India UAE Defence Pact: India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have sealed a diplomatic thriller much to the surprise of everyone in the political circles. What was considered just a friendly stopover soon turned out to be an out-of-the-frame, strategic defence partnership framework.
In a whirlwind 120-minute visit, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit to New Delhi on January 19, 2026, met the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Indian PM personally went to the airport to meet and greet the UAE President and the two shared a picture-perfect hug with smiles all around.
Later, both state heads went to the Indian Prime Minister’s residence to kickstart the 120-minute talks that sealed the defence pact, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) deals and $200 billion trade goals amid regional tensions. Now comes the big question – is it a calculated counter by New Delhi to the September 2025 Saudi-Pakistan Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA)?
India UAE Defence Pact-Why It Irritates Saudi Arabia and Pakistan?
Riyadh and Islamabad would have felt the sting really hard after India and UAE signed the defence pact.
The SMDA of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan – pledging mutual aggression response much on the lines of Article 5 of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) – aimed to bolster Pakistan’s deterrence against India post-2025 skirmishes, granting Riyadh nuclear “insurance” via Islamabad.
How Will These Pacts Impact Regional Balance?
The defence pact of India and UAE has flipped the script, drawing Abu Dhabi closer amid UAE-Saudi rifts over Yemen and Sudan, where UAE-backed forces clashed near Saudi borders in December 2025. UAE is being seen as a traditional ally by Pakistan.
The India-UAE association signals erosion of that bond, especially with anti-terror clauses targeting havens like those Pakistan faces accusations over. Saudi Arabia, expanding India ties despite the pact, risks Gulf cohesion as UAE hedges with Delhi, exposing SMDA’s fragility.
UAE’s defence snub erodes the Gulf fall-back of Islamabad. India-UAE tech ties could integrate with QUAD, encircling China’s Belt and Road via secure Gulf chokepoints that may be a cause of concern for Beijing. UAE-India autonomy signals reduced Indo-Pacific dependence, potentially diluting anti-China fronts. India’s non-aligned thrust challenges US-India pacts (like 2025’s 10-year deal). All in all, Beijing’s influence wanes, Islamabad’s gambles falter and Washington’s leverage frays.
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