India Hosts Arab Foreign Ministers for Decade-Long Summit: What to Expect
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India is set to host the second India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting (IAFMM) on January 31, a significant diplomatic engagement with the Arab world. The meeting, co-chaired by India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will bring together foreign ministers from Arab League member states and the League's Secretary General. The IAFMM, which was last held in 2016, aims to strengthen political and strategic ties between India and the Arab world. The meeting will focus on expanding and deepening the India-Arab partnership, building on the foundation laid during the inaugural meeting, which identified five priority areas for cooperation: economy, energy, education, media, and culture. This year's meeting is particularly significant as it marks the first time India is hosting the IAFMM in New Delhi. The event will see participation from all 22 Arab countries, represented by Foreign Ministers, other ministers, ministers of state, senior officials, and the Arab League. The meeting has drawn attention due to the expected attendance of Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hasan al-Shaybani, marking the first ministerial-level engagement between New Delhi and Damascus since the formation of the government led by former Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmed al-Sharaa. The IAFMM is also taking place amid widening differences between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over the situation in Yemen. India, which holds observer status in the League of Arab States (LAS), is expected to play a key role in bridging the gap between the two nations. Palestine foreign minister, Dr Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, has praised the IAFMM as an important platform to bring together India and the Arab countries on several areas of interest, including the situation in Palestine. Shahin believes that India's stance as a friend of both Israel and Palestine makes it an ideal facilitator in resolving the conflict. The IAFMM is expected to be a significant event, with around 15 foreign ministers from Arab countries attending the meeting. The outcome of the meeting will be closely watched, as it has the potential to shape the future of India's relations with the Arab world.
