India & UAE Strengthen Strategic Defence Ties at 13th JDCC Meeting in New Delhi

A New Chapter in India-UAE Defence Cooperation

India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have taken a significant step forward in their growing defence relationship by holding the 13th meeting of the Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) in New Delhi on July 30, 2025. For the first time, this key strategic dialogue was held at the Secretary-level, underscoring the expanding scope and seriousness of bilateral defence collaboration.

Co-chaired by Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh and Lt General Ibrahim Nasser M. Al Alawi, Under Secretary of Defense of the UAE, the high-level meeting marked a turning point in India-UAE defence engagement. Lt General Al Alawi is leading a prominent UAE defence delegation on a two-day visit, aimed at reinforcing long-term cooperation across military, industrial, and strategic domains.

Aligning Defence Ties with Broader Strategic Momentum

The discussions reflected the shared intent to elevate defence relations in line with the robust momentum witnessed in India-UAE trade, investment, and people-to-people ties. Both sides reviewed the progress made in their strategic partnership and committed to aligning defence initiatives with mutual interests in regional and global security.

One of the highlights of the meeting was India’s offer to provide customised military training programs tailored to the UAE’s specific requirements. The proposal reflects India’s growing stature as a defence training hub and a strategic partner in knowledge transfer.

Furthermore, both nations agreed to strengthen cooperation in maritime security, a key area given the shared interest in securing the Indian Ocean Region. This includes mechanisms for real-time information sharing, coordinated search and rescue operations, and counter-piracy initiatives.

Building Defence Industrial Partnerships & AI Collaboration

With an eye on future-ready defence capabilities, both sides explored co-development opportunities in next-generation technologies, especially in Artificial Intelligence (AI), cyber security, and drone warfare. Discussions also touched upon expanding Service-to-Service engagements and identifying areas for collaboration in joint manufacturing and technology transfer.

A noteworthy example cited during the meeting was the ICOMM (India)–CARACAL (UAE) partnership, a successful model of small arms manufacturing collaboration. The two sides expressed intent to replicate and scale such models across other segments, including shipbuilding, platform refits, and maintenance ecosystems.

New Milestone: MoU Signed Between Indian Coast Guard and UAE National Guard

A major outcome of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indian Coast Guard and the UAE National Guard. The MoU lays down a structured framework for bilateral cooperation in critical maritime security areas such as:

• Search and rescue operations

• Pollution response

• Anti-piracy initiatives

• Maritime domain awareness

This marks a significant institutional step in expanding operational collaboration between the two forces in the maritime space.

Preceding Staff-Level Talks Set the Stage

Ahead of the JDCC, a series of Service-to-Service Staff Talks were held from July 28–29, 2025, which provided critical groundwork for the high-level engagements. These included:

• 4th Army-to-Army Talks

• 9th Navy-to-Navy Talks

• Inaugural Air-to-Air Staff Dialogue

These discussions focused on strengthening bilateral military exercises, refining joint training modules, and enhancing Subject Matter Expert (SME) exchanges, particularly in tactical planning, logistics, and doctrine development.

Defence Industry Forum and Leadership Engagements

The UAE delegation is also scheduled to call on Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth on July 31, 2025. Additionally, they will participate in the 2nd India-UAE Defence Industry Partnership Forum, jointly inaugurated by Lt General Al Alawi and Shri Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production), Government of India.

This forum is expected to serve as a springboard for expanding B2B and G2B engagements between Indian defence manufacturers and UAE’s procurement agencies. Focus areas include defence start-ups, MSME participation in export-oriented production, and integration into global supply chains.

Historical Context: From Strategic Partnership to Defence Synergy

India and the UAE’s defence relationship has come a long way since the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) was formalised during Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s visit to the UAE in 2015. Since then, the two nations have built a strong foundation of trust and cooperation across military exercises, port calls, intelligence sharing, and joint production.

India’s anticipated participation in the Dubai Air Show in November 2025 is set to amplify its presence in the Middle East’s aerospace and defence ecosystem, providing a platform to showcase indigenous innovations, including aircraft systems, UAVs, and defence electronics.

Strategic Relevance for Indian MSMEs and Defence Start-ups

For India’s vibrant MSME and defence tech ecosystem, this renewed focus on industrial collaboration with the UAE opens up immense possibilities. Indian firms, particularly those working under the Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, stand to benefit from:

• Export orders and JV opportunities with UAE defence companies

• Access to UAE’s defence innovation and funding ecosystem

• Collaborative R&D in AI, unmanned systems, and smart warfare solutions

The Defence Ministry’s ongoing push for industry-academia linkages, coupled with international tie-ups, places Indian start-ups at the centre of a new era of global defence cooperation.

Conclusion: A Strategic Leap with Global Implications

The 13th JDCC meeting between India and the UAE has reaffirmed the commitment of both nations to build a future-ready, resilient, and strategically aligned defence partnership. From traditional military ties to cutting-edge technology collaboration, the dialogue reflects a mature, forward-looking relationship poised to address regional security challenges and unlock industrial growth.

With structured mechanisms in place, increasing engagement across all branches of the military, and growing defence commerce, the India-UAE relationship is set to become a template for meaningful, balanced, and high-impact international defence cooperation.