India and the UAE are actively enhancing their defense cooperation, as highlighted during a meeting between Amitabh Prasad, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) at the Ministry of Defence, and Ali Al Ahmed, UAE’s Assistant Under Secretary of Defence Affairs, on the sidelines of the 16th India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, co-chairing the commission alongside UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, emphasized the importance of deepening bilateral ties amid discussions on broader regional and global issues. This initiative reflects India’s strategic pivot towards strengthening alliances in the Gulf region, fostering collaborative security measures, and advancing mutual interests in defense as both nations navigate a complex geopolitical landscape.