Positive, purposeful and potent ties

In the annals of bilateral ties, it is rare if scripts see more highs than lows. It is rarer if they remain steady throughout. It is rarest if the curve heads only north, like in the case of UAE-India relations.
As the two countries sign the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement during Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's visit to New Delhi, it is fitting to respectively categorise their past, present and future association as positive, purposeful and potent. 
Serving as instructive tools to deconstruct this categorisation are the joint statements of August 17, 2015 and February 11, 2016 - issued after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the UAE and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed's reciprocal visit. 
Highlighting the positivity of the past, the statements stressed on the sharing and enjoying "strong bonds of friendship based on civilisational links, age-old maritime trade and vibrant people-to-people contacts". They recognised that for a prolonged period, Mumbai served as "the UAE's gateway to India and as a springboard to a world of learning and opportunity." 
They credited the two countries as "pluralistic societies that value diversity and strive to show respect for all faiths and religions" with "close links between the people of both countries, including the valuable role of the Indian community in the UAE, and its contribution to the prosperity and development" of both countries.
This acknowledgement of the past served as a solid foundation for modern times, wherein the "dynamism of the two countries translated into a rapidly expanding and mutually beneficial partnership," enjoying an extensive framework of agreements and partnerships.
"Close geographical proximity, cultural affinity, natural synergies, shared aspirations and common challenges" provided further impetus to this robust engagement. This helped bilateral trade flourish, with the two countries listed among each other's top trading partners. 
The relationship became more purposeful following Modi's historic visit, when the two countries "agreed to elevate their friendly relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership" in a "world of multiple transitions and changing opportunities and challenges." They agreed to intensify cooperation in trade and investment, security, counter-terrorism, joint defence production, space cooperation, information technology and electronics. 
All this was geared to make the future potent and to build "a partnership for the 21st century" - by increasing trade by 60 per cent over the next five years; by signing a memorandum of understanding to establish a Strategic Petroleum Reserve in India and a General Framework Arrangement for Cooperation in Renewable Energy; by aiding India's goal of attracting capital and investment in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors; by enhancing cooperation in space science and technology; by facilitating participation of Indian companies in UAE's infrastructure development; by tapping India's expertise in small and medium enterprises to create a vibrant industrial base in the UAE; by agreeing to pool resources and expertise in the development of infrastructure in third countries; and by implementing UAE's investment plans in India's infrastructure development, especially in railways, ports, roads, airports and industrial corridors and parks.
The gamechanger, however, is the new intent in the security and defence domains. While expressing satisfaction with the current security cooperation, the two countries agreed to work together on counter-terrorism, maritime security, and cybersecurity, "while reaffirming their respect for the bedrock principles of national sovereignty and non-interference". Strengthening cooperation in training, joint exercises, and identifying opportunities in defence equipment production were also included in the futuristic agenda.
Identifying the common threats and challenges of "extremism and terrorism in all forms and manifestations, irrespective of who the perpetrators are and their motivation", they reiterated that any justification for terrorism and any link between extremism or terrorism and religion should be strongly rejected.  Linking this to religious radicalisation, the two agreed on terms for better intelligence sharing, capacity building, money laundering and extradition arrangements.
They also condemned efforts "including by states, to use religion to justify, support and sponsor terrorism against other countries, or to use terrorism as an instrument of state policy". Simultaneously, they "deplored efforts by countries to give religious and sectarian colour to political issues and pointed out the responsibility of all states to control the activities of non-state actors". 
To facilitate these objectives, they decided to conduct a Strategic Security Dialogue between the two governments, the first of which took place on January  20 in New Delhi.
Overall, the new thought process could be summarised thus: "Today, as India accelerates economic reforms and improves its investment and business environment, and the UAE becomes an increasingly advanced and diversified economy, the two countries have the potential to build a transformative economic partnership, not only for sustained prosperity of their countries, but to also advance progress in the region and help realise the vision of an Asian Century...
".Yet, in the past, relations between the two governments have not kept pace with the exponential growth in relations between their people or the promise of this partnership. However, the need for a close strategic partnership has never been stronger or more urgent, and its prospects more rewarding than in these uncertain times."
Thus, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed's current visit and the signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement are important means to achieve the desired end in this long, but ambitious, journey of bilateral relations.
The writer is a UAE-based Honorary Fellow of the University of Exeter, UK.

• India
• UAE