India said the India-Arab summit comes at a critical moment of trade disruptions and West Asia tensions, reaffirming historic ties, security cooperation and its push for dialogue and peace over Iran.
India on Friday underscored dialogue, security and regional cooperation as essential pillars of its engagement with the Arab world, as geopolitical and geoeconomic tensions weigh on global trade and stability in West Asia.
Minister of State for External Affairs Keerti Vardhan Singh was speaking on the India-Arab Countries Chamber of Commerce, Industry, & Agriculture in New Delhi, saying the talks were being held at a crucial moment marked by unilateral tariffs and shifting global trade rules.
“India shares historic linkages with the region. It is very significant that an important dialogue is being hosted by us and has brought many Arab leaders to India,” said Singh. “This summit shows that regional cooperation across sectors is the way forward. We are witnessing a shift in the older rules that shaped world trade. In this changing trade landscape, it is essential to recognise each other’s comparative advantages and work together within our regions to achieve shared growth. This is how we see our future growth,” Singh told ANI.
He noted that while India was keen to expand trade ties, economic engagement could not be separated from security concerns. “Trade cannot happen without security. We are certainly going to discuss security,” he said.
On tensions in West Asia, particularly involving Iran, Singh said India continued to advocate restraint and engagement. “As far as the Iran situation is concerned, we have always solicited peace and dialogue to resolve any conflict situation,” he said.
Singh described Arab nations as part of India’s extended neighbourhood and said trade between India and the Arab world had reached around USD 240 billion in FY 2024–25, remaining resilient despite global disruptions.
