. They also decided to explore the establishment of ‘Digital Embassies’ and the interlinking of national payment platforms to enable faster and more efficient cross-border transactions.

Energy and food security were reaffirmed as core pillars of the partnership, with the leaders welcoming a 10-year LNG supply agreement between HPCL and ADNOC Gas and underlining cooperation in sustainable agriculture to ensure resilient supply chains.

Defence and security cooperation was identified as a critical component of the strategic partnership, with both sides welcoming progress towards a strategic defence partnership and recent exchanges between the armed forces of the two countries.

The leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC), underscoring its strategic importance in enhancing connectivity, commerce and energy flows between India, the Middle East and Europe.

Exchanging views on regional and global issues, Modi and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed emphasised their shared interest in peace, stability and multilateral cooperation, with the UAE expressing support for India’s BRICS chairmanship in 2026 and India backing the UAE-hosted UN Water Conference later that year.

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Courtesy: The Tribune -20-Jan-2026