India, GCC review strategic ties, FTA talks amid West Asia disruptions
New York, Sep 26. India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) reviewed the progress of their expanding strategic partnership, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and senior representatives of the six-nation Gulf grouping discussing trade, energy security, regional stability and the ongoing India-GCC Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.
The India-GCC Troika Ministerial Meeting was held on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 25. Jaishankar led the Indian delegation, while the GCC was represented by Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir.
Senior representatives from the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait also participated in the meeting.
The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to building on the outcomes of the first India-GCC Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue, held in Riyadh on September 9, 2024.
Jaishankar highlighted India’s historically close ties with the GCC countries, underpinned by extensive trade and strong people-to-people connections. He noted that bilateral engagement has expanded in recent years across trade, investment, energy, healthcare, technology and cultural exchanges.
Trade between India and the GCC has continued to expand, with total bilateral trade reaching $178.66 billion in the financial year 2025-26. The Gulf region is also home to a large Indian diaspora, making people-to-people ties a key component of the relationship.
The ministers reviewed the implementation of the India-GCC Joint Action Plan (JAP) 2024-28, adopted during the first Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue. The plan covers a broad range of areas, including political dialogue, security, trade and investment, agriculture and food security, transport, energy, healthcare, culture and education.
The two sides welcomed progress across these sectors, underscoring the breadth of India’s engagement with the Gulf grouping.
A major focus of the meeting was the proposed India-GCC FTA. The ministers welcomed the launch of negotiations following the finalisation of the Terms of Reference in February 2026.
The proposed agreement is expected to provide a framework for expanding and diversifying trade and exports and strengthening economic integration between India and the GCC once concluded.
Energy security also figured prominently in the discussions against the backdrop of recent disruptions to trade routes caused by the conflict in West Asia.
Jaishankar thanked GCC countries for maintaining supplies of energy and fertilisers to India despite the disruption to regional trade routes. He also called for further strengthening of the India-GCC energy partnership, including through greater cooperation in renewable energy, biofuels and green technologies.
The welfare and safety of the Indian community in the Gulf also came up for discussion. Jaishankar appreciated GCC countries for their support to the Indian diaspora, particularly their efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of Indian nationals during the recent West Asia conflict.
The two sides also discussed ways to deepen people-to-people connections through cooperation in the arts, heritage, yoga, music, cinema and literature.
On regional and global issues, the ministers exchanged views on the situation in West Asia, threats to commercial shipping in international waterways, reform of multilateral institutions, sustainability and terrorism.
Jaishankar stressed the importance of regional peace and security and the need to pursue dialogue and diplomacy to resolve conflicts.
India and the GCC also agreed to convene the second India-GCC Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue at an early date, signalling an effort to maintain high-level political engagement alongside the expanding economic and energy relationship.
