India is getting ready for the second India–Arab International Ministers’ Assembly (IAFMM) on Saturday, January 31, a gathering that signifies an enormous diplomatic engagement with the Arab world.
Co-chaired by India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the assembly brings collectively international ministers from Arab League member states and the League’s Secretary Normal, emphasising a renewed push to strengthen political and strategic ties after a decade-long hole.
International Ministers from different Arab League member states, together with the Secretary Normal of the Arab League, may even take part, based on a press launch by Ministry of Exterior Affairs.
The assembly is being convened after a niche of ten years, with the primary IAFMM held in Bahrain in 2016.
Throughout that inaugural assembly, the ministers recognized 5 precedence areas for cooperation, financial system, power, schooling, media, and tradition—and proposed a variety of actions throughout these sectors.
Additionally Learn | India set to host Arab ministers, all eyes on Syria
What to anticipate from second IAFMM?
The second IAFMM is predicted to construct on this basis, with a deal with increasing and deepening the India–Arab partnership.
The India–Arab International Ministers’ Assembly is the best institutional mechanism guiding this partnership, which was formally established in March 2002 by way of the signing of a memorandum of understanding between India and the League of Arab States (LAS), the press launch acknowledged.
A Memorandum of Cooperation to ascertain the Arab–India Cooperation Discussion board was signed throughout the go to of the then Arab League Secretary Normal Amre Moussa to India in December 2008, and was later revised in 2013 to streamline its structural group. India at present holds observer standing within the League of Arab States, a pan-Arab physique comprising 22 member states.
This would be the first time India is internet hosting the India–Arab International Ministers’ Assembly in New Delhi.
The occasion will see participation from all 22 Arab nations, represented by International Ministers, different ministers, ministers of state, senior officers, and the Arab League.
The assembly was preceded by the fourth India–Arab Senior Officers’ Assembly, scheduled for January 30, 2026.
Why it issues?
Round 15 international ministers from Arab nations are anticipated to attend the assembly, folks accustomed to the matter stated, talking on situation of anonymity.
Amongst these more likely to be current is Syrian International Minister Asaad Hasan al-Shaybani. If the go to materialises, it will mark the primary ministerial-level engagement between New Delhi and Damascus for the reason that formation of the federal government led by former Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) chief Ahmed al-Sharaa, HT earlier reported.
An Indian diplomat of center rank visited Damascus in mid-2025 for conferences with Syrian ministers, the primary such outreach from India since al-Sharaa assumed workplace as president.
The assembly additionally holds significance as it’s happening amid widening variations between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over the state of affairs in Yemen.
In December, Saudi forces struck an Emirati cargo of weapons and tools supposed for the Southern Transitional Council on the Mukalla port and backed an offensive that ultimately led to the UAE’s withdrawal from Yemen.
In latest months, Saudi Arabia has additionally drawn nearer to Pakistan and Turkiye on key West Asia-related points, whereas the UAE has strengthened its ties with Israel.
India has an observer standing to the League of Arab States (LAS), a pan-Arab organisation comprising 22 member states.
What Palestine expects from this meet?
Palestine international minister, Dr Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, praised the India-Arab International Ministers’ Assembly and referred to as it an necessary platform to deliver collectively India and the Arab nations on a number of areas of curiosity, together with the state of affairs in Palestine.
“This is a crucial discussion board as a result of it brings India and the Arab nations collectively, the place there can be dialogue on areas of curiosity, one among which might be the state of affairs in Palestine. India is a crucial participant, and we consider that a number of facets of that battle, alongside different necessary points, can be mentioned across the desk”, Shahin was quoted as saying by information company ANI.
“I feel India is positioned to enterprise into a task that brings each side collectively as a result of it is a buddy of Israel, and it is a buddy of the Palestinian,s and it is a believer in worldwide regulation. That stance is necessary for transferring issues in the correct route… Israel is legit. It has been recognised by the state of Palestine. Immediately I need to legitimise Palestine, and India will help in that route,” Shahin stated.
