India hosts the second India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi, seeking to deepen cooperation with all 22 Arab League nations after nearly a decade-long gap.
India is hosting the second India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (IAFMM) in New Delhi today, a high-level diplomatic engagement aimed at strengthening political, economic and strategic ties with the Arab world after a gap of nearly a decade.
The meeting is being co-chaired by India and the United Arab Emirates and brings together foreign ministers and senior representatives from all 22 member states of the Arab League, along with the League’s Secretary General. It marks the first time New Delhi is hosting the India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, underlining the importance India attaches to its partnership with Arab countries.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the meeting is expected to build on existing cooperation and further deepen engagement across a range of sectors. The first India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held in Bahrain in 2016.
The IAFMM is the highest institutional mechanism guiding cooperation between India and the League of Arab States. The dialogue framework dates back to March 2002, when India and the Arab League signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalise consultations and cooperation. This was followed by a Memorandum of Cooperation in December 2008, signed during the visit of then Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa, which led to the establishment of the Arab-India Cooperation Forum. The framework was later revised in 2013 to strengthen its structure and effectiveness. India currently holds observer status in the Arab League.
During the inaugural foreign ministers’ meeting in 2016, both sides identified five priority areas for cooperation: economy, energy, education, media, and culture. Officials said today’s discussions will review progress made in these areas and explore ways to expand collaboration, reflecting the steady growth in political, economic and strategic engagement between India and Arab nations.
The MEA said the meeting would see participation from all 22 Arab countries at the level of foreign ministers, ministers of state and other senior officials, alongside representatives of the Arab League. Diplomatic sources say the wide participation highlights the shared interest in elevating the India-Arab partnership.
Ahead of the ministerial talks, the fourth India-Arab Senior Officials’ Meeting was held on January 30, laying the groundwork for detailed discussions and coordination on key issues.
Observers see the meeting as a timely opportunity to inject fresh momentum into India-Arab relations amid evolving regional and global challenges. Economic cooperation, energy security and people-to-people ties are expected to feature prominently, alongside broader discussions on regional stability and multilateral cooperation.
