Rajnath Singh Meets UAE Crown Prince for Strategic Defence Ties

New Delhi, April 8: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday held a productive meeting with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence of the United Arab Emirates and noted that for India, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the UAE is of "immense priority."

Key Points

India and UAE aim to strengthen defence cooperation

Crown Prince Hamdan's first official visit to India

Bilateral discussions focus on innovation and technology

Commitment to regional peace and prosperity

https://x.com/rajnathsingh/status/1909541633059611021

Sharing a post on X, the defence minister wrote, "Had a productive meeting with the Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy PM and Minister of Defence of UAE Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in New Delhi."

The meeting focused on bolstering the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and the UAE. Singh emphasised the importance of this partnership. Both nations aim to collaborate in areas such as "defence cooperation, co-production and co-development projects."

"For India, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the UAE is of immense priority. In the coming years, we are eager to work closely in areas such as defence cooperation, co-production & co-development projects, innovation and technology. Both India and the UAE are committed to working towards peace and prosperity in the region," the post added.

Earlier in the day, the UAE's Crown Prince met with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

In a post on X, Jaishankar expressed warmth upon his arrival and noted he values the positive sentiment of the Crown Prince over the wide-ranging cooperation and vibrant ties between India and the UAE.

https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1909502028402811078

The EAM wrote on X, "Delighted to welcome Crown Prince of Dubai and DPM & Minister of Defence of UAE HH @HamdanMohammed at the start of his first official visit to India. Value his positive sentiments for our wide-ranging cooperation and vibrant ties."

The Crown Prince of Dubai is visiting India from April 8 to 9, 2025, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Upon his arrival in India, he was welcomed with a ceremonial guard of honour and received by Union Minister of State for Tourism and Petroleum and Natural Gas, Suresh Gopi.

This marks his first official visit to India in his capacity as Crown Prince of Dubai.

Reader Comments

Priya K.

This is such an important strategic partnership! The UAE has been a great ally to India in recent years. Excited to see what comes from these defense collaborations 🇮🇳🤝🇦🇪

Amit S.

While I appreciate the diplomatic efforts, I hope these partnerships translate into tangible benefits for common citizens too. Defense is important, but let's not forget about economic cooperation that creates jobs.

Sunita R.

The ceremonial welcome looked so grand! These high-level visits always make me proud of how India is strengthening its global position. More power to our leaders!

Rahul M.

Co-production and co-development projects sound promising. Maybe we'll finally see some joint defense tech that can compete with Western manufacturers. Fingers crossed!

Neha P.

I wonder if this will lead to more job opportunities for Indian engineers and technicians in the defense sector. The UAE has some cutting-edge projects going on.

Vikram J.

The photos from the meeting show such positive energy between the leaders. Strong personal relationships at the top really help in international diplomacy. Great to see!

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:

Rajnath Singh UAE Crown Prince India-UAE Relations Defence Cooperation Diplomatic Talks Strategic Partnership