New Delhi: India marked a significant diplomatic moment as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, ahead of the India–Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, resuming high-level ministerial engagement after nearly ten years.
The interaction came as the senior Arab diplomat arrived in India for the upcoming ministerial dialogue, which is expected to reinvigorate institutional cooperation between India and Arab nations. Officials described the meeting as an important step in restoring structured dialogue amid evolving regional and global dynamics.
Wide-Ranging Discussions on Cooperation
During the meeting, Jaishankar and Aboul Gheit reviewed the current status of India–Arab relations and discussed avenues to deepen collaboration across political, economic, and strategic sectors. The talks reflected the broadening scope of engagement, covering ongoing cooperation as well as recent regional developments.
Following the meeting, Jaishankar described the interaction as constructive, emphasizing the value of sustained dialogue in addressing shared challenges and opportunities.
Strengthening Strategic and Economic Ties
The renewed engagement comes at a time when both sides are seeking to reinforce partnerships in trade, energy security, investment, and regional stability. India’s expanding economic presence in the Middle East and the Arab world’s role as a key strategic and energy partner have added momentum to closer coordination.
Second Ministerial Meeting in New Delhi
India will host the second India–Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Saturday in New Delhi. The meeting will be jointly chaired by India and the United Arab Emirates, highlighting close bilateral coordination. Foreign Ministers from Arab League member states, along with senior officials, are expected to participate.
This marks the first time India is hosting the ministerial meeting, a milestone in India–Arab multilateral engagement. The first such meeting was held in Bahrain in 2016, where priority areas including economy, energy, education, media, and culture were identified.
Building on Long-Standing Frameworks
The ministerial dialogue builds on frameworks established through a 2002 memorandum of understanding between India and the League of Arab States, which institutionalized regular engagement. Cooperation was further strengthened with the creation of the Arab–India Cooperation Forum in 2008, later revised in 2013 to reflect evolving priorities.
India currently holds observer status in the Arab League, which comprises 22 member countries. Officials said participation from all member states is expected, following the India–Arab Senior Officials’ Meeting held on Friday that laid the groundwork for the ministerial discussions.
The renewed dialogue is seen as a step toward deepening long-term cooperation between India and the Arab world across diplomatic, economic, and cultural domains.
