By Ankit Panda
In the UAE, Narendra Modi lays the foundations for a strong partnership between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) today. Visiting over the weekend, Modi became the first Indian prime minister to do since the 1980s. Modi’s visit placed great emphasis on improved economic ties between the two countries, which share a major commercial relationship. Following the United States and China, the UAE is India’s third-largest trading partner, with a bilateral trade volume of $60 billion. The UAE is also important for India’s energy security—oil exports from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, a grouping which comprises the UAE, supply 45 percent of India’s petroleum demand.
In the UAE, Modi met with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince and deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces. The two leaders discussed trade, security, and strategic issues, according to the Press Trust of India. Modi and the crown prince discussed the regional challenge posed by the Islamic State group (ISIS). In recent months, ISIS has started making forays into Afghanistan and Pakistan, raising the group’s threat profile in neighboring India. Modi discussed how the two countries could increase cooperation on countering terrorism.
Read the full story at The Diplomat