PM Modi’s Diplomatic Outreach Amid Geopolitical Turbulence

By R Chandrakanth

• Visit to the UAE, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy

• India-UAE sign Framework for Strategic Defence Partnership, seeking deeper collaboration in defence industries, innovation, cyber defence, maritime security, secure communications and military training

• UAE investment commitments totalUSD 5 billion

• India and the Netherlands jointly callfor a “zero tolerance approach to terrorism” and rejected “double standards in countering terrorism”

New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s five-nation diplomatic outreach to the United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy has emerged as one of India’s most strategically consequential foreign policy engagements in recent years, taking place amid mounting geopolitical turbulence stretching from West Asia to Eastern Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

The visits, marked by major agreements in defence production, aerospace collaboration, maritime security, semiconductors, cyber cooperation and critical technologies, underscored New Delhi’s attempt to position itself as a pivotal power capable of navigating an increasingly fractured global order.

The diplomatic engagements come at a time when the world continues to grapple with the fallout of the war in Ukraine, instability in West Asia, heightened tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, disruptions to global supply chains, and intensifying competition among major powers over advanced technologies and defence capabilities.

Against this backdrop, PM Modi’s meetings with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten and Swedish leaders signal India’s determination to deepen strategic partnerships with technologically advanced and geopolitically influential nations that can contribute to its long-term defence preparedness, energy resilience and industrial transformation.

Growing Depth of India-UAE Relationship

In Abu Dhabi, Prime Minister Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, reflecting the growing depth of the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The discussions between the two leaders acquired particular significance in the aftermath of recent attacks on the UAE and rising regional tensions affecting maritime trade and energy flows. Modi reiterated India’s “strong condemnation of the attacks on the UAE” and conveyed India’s “solidarity with the leadership and the people of the UAE.”

The Indian Prime Minister also articulated New Delhi’s concerns over disruptions in maritime commerce, stressing the importance of “safe transit passage and unimpeded navigation through the Strait of Hormuz,” which he described as vital for “regional peace and stability, as well as energy and food security.”

The remarks reflected India’s growing strategic anxiety over vulnerabilities in global energy corridors, particularly since a substantial portion of India’s crude imports transits through the Gulf region.

For the UAE leadership, India has become an increasingly indispensable strategic and economic partner. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan emphasised the importance of expanding cooperation in advanced technologies, defence manufacturing and infrastructure development, while reiterating the UAE’s commitment to India’s long-term growth trajectory. The Emirati leadership also viewed the strengthening of defence cooperation with India as part of a broader recalibration of Gulf security partnerships amid evolving regional equations.

Framework for Strategic Defence Partnership with UAE

The most consequential outcome of the UAE visit was the signing of the Framework for the Strategic Defence Partnership, which seeks to deepen collaboration in defence industries, innovation, cyber defence, maritime security, secure communications and military training. The agreement represents a major step in India’s efforts to diversify defence partnerships beyond traditional suppliers while building integrated defence-industrial ecosystems with trusted strategic partners.

The defence partnership also aligns with India’s ambitions to emerge as a global manufacturing hub under its “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives. Cooperation in advanced defence technologies and aerospace systems with the UAE could potentially open pathways for joint ventures, co-development projects and defence exports targeting markets in West Asia and Africa.

Cochin Shipyard and Drydocks World of Dubai Collaboration

Another strategically important development was the collaboration involving Cochin Shipyard Limited and Drydocks World of Dubai to establish a ship repair cluster at Vadinar. The initiative is expected to enhance India’s maritime industrial capabilities, reduce dependence on overseas repair facilities and strengthen India’s ambitions to become a regional maritime hub.

The maritime collaboration also has significant geopolitical dimensions. With increasing militarisation and strategic competition in the Indian Ocean Region, India has been seeking to bolster indigenous shipbuilding and maritime logistics infrastructure. Enhanced cooperation with the UAE in offshore fabrication and ship repair can potentially strengthen India’s naval preparedness while supporting commercial maritime expansion.

Tripartite Skilling Initiative

Equally notable was the tripartite agreement involving Cochin Shipyard, Drydocks World Dubai and the Centre of Excellence in Maritime & Shipbuilding for skill development in ship repair. The initiative aims to mobilise and train a skilled maritime workforce, thereby addressing one of the major capability gaps in India’s maritime ecosystem.

High Performance Computing Infrastructure

In the aerospace and advanced technology domain, the announcement of an 8 Exaflop super compute cluster partnership between India’s CDAC and UAE-based G42 marked a major leap in bilateral technological collaboration. The project is expected to significantly strengthen India’s high-performance computing infrastructure, which is increasingly critical for defence simulations, aerospace research, AI-driven warfare systems and strategic technological autonomy.

The UAE visit also produced major investment commitments totalling USD 5 billion, including investments by Emirates NBD, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and International Holding Company. While largely economic in nature, these investments carry strategic overtones as India seeks to secure long-term capital flows from politically aligned partners during a period of global economic uncertainty.

