India and UAE Sign Major Defense and Energy Partnership During Modi State Visit

India and the United Arab Emirates signed a Strategic Defence Partnership on May 15, 2026, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit. The UAE committed $5 billion in development investment to India. The Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company signed a collaboration agreement. The deals address India's energy crisis after Strait of Hormuz closure caused oil inventories to decline 15 percent.

India-UAE defense partnership

• ▪The India-UAE Strategic Defence Partnership builds on the existing India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
• ▪The Indian Ministry of External Affairs announced seven outcomes from Narendra Modi's May 15, 2026 state visit to the United Arab Emirates.
• ▪Narendra Modi made a state visit to the United Arab Emirates on May 15, 2026.
• ▪India and the United Arab Emirates signed a Strategic Defence Partnership on May 15, 2026.

India-UAE energy deals

• ▪The United Arab Emirates committed a $5 billion development investment to India on May 15, 2026.
• ▪The Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL) and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) signed a collaboration agreement on May 15, 2026.

Iran war oil supply crisis

• ▪India depends on imports for 90 percent of its oil supply.
• ▪Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attended a BRICS meeting in New Delhi on May 14, 2026.
• ▪The closure of the Strait of Hormuz caused India's oil inventories to decline by 15 percent.

Indian fuel austerity measures

• ▪Narendra Modi called on Indians to refrain from buying gold in May 2026.
• ▪Liquified petroleum gas shortages in India resulted in job loss, business closures, and rising prices of basic commodities.
• ▪Narendra Modi called on Indians to work from home to conserve fuel in May 2026.
• ▪Indians demonstrated against liquified petroleum gas (LPG) costs since March 2026.
• ▪Narendra Modi called on Indians to avoid foreign travel in May 2026.

UAE role in Iran strikes

• ▪Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on May 14, 2026 that the United Arab Emirates was directly involved in US-Israeli attacks on Iran.
• ▪Narendra Modi expressed condemnation for Iranian strikes on the United Arab Emirates during his May 15, 2026 state visit.

India-Israel-UAE strategic alliance

• ▪India has been part of the I2U2 Group strategic agreement with Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States since 2023.
• ▪India escalated its military and economic ties with Israel during Israel's war on Gaza.

Perspective of Iranian government

• ▪Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on May 14, 2026 that the United Arab Emirates was directly involved in US-Israeli attacks on Iran.

Perspective of Indian citizens facing fuel crisis

• ▪Liquified petroleum gas shortages in India resulted in job loss, business closures, and rising prices of basic commodities.
• ▪Indians demonstrated against liquified petroleum gas (LPG) costs since March 2026.

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