India and UAE sign defence and energy deals during Modi's state visit

The governments of India and the United Arab Emirates have signed new pacts on defence and petroleum supply during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the UAE on Friday, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on X. 

The new deals build on the existing "India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership", according to a statement posted by Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the MEA.

The ministry announced seven outcomes from the state visit, including a collaboration agreement between the Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL) and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), a Strategic Defence Partnership and a $5bn Emirati development investment.

In remarks made to Emirati President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Modi expressed strong condemnation for "the attacks launched on the UAE", referring to Iranian strikes on the Gulf state in response to the US-Israeli war on Iran, according to Indian media reports.

"India stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the UAE in every situation, and it will continue to do so," the Indian prime minister said. 

The meeting comes amid a major oil crisis in India as a result of the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran.

India depends on imports for 90 percent of its oil supply, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused the country's inventories to decline by 15 percent according to reports from the Times of India. 

Last week, Modi urged austerity measures in a public address, calling on Indians to work from home to conserve fuel, avoid foreign travel and refrain from buying gold.

Critics and opposition figures in India, however, criticised the prime minister for overlooking the country's worsening economic crisis in favour of highly energy‑intensive election rallies and roadshows for his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Since March, Indians have been demonstrating against liquified petroleum gas (LPG) costs, calling on the government to address shortages that have resulted in job loss, business closures and rising prices of basic commodities.

Modi's UAE visit also comes after New Delhi hosted Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other top diplomats for a BRICS meeting on Thursday.

At the meeting, Araghchi slammed the UAE for being "directly involved" in US-Israeli attacks on Iran, adding that "when the attacks started, they didn't even issue a condemnation", Iranian media reported.

The comments follow new reports of secret Emirati strikes on Iran, pointing to increased military coordination between the UAE, US and Israel.

Friday's developments build on existing partnerships between India, the UAE and Israel.

Since 2023, India has been part of a joint strategic agreement with Israel, the UAE and the US, called the I2U2 Group, and has escalated its military and economic ties with Israel throughout its genocidal war on Gaza.