In a significant development aimed at deepening economic and strategic cooperation India and the United Arab Emirates have signed a landmark $3 billion liquefied natural gas agreement under which Abu Dhabi’s state-owned ADNOC Gas will supply 0.5 million metric tons of LNG annually to India’s Hindustan Petroleum Corporation over the next ten years beginning in 2028 a pact that not only positions India as the UAE’s top LNG customer but also enhances India’s long-term energy security amid volatile global energy markets; the deal was formalized during a brief but high-level visit by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to New Delhi where he held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and **both leaders pledged to accelerate bilateral trade setting an ambitious target to double two-way trade to $200 billion within the next six years building on robust growth since their Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement which has already taken trade past $100 billion; alongside the energy agreement the two nations signed a letter of intent to work towards a strategic defence partnership framework that will expand cooperation in defence manufacturing technology cyber security and training reflecting a shared desire to deepen strategic ties while making clear that defence cooperation does not imply involvement in regional conflicts and the talks also touched on expanding collaboration in other areas such as advanced technologies investment in special economic zones cultural exchange and infrastructure development underscoring a rapidly evolving India-UAE relationship amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in West Asia.
