Recently, during my travels, I met a person who regularly reads my column. He asked an important question: with so much happening in the country and the states, with so many issues arising, why have I been prioritizing foreign matters in my columns these days? I want my readers to understand that the world is so interconnected that every global issue has some connection to India. It is my responsibility to keep readers aware of these developments in simple, accessible language. I don’t divide topics into domestic or foreign.
Whatever I write is timely so that readers stay informed. Questions that arise in their minds are explored and answered.
Currently, the topic of discussion is the recent visit of the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who came to India for only 105 minutes. This was an extremely short visit for any head of state. Breaking protocol, PM Modi himself went to the airport to receive him.
From there, both leaders traveled in the same car to the PM’s residence. They had discussions, signed some deals, and then Nahyan returned to the UAE. Naturally, everyone wondered: what was the purpose of this visit? The Ministry of External Affairs provided some information about the signed deals, but was that the sole purpose of such a brief visit? This question is valid because the UAE has emerged as a major player in diplomacy in recent years, and our Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also a master diplomat. He has cultivated remarkable relations with all Middle Eastern countries, whether UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran, or Israel.
All of them are friends of India. The UAE has been so close that it even allowed the construction of a BAPS Swaminarayan temple in the country. This is commendable. India and the UAE have reached multiple agreements in defense, space, and special investments. Deals were signed, but the big news is that the UAE will supply India with 5 lakh metric tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) annually, making it India’s second-largest LNG supplier.
However, these are all surface-level issues. The real question is: what deeper matters were discussed during this meeting? Did Nahyan bring any messages that could not be shared through secure channels? Or were there topics that were best discussed face-to-face between the two leaders? Was the Trump Board of Peace involved in these discussions? This board, created by former US President Donald Trump, aims to promote global peace, with its first project focusing on the development of Gaza. Sixty countries have been invited, including India. Interestingly, a country seeking permanent membership must pay a billion dollars. Other details are still unclear.
You should also know that major countries like China, the UK, France, Germany, Sweden, and others did not participate in the board’s signing ceremony. This is being called a boycott. Germany, Italy, Russia, and Turkey, among others, have said nothing. India has remained silent, but the UAE accepted the invitation. Could this issue have been discussed between the two leaders? Did they exchange messages regarding this? This question arises because politics in the Middle East—or any upheaval there—directly impacts India. On one hand, India maintains excellent relations with Israel, with which trade is growing steadily. On the other hand, India continues to support Palestine.
Trump would certainly want India to join the board. But the question is, if the United Nations already exists for world peace, what is the need for such a board? Another curiosity is whether other Middle Eastern issues were discussed during the meeting. This is significant because Saudi Arabia and Pakistan recently signed a Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement, which means an attack on one will be considered an attack on the other. Turkey is likely to join this alliance, and reports suggest that Egypt and Somalia are eager to join as well.
Meanwhile, tensions persist in Saudi Arabia and the UAE over conflicts in Yemen, Somaliland, and Sudan. The UAE would not want Saudi Arabia’s position to become stronger. If a conflict arises with Saudi Arabia, who will support them? The US maintains friendly ties with both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, so it is unlikely to take sides openly. Therefore, it is not surprising that the UAE looks toward India. Discussions are also intensifying on a defense pact involving Israel, the UAE, and India. Naturally, one wonders whether this topic was also part of the meeting and whether the issue of Iran was discussed. For now, we must wait—time will reveal the answers to all these questions.
