In a bid to strengthen defense cooperation and bolster ties, the Indian Navy's two frontline warships, INS Visakhapatnam and INS Trikand are on a visit to the UAE from August 8-11, the Indian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
The Indian MoD noted that both vessels are presently docked at Port Rashid, where Indian naval officials are sharing their best practices and having "professional interactions" with the Gulf nation's Naval Force.
Besides, the two navies will also discuss expanding their partnership in the area of maritime operations.
Additionally, the two forces will conduct a naval exercise, codenamed Zayed Talwar, to "enhance interoperability and synergy between the two navies".
"The current visit shall further enhance maritime partnership between the two navies and foster a common understanding of the security challenges in the region," the ministry added.
India's Defense Pivot to Gulf
In recent years, India's defense diplomacy in the Middle East has grown by leaps and bounds, with the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman becoming New Delhi's major partners in the region.
In economic terms, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh are among India's top four trading partners following the US and China, with America occupying the third spot while the PRC stands in fourth place.
On the other hand, India's military engagements with the two Gulf heavyweights have considerably heightened. From training armed forces personnel and conducting joint military drills, their relationship with New Delhi has extended to the domains of cybersecurity, counter-terrorism, and electronic warfare among others things.