India, United Arab Emirates sign natural gas pact, move towards closer defense cooperation

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) - India and the United Arab Emirates on Monday signed a 10-year liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply agreement, with both countries vowing to double bilateral trade to a $200 billion target by 2032 and move towards closer defense cooperation.

The pact was among a dozen outcomes of UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s Monday talks in New Delhi with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with various memorandums of understanding, said Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

A joint statement issued after the meeting said both leaders “acknowledged steady and strong bilateral defence and security cooperation as a core pillar of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.”

On Monday, the two nations signed a letter of intent “towards the conclusion of a strategic defense partnership.”

New Delhi said the leaders “welcomed signing a 10-year LNG supply agreement between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and ADNOC gas for the delivery of 0.5 million tonnes per year of liquefied natural gas, beginning in 2028.”

It added that the leaders “highlighted deep respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and the importance of strategic autonomy.”