Deepening bilateral relations amid the crisis in West Asia, India and the UAE signed a slew of pacts Friday including a framework for a strategic defence partnership, storage of 30 million barrels in Indian strategic petroleum reserves, supply of LPG and a ship repair cluster in Gujarat’s Vadinar. The UAE also pledged investments totalling USD 5 billion in Indian infrastructure and RBL Bank and Samman Capital.

The upswing in ties marked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s brief stopover in Abu Dhabi on his tour of four European nations, days after the UAE came under Iranian missile and drone attacks.

Underlining that the Strait of Hormuz should be “free, open and safe”, Modi told President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan that India stands “shoulder to shoulder” with the UAE. Criticising the attacks on the Emirates, he said the targeting was “unacceptable”.

Modi expressed India’s support for efforts to restore peace and stability in the region. Addressing the President as “my brother”, he said, “The way UAE has handled the current situation with restraint is praiseworthy. We stand shoulder to shoulder with the UAE, and will do so in the future.”

Noting that the impact of the West Asian conflict is being felt globally, he said, “India is ready to extend all possible support to bring peace in West Asia.”