Defence cooperation to deepen with enhanced training, maritime security, and joint manufacturing initiatives
India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to scale up their bilateral defence cooperation during the 13th India-UAE Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting, held in New Delhi on July 30, 2025. The high-level meeting, conducted at the Secretary level for the first time, saw both sides align their strategic goals with the broader momentum of growing trade, investment, and social engagement, reported thehindu.com.
Co-chaired by India’s Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and UAE’s Under Secretary of Defence Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Nasser M. Al Alawi, the discussions resulted in several concrete steps to enhance military training exchanges. India offered to design customised training programs tailored to UAE’s defence requirements.
The two nations also agreed on deeper maritime cooperation, committing to real-time information sharing to strengthen regional maritime security. A key development was the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the UAE National Guard Command (NGC) on maritime safety and coordination.
India and UAE strengthen military collaboration with new MoUs, training programs, and defence tech initiatives
Additionally, both countries expressed interest in joint defence manufacturing, highlighting models like the existing ICOMM-CARACAL small arms collaboration. Talks also touched upon co-development of next-generation technologies, especially in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, along with shipbuilding, platform upgrades, and maintenance partnerships.
In the lead-up to the JDCC, India and the UAE held a series of military dialogues from July 28–29, including the fourth Army-to-Army, ninth Navy-to-Navy, and the first-ever Air-to-Air Staff Talks, focusing on joint exercises, training, and expert exchanges.
India’s robust defence partnership with the UAE is rooted in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2015 visit. The relationship is expected to gain further traction with India’s participation in the Dubai Air Show in November 2025.
