UAE President's India Visit: Strengthening Ties Amidst Pakistan's Gulf Defence Push

• UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's visit to India focuses on strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership, covering trade, investment, defence, and energy.
• The visit occurs amidst heightened West Asia tensions, including Iran-US relations, Gaza instability, and the Yemen conflict, which will be key discussion points.
• This marks Sheikh Mohamed's third official visit as UAE President and fifth in a decade, highlighting Abu Dhabi's priority on ties with New Delhi.
• India and UAE have seen significant growth in trade and investment since the 2022 CEPA, reinforced by local currency settlement and a bilateral investment treaty.
• Defence cooperation is crucial as India assesses shifting military alignments, especially Pakistan's aggressive expansion of its defence footprint in the Arab world.

Why It Matters: UAE President's visit reinforces India-UAE strategic partnership, countering Pakistan's defence expansion in the Gulf.