Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan paid a brief but high-impact visit to India on January 17, underscoring the deepening strategic partnership between the two countries.
Though the three-hour visit sparked online speculation and prompted lot of theories and questions, a joint statement issued by India and the UAE suggested that the visit was neither sudden nor unplanned. It noted that the visit took place “at the invitation of” Prime Minister Narendra Modi and resulted in a series of agreed outcomes.
In a post on X, PM Modi wrote: “Went to the airport to welcome my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. His visit illustrates the importance he attaches to a strong India-UAE friendship. Looking forward to our discussions.” The two leaders travelled together in the same car from the airport. PM Modi also posted photographs, including an image of the two leaders seated inside the car and another showing them in warm embrace. The visiting President was also gifted with a wooden swing, which was hand-carved in Gujarat, and a Pashmina shawl placed in a silver box made in Telangana.