India, UAE review strategic defence partnership amid talks over BrahMos missile sale

📌 Summary:

• India and the UAE reviewed progress under their Strategic Defence Partnership Framework in New Delhi
• Discussions focused on expanding defence industry cooperation, fostering innovation and advanced technologies, and strengthening maritime security
• The review came amid talks over a potential BrahMos missile sale to the UAE, advancing India's defence-export push
• The meeting was co-chaired by Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) Amitabh Prasad and a senior UAE military official

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 International Relations — India's 'Look West'/Gulf engagement; defence diplomacy and self-reliant defence exports (Atmanirbhar Bharat) as instruments of strategic outreach

📝 Prelims Facts:

• BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile, a joint venture between India's DRDO and Russia's NPOM
• India has previously exported BrahMos to the Philippines
• The India-UAE relationship is governed by a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and a Strategic Defence Partnership Framework

🔑 Key Term: Defence diplomacy — use of defence cooperation, exercises and arms exports to build strategic partnerships and influence