India and UAE Finalize Evacuation Agreement via Fujairah Port
NEW DELHI: India and the United Arab Emirates are working on an agreement that will facilitate the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of Indian workers through the port of Fujairah. The pact is likely to be signed during a stopover added to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's itinerary, signaling another crucial link to the already strong bilateral ties. The PM is scheduled to leave for Europe on May 15, with a stopover in Fujairah before proceeding to the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy.
First-of-Its-Kind Treaty Amid West Asia Conflict
This first-of-its-kind treaty comes amid disruptions caused by the West Asia conflict, which saw thousands stranded in the Gulf as flights were affected. While life is slowly returning to normal, the pact can be useful in future scenarios, as Fujairah is located west of the Strait of Hormuz, which has emerged as a main chokepoint in the war. In case of problems with air traffic, lakhs of Indians working in the UAE can be evacuated by ship, according to government calculations. West Asia is home to nearly 10 million Indian workers, with approximately 4.3 million in the UAE.
Strategic Importance of Fujairah
In the current conflict, Fujairah, which was the likely starting point of the proposed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, also serves as an alternative for shipping goods to the UAE, as access to the Dubai port has been cut off. Khor Fakkar is another port being used to ship goods, which are then moved by road. Iran has targeted Fujairah for precisely this reason. The PM's visit signals India's support for the UAE, which has been under attack from Iran.
UAE's Exit from OPEC and India's Gains
The agreement also comes amid the UAE's exit from OPEC, the powerful oil cartel, due to perceived differences with Saudi Arabia. Given India's close ties with the UAE in recent years, experts expect the country to be a major gainer, especially as countries like Saudi Arabia charge an Asian premium on crude sold by them.
Strait Talk: Iran Sends Reply to US Peace Plan
Iran submitted its response to the latest US proposal to end 10 weeks of war as a series of incidents continues to threaten a shaky ceasefire. The state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported on the latest response without giving further details, and Tehran has not yet given any public indication it would accept Trump's plan. Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that Iran has conveyed its response to a US proposal. Trump proposed that Iran permit passage via the Strait of Hormuz and Washington end its blockade on Iranian ports in the next month. The two sides would still need to negotiate a deal over Iran's nuclear programme later.
Trump: US Would Need Two Weeks to Hit All Iran Targets
US President Donald Trump has said in an interview aired Sunday it would only take two weeks to hit 'every single target' in Iran, adding that the Islamic republic was 'militarily defeated.' In the interview with independent journalist Sharyl Attkisson, recorded last week, he also called NATO a 'paper tiger' and accused Washington's allies of failing to assist in the campaign against Tehran. Trump on Sunday accused Iran of 'playing games' and laughing at America for decades, but said it soon would be made to stop.
Iran Warns France, UK of 'Immediate Response'
Iran warned Britain and France on Sunday that its armed forces would launch 'a decisive and immediate response' to any warships being sent to the Strait of Hormuz, after Paris and London dispatched vessels to the region. 'We remind them that both in times of war and in times of peace, only Iran can establish security in this strait,' deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi posted on X.
UAE and Kuwait Report Intercepting Drones
Despite the ceasefire in place since April 8, a drone strike on Sunday briefly set a cargo vessel ablaze off Qatar in the Persian Gulf, marking the latest shipping attack. The UAE and Kuwait, both of which have come under attack from Iran in the past two months, said Sunday they had intercepted hostile drones.
