On April 8, 2025, India’s Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh met with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai and Defence Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in New Delhi. The meeting was held at South Block, where the two leaders discussed how India and the UAE could work more closely in defence and security matters.
Both leaders were happy with the current level of cooperation between their countries. At present, India and the UAE already work together through defence meetings, joint military exercises, and training programs. However, they agreed that more could be done to improve defence cooperation, especially when compared to the strong growth in trade and business between the two nations. This cooperation, they said, should match the vision of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
One of the main points they talked about was training. They agreed that exchanging training programs would help both countries better understand their defence systems and build stronger military ties.
Another important topic was the collaboration between the Indian and UAE Coast Guards. The two sides are already working well together, and now they want to make this partnership official by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which is a formal agreement.
The leaders also discussed defence industries. They believe it’s important for companies in both countries to work together on building and developing military equipment. They talked about starting joint projects, co-producing weapons and technology, and taking part in each other’s defence expos and exhibitions. They also welcomed the India-UAE Defence Partnership Forum, a platform that could help both countries start strategic projects.
They saw great potential in combining India’s “Make in India” campaign with the UAE’s “Make it in the Emirates” initiative. These programmes aim to boost local manufacturing, and both leaders agreed that working together could help both countries grow stronger in defence production.
After the meeting, Rajnath Singh posted on social media platform X, saying that India considers its partnership with the UAE very important. He added that in the future, both countries hope to work closely in areas like defence, innovation, technology, and co-production. He also said that both India and the UAE are committed to promoting peace and prosperity in the region.
This meeting showed that India and the UAE are serious about building a stronger defence relationship. By working together, both countries hope to become more secure, more advanced, and more connected in the years to come. (PR)