Energy Security Central to Relations

Energy security remained central to the India-UAE discussions. Modi and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed welcomed the strategic collaboration between Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company to enhance the UAE’s participation in India’s strategic petroleum reserves to 30 million barrels and cooperate on strategic gas reserves. At a time when global energy markets remain volatile, the agreements provide India with greater resilience against supply disruptions.

Dutch, Important Gateway for India to European Union

From Abu Dhabi, Modi travelled to the Netherlands, where India and the Dutch government elevated bilateral ties to the level of a “Strategic Partnership”.The visit expanded the relations beyond traditional trade linkages into areas such as semiconductors, cyber security, defence manufacturing, maritime cooperation, AI and quantum technologies.

The visit to the Netherlands acquired heightened geopolitical significance because of Europe’s ongoing strategic reassessment triggered by the Ukraine conflict, rising concerns over technological dependence and renewed emphasis on defence preparedness. For India, closer ties with the Netherlands provide access to one of Europe’s most technologically advanced economies and an important gateway to the European Union.

At the Royal Palace Huis ten Bosch in The Hague, Modi was hosted by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima Zorreguieta before holding delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Rob Jetten.

Both leaders emphasised the growing convergence between the two countries on global strategic issues. Modi thanked the Netherlands for its continued support for India’s permanent membership of a reformed UN Security Council.

Prime Minister Jetten, meanwhile, strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir and reaffirmed the Netherlands’ solidarity with India in combating terrorism, including cross-border terrorism. The two leaders jointly called for a “zero tolerance approach to terrorism” and rejected “double standards in countering terrorism.”

Defence-Industrial Collaboration

The defence and security pillar of the India-Netherlands partnership emerged as one of the most important outcomes of the visit. The signing of the Letter of Intent on Defence Cooperation laid the foundation for expanded military collaboration, defence-industrial partnerships, training exchanges and joint innovation initiatives.

The two sides also agreed to explore a Defence Industrial Roadmap that could facilitate co-development and co-production of defence systems, components and advanced military technologies. The move assumes significance because the Netherlands possesses advanced expertise in aerospace engineering, naval technologies, semiconductors and cyber systems.

Cooperation in semiconductors

One of the most strategically consequential aspects of the visit was the extensive cooperation framework in semiconductors and emerging technologies. India and the Netherlands signed a Partnership on Semiconductors and Related Emerging Technology, aimed at deepening collaboration in investments, research and talent exchange.

The semiconductor partnership is geopolitically important because global supply chains in the sector have become highly contested amid US-China technological rivalry. The Netherlands occupies a uniquely influential position in the semiconductor ecosystem because of Dutch technology giant ASML, whose lithography machines are indispensable for advanced chip manufacturing.

The agreement involving Eindhoven University of Technology, University of Twente and several Indian Institutes of Technology, supported by ASML, NXP Semiconductors, Tata Group and CG Semi, is expected to boost semiconductor R&D and talent development. Analysts view the initiative as critical for India’s aspirations to emerge as a trusted node in global semiconductor supply chains.

Cybersecurity cooperation

Cybersecurity cooperation also figured prominently in the bilateral talks. The leaders welcomed enhanced collaboration in cyberspace, including coordination in multilateral forums, countering cyber threats and strengthening cyber resilience. As warfare increasingly extends into digital domains, such cooperation is becoming integral to national security architecture.

Securing Maritime Lanes

Maritime security formed another major strategic pillar of the India-Netherlands engagement. The two countries agreed to deepen cooperation on a Green and Digital Sea Corridor and enhance collaboration on secure maritime supply chains, resilient port infrastructure and protection of critical maritime assets.

Given the Netherlands’ expertise in port logistics and India’s expanding maritime ambitions in the Indo-Pacific, the partnership could significantly strengthen India’s commercial and naval maritime capacities. The Port of Rotterdam’s importance as a gateway for Indian exports to Europe also adds economic depth to the maritime relationship.

The Dutch decision to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and co-lead the Capacity Building and Resource Sharing pillar alongside Germany and the European Union was viewed as a major diplomatic gain for India. It reflects growing European engagement with the Indo-Pacific and recognition of India’s central role in regional stability.

Both sides welcomed the conclusion of negotiations for the India-EU Free Trade Agreement and the simultaneous signing of the India-EU Security and Defence Partnership.

The geopolitical undertones of the visit were unmistakable. Europe increasingly sees India as a balancing power amid tensions involving China and Russia, while India views Europe as a critical partner in technology, clean energy and defence diversification.

The broader geopolitical significance of the five-nation tour lies in the emerging architecture of India’s foreign policy. New Delhi is increasingly pursuing issue-based strategic partnerships with multiple centres of power across regions.

Through these engagements, India appears to be building long-term resilience across multiple domains, defence, aerospace, cyber security, maritime infrastructure, energy reserves and advanced manufacturing.

The diplomatic messaging from the visits also reinforced India’s positioning as a responsible global actor advocating dialogue, diplomacy and rules-based cooperation. Modi repeatedly emphasised the importance of secure maritime navigation, peaceful resolution of conflicts and collaborative technological development.

In a period marked by wars, supply chain disruptions and technological competition, the tour demonstrated how diplomacy, defence cooperation and technological alliances are becoming deeply intertwined in shaping the geopolitical landscape of the 21st century.