India-Arab Ties in Focus as New Delhi Hosts Foreign Ministers’ Summit

India is set to host the 2nd India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (IAFMM) in New Delhi on Saturday, January 31, marking the resumption of a key diplomatic platform after a 10-year hiatus, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

The meeting will be co-chaired by India and the United Arab Emirates, and will bring together Foreign Ministers and senior representatives from all 22 Arab League member states, along with the Secretary General of the League of Arab States (LAS).

The India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting is the highest institutional mechanism guiding India–Arab relations, which were formally institutionalised in March 2002 through a Memorandum of Understanding between India and the League of Arab States. India holds observer status in the LAS, a pan-Arab body representing 22 nations.

The upcoming meeting will be held in India for the first time. The inaugural meeting took place in Bahrain in 2016, where participating ministers identified five priority areas of cooperation, economy, energy, education, media, and culture, and proposed a range of collaborative initiatives across these sectors.

According to the MEA, the second meeting is expected to expand and deepen cooperation, building on the foundation laid in 2016. The IAFMM will be preceded by the 4th India-Arab Senior Officials’ Meeting on Friday.

Ahead of the meeting, foreign ministers from several Arab countries have arrived in New Delhi, underlining the diplomatic significance of the gathering.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal welcomed Sudan’s Foreign Minister Mohieldin Salim Ahmed Ibrahim, noting that his visit would further strengthen people-to-people ties between India and Sudan. India and Sudan share longstanding relations, with the two countries recently holding their first round of Foreign Office Consultations, covering cooperation in health, training, trade, and capacity building.

Jaiswal also welcomed Comoros’ Foreign Minister Mbae Mohamed, stating that his visit would strengthen cordial bilateral relations. India established diplomatic relations with Comoros in 1976, and the two countries share close ties, including cooperation within multilateral platforms such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association and the International Solar Alliance.

In addition, Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin arrived in New Delhi to participate in the meeting. The MEA said her visit reaffirms India’s partnership with the people of Palestine and the Arab world. India has historically played a proactive role in supporting the Palestinian cause, including early recognition of the Palestine Liberation Organisation and the State of Palestine, and consistent support in multilateral forums.

The MEA said the gathering reflects India’s growing engagement with the Arab world and its broader diplomatic outreach across West Asia, Africa, and the Global South.

(With inputs from ANI)