Arab: India Hosts Renewed Dialogue With League After Decade-Long Gap
Arab: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit on Friday as the senior Arab diplomat arrived in India for the upcoming India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. The interaction marked an important moment ahead of the high-level gathering, which resumes formal ministerial engagement between India and Arab nations after a ten-year pause.
Discussions Focus on Broad Cooperation
During their meeting, both leaders reviewed the current state of India-Arab cooperation and explored ways to deepen ties across multiple sectors. The conversation covered a wide range of shared interests, reflecting the expanding scope of engagement between the two sides.
Jaishankar later shared details of the meeting on social media, describing it as a constructive exchange. He noted that discussions addressed ongoing collaboration as well as recent regional developments, underlining the importance of regular dialogue in a rapidly changing geopolitical environment.
Strengthening India-Arab Relations
The meeting comes at a time when India and Arab countries are working to reinforce diplomatic, economic, and strategic partnerships. Areas such as trade, energy security, investment, and regional stability have gained prominence in recent years, prompting renewed institutional engagement.
India’s growing economic footprint in the Middle East and the Arab world’s role as a key energy supplier and strategic partner have further elevated the importance of structured dialogue mechanisms like the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
Second India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi
India will host the second edition of the India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Saturday in New Delhi. The meeting will be jointly chaired by India and the United Arab Emirates, reflecting close coordination between the two countries in shaping the agenda.
Foreign Ministers from Arab League member states, along with the Secretary General of the Arab League, are expected to attend. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, this is the first time India is hosting the ministerial meeting, marking a significant milestone in bilateral and multilateral engagement.
Resumption After Ten Years
The ministerial meeting is being held after a gap of nearly a decade. The first India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting took place in 2016 in Bahrain, where participating countries agreed on a framework to guide cooperation.
At that initial meeting, five priority areas were identified: economy, energy, education, media, and culture. Ministers also proposed specific activities aimed at strengthening collaboration in these sectors, laying the groundwork for long-term engagement.
Building on Existing Frameworks
The upcoming meeting is expected to build upon the foundations laid in previous dialogues, with an emphasis on expanding and deepening cooperation. Officials see the forum as an opportunity to review progress, address emerging challenges, and chart future priorities.
The India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting serves as the highest institutional mechanism overseeing the partnership. This framework was formalized in March 2002 when India and the League of Arab States signed a memorandum of understanding to institutionalize regular dialogue.
Evolution of the India-Arab Cooperation Forum
Further strengthening the relationship, a Memorandum of Cooperation establishing the Arab-India Cooperation Forum was signed during the visit of then Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa to India in December 2008. The framework was revised in 2013 to reflect changes in organizational structure and evolving priorities.
India currently holds observer status in the League of Arab States, a regional organization comprising 22 member countries.
Broad Participation Expected
According to official information, the New Delhi meeting will see participation from all 22 Arab countries. Delegations are expected to include Foreign Ministers, other senior ministers, ministers of state, and high-ranking officials, alongside representatives from the Arab League.
The ministerial meeting follows the fourth India-Arab Senior Officials’ Meeting, held on Friday, which set the stage for detailed discussions and coordination ahead of the main event.