Jaishankar met Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, reports India Daily News Desk
India has reaffirmed its growing strategic engagement with the Gulf as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a series of high-level meetings in Bahrain aimed at expanding cooperation across trade, investment, security and regional affairs while strengthening people-to-people ties.
During his official visit to Manama, the second stop of his six-nation diplomatic tour, Jaishankar met Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani. The discussions centred on further enhancing the long-standing India-Bahrain partnership and reviewing developments across the wider West Asian region.
Describing his audience with the Bahraini monarch as an honour, Jaishankar conveyed the greetings of President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while expressing appreciation for King Hamad’s continued support in advancing bilateral relations.
The External Affairs Minister also thanked the Bahraini leadership for ensuring the safety, security and welfare of the large Indian expatriate community, which remains one of the kingdom’s largest foreign populations and plays a significant role in sectors ranging from healthcare and construction to finance, education and information technology.
Jaishankar later met Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, where both leaders reviewed existing cooperation and discussed ways to broaden collaboration in areas of mutual interest.
In a message shared on social media after the meeting, Jaishankar said the two sides had explored opportunities to deepen bilateral cooperation while exchanging views on the evolving regional situation.
The visit comes at a time when India has significantly expanded its engagement with Gulf nations beyond traditional energy ties. Relations with Bahrain have steadily diversified over recent years, encompassing defence cooperation, maritime security, fintech, digital technology, healthcare, education, renewable energy and investment partnerships.
Bahrain occupies an important position in India’s Gulf outreach due to its strategic location in the Arabian Gulf and its role as a regional financial centre. The kingdom is also a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a grouping that has become an increasingly important economic and strategic partner for India.
According to official figures, bilateral trade between India and Bahrain has consistently remained robust, with petroleum products, aluminium, chemicals, food products, machinery, textiles and engineering goods forming major components of two-way commerce. India is among Bahrain’s leading trading partners, while Bahraini investments have expanded across sectors including banking, real estate and infrastructure.
Alongside official engagements, Jaishankar also interacted with members of the Indian diaspora in Bahrain, acknowledging their contribution to both countries.
Addressing the gathering, he described the Indian community as a “living bridge” connecting India and Bahrain and thanked them for their longstanding contributions to Bahraini society. He also heard their suggestions and experiences, noting that the welfare of overseas Indians remains a priority for the Government of India.
The Indian community has maintained a presence in Bahrain for over a century, and today more than 300,000 Indians live and work in the kingdom, making it one of the largest expatriate communities in the country. Their contribution has been instrumental in strengthening cultural, economic and commercial ties between the two nations.
The Bahrain visit followed Jaishankar’s engagements in Qatar, where he met Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. Discussions in Doha focused on strengthening cooperation in energy security, trade, investment, connectivity, defence, regional security and people-to-people exchanges.
Jaishankar thanked the Qatari leadership for ensuring the welfare of the Indian community and said both sides had explored fresh avenues to deepen the India-Qatar Strategic Partnership.
His Gulf tour, which also includes Kuwait and Oman, reflects New Delhi’s sustained diplomatic efforts to strengthen partnerships with countries that are critical to India’s energy security, trade, maritime interests and regional stability. The Gulf region supplies a significant share of India’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas requirements while hosting nearly nine million members of the Indian diaspora.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Jaishankar’s visit aims to reinforce bilateral relations with the four Gulf nations while providing an opportunity to exchange views on regional developments and international issues of common concern.
Following the Gulf leg of his tour, Jaishankar will travel to New York to launch India’s campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2028-29 term. He will subsequently visit Brussels to participate in the third India-European Union Trade and Technology Council meeting and hold discussions with European Union and Belgian leaders, underlining India’s broader diplomatic push to strengthen strategic partnerships across multiple regions.
New Push for India-Qatar Partnership
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has concluded his official visit to Qatar, reaffirming the growing strategic partnership between New Delhi and Doha while holding wide-ranging discussions on energy security, trade, investments and regional stability.
During his visit on July 5, Jaishankar met Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, to review the full spectrum of bilateral relations. The talks focused on expanding cooperation in key sectors including energy, connectivity, security, trade, investments and people-to-people ties, while exploring new opportunities to further strengthen the India-Qatar Strategic Partnership.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two leaders also exchanged views on regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest. Jaishankar commended Qatar’s active diplomatic efforts in promoting regional stability, particularly its mediation role in the ongoing US-Iran negotiations.
The minister also appreciated Qatar’s assessment of the evolving situation in West Asia and the wider implications of the regional conflict.
In a post on social media following the meeting, Jaishankar thanked the Qatari leadership for ensuring the safety and well-being of the Indian community living in the Gulf nation.
“It was a pleasure to meet Qatar PM and FM Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. We reviewed various facets of our bilateral cooperation, especially energy, trade, investments, connectivity, security and people-to-people ties, while exploring new opportunities for deepening our Strategic Partnership,” he said.
Jaishankar also interacted with members of the Indian diaspora in Qatar, praising their resilience during recent regional tensions and recognising their contribution to strengthening ties between the two countries. The MEA said he appreciated the community’s commitment to enhancing the India-Qatar partnership despite challenging circumstances.
India and Qatar elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership during the state visit of the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to India in February 2025, paving the way for closer cooperation across multiple sectors.
