New Delhi: India's foreign policy spotlight turns to the Gulf this week as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar embarks on a crucial visit to the UAE, the first by an Indian minister since the Iran war erupted, reported NDTV.
Between April 9 and 12, Jaishankar will travel to Mauritius for the Indian Ocean Conference before heading to Abu Dhabi, where energy security is expected to dominate discussions.
The timing is significant. His trip comes just hours after Washington and Tehran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, with US President Donald Trump calling Iran's 10-point conditions "workable." India welcomed the truce, stressing that de-escalation and diplomacy are vital to restoring peace and reopening disrupted trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz.
The war, triggered by US-Israel strikes on Iran in late February, had shut down the vital Hormuz shipping passage and rattled global energy markets. India, heavily dependent on Gulf oil, has been closely monitoring developments.
With the ceasefire offering a temporary reprieve, Jaishankar's UAE visit is expected to reinforce India's push for stability, secure energy supplies, and safeguard freedom of navigation in one of the world's most critical maritime corridors.