India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar took part in the second Raisina Middle East forum in Abu Dhabi. He appeared alongside UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and spoke on a separate panel on regional connectivity, according to reports by the news agency ANI and the public broadcaster Doordarshan.
The forum ran on 14 and 15 October, the dates also listed by organiser ORF Middle East. ANI reported that it was hosted in collaboration with the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and India’s Ministry of External Affairs. Dr. Jaishankar’s visit to the UAE lasted from 14 to 16 October. Doordarshan said he was received on arrival by UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al Hashimy.
Session on Global Order and Multilateral Reform
Doordarshan reported that Dr. Jaishankar and Sheikh Abdullah shared the stage for a session titled “The World Ahead: Power, Purpose & Possibility”. In the broadcaster’s summary, the Indian minister described the pace of change in the international order as reflecting both long-term structural trends and sudden shocks. He said countries respond according to their own circumstances by exploring new partnerships and options, and called for urgent reform of multilateral institutions, supported by stronger smaller groupings, the report said.
Doordarshan added that he cited the India-UAE partnership of the past decade as an example of two countries adapting to a changing global environment. The two ministers also held a bilateral meeting, which Dr. Jaishankar called “a warm and productive meeting” in a post on X, according to ANI. The agency said they discussed bilateral and international issues under the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Connectivity Corridors and Supply-Chain Chokepoints
On 15 October, ANI reported, Dr. Jaishankar spoke at a session titled “The Continental Corridors: Who Connects the Heartland?”. According to Doordarshan’s account, he said competition has intensified, new chokepoints have emerged, and countries are more willing to use their advantages.
He pointed to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), saying it is already influencing regional thinking on connectivity and economic integration, ANI said.
Outside the main sessions, Doordarshan reported that Dr. Jaishankar met Georgia’s Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili. He noted that India-Georgia ties in trade, tourism and education have been expanding, and the two sides discussed deeper cooperation in business, connectivity, culture and people-to-people links. On 16 October, ANI reported that he met Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, the ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and a member of the UAE Supreme Council, and that the two discussed bilateral ties and the situation in the Gulf.
Context and Sourcing
The forum gave India and the UAE a public platform to set out the framework of their relationship, and, according to ANI, the situation in the Gulf also featured in Dr. Jaishankar’s talks. His emphasis on IMEC suggests New Delhi continues to present connectivity as a joint infrastructure and trade-facilitation project with Gulf partners. The accounts here come mainly from Indian media and official social-media posts, so readouts from the UAE side would complete the record.
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