Ajit Doval’s Gulf diplomacy focuses on security, energy and regional stability
New Delhi, April 26. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on April 25 to discuss regional stability and the evolving security landscape in West Asia amid rising geopolitical tensions following the fallout of the Israel-Iran conflict.
The talks reviewed shared security concerns, economic interests and the need for closer coordination as instability continues to affect the wider region. Doval’s visit to the United Arab Emirates follows his trip to Saudi Arabia last week, reflecting New Delhi’s intensified diplomatic outreach to key Gulf partners under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In Riyadh, Doval held meetings with senior Saudi leadership, including ministers responsible for energy and foreign affairs, as well as his security counterpart. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the discussions focused on strengthening bilateral ties while exchanging assessments on regional developments.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Doval’s engagements in Saudi Arabia enabled both sides to review regional issues and reinforce cooperation. Officials described the talks as significant in addressing challenges arising from instability that threatens global trade routes and energy flows.
Conversations with Saudi counterparts reportedly centred on four key pillars of the India-Saudi partnership: ensuring stable supply chains amid disruptions, addressing security concerns in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Gulf region, enhancing intelligence sharing, and expanding economic cooperation.
India’s stepped-up engagement comes as conflicts in the region cast spillover effects on countries such as Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. New Delhi has maintained a calibrated diplomatic stance, consistently urging restraint, protection of civilians and resolution through dialogue.
With a large Indian diaspora in the Gulf and significant dependence on the region for energy imports, officials underline that sustained engagement with partners such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, as well as other regional stakeholders including Israel, Palestine and Iran, remains critical to safeguarding India’s strategic and economic interests during a period of heightened uncertainty.
