- 11 hours ago
This edition of India Today Global focusses on the high-profile visit of UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to New Delhi and much more.
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00:00Hello and welcome, I'm Pranayupad Dhai and you're watching India Today Global.
00:03We started this bulletin with a major, rare diplomatic event that New Delhi witnessed today.
00:08Amit heightened global volatility, President of UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited India on Monday.
00:15The trip lasted for just over three hours, but it was power-packed to say the least.
00:20From an airport welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a display of car diplomacy between the two leaders,
00:25the visit reinforced ties that India and the United Arab Emirates shares.
00:30Rekhsha Jain has more in this report.
00:38Hugs, handshakes and a red carpet welcome.
00:42As UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan descended from aircraft,
00:48he was greeted with a warm embrace by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself.
00:55What followed was a sequel of Modi's much-loved car diplomacy,
01:00with the two leaders ditching protocol and hitching a right together.
01:08This diplomatic engagement at a time of heightened global volatility
01:12reinforces how ties between India and the UAE are more significant than ever.
01:17The two leaders travelled together to Prime Minister Modi's official residence.
01:26A high-powered delegation, including members of the royal families of both Abu Dhabi and Dubai,
01:32accompanied the UAE President.
01:35In the short but substantive three-hour visit,
01:38Prime Minister Modi and President Mohammed bin Zayed discussed a wide range of issues,
01:43from nuclear reactors to LNG, to a $200 billion trade target.
01:51Over the course of just three hours,
01:53the leaders delivered over a dozen agreements,
01:56from energy to trade and from defence to space.
02:00The two leaders also unequivocally condemned all forms of terrorism.
02:30Reinforcing that India and the UAE stand together against terror.
02:36They unequivocally condemned cross-border terrorism,
02:41and for the perpetrators, supporters and financiers of all acts of terrorism to be brought to justice.
02:50The UAE President departed with traditional Indian gifts from Prime Minister Modi,
02:54including a carved wooden swing from Gujarat,
02:58and a Pashmina shawl in an ornate silver box.
03:01Together representing India's rich tradition of handloom and handicraft.
03:06Prekstra Jain, for India Today.
03:08And now to discuss this issue and understand the importance of its timing
03:17and significance of delivery of, you know, this important visit,
03:21I am now being joined by Ambassador Anil Thigrunayat,
03:23a seasoned diplomat who has served in this region.
03:26Welcome to India Today Global, sir.
03:28My first question to you...
03:30My first question to you, sir.
03:33That, you know, this visit was very power-packed.
03:36A very short visit.
03:37Rarely this, you know, these kind of visits rarely happens
03:40that, you know, in such a short period of time,
03:43such significant deliveries are announced.
03:46But what do you think?
03:47You know, what made, you know, this,
03:49the timing of this visit so significant, so important?
03:52Is it a signaling?
03:53Is it a messaging, you know, being given
03:55to the larger audience and the geopolitics of this region?
04:00Yes, Pranay.
04:01I mean, as you are aware that in West Asia
04:04is an extremely important region for us.
04:07It is also, in my view, an existential for us
04:12so that its strategic stability and security
04:15remains paramount in all our calculations.
04:19That's extremely important.
04:21In recent times, we have seen that not only that region
04:24is suffering from several hotspots and volatility
04:28and fights and conflicts between various countries
04:31trying to destabilize the region.
04:34But at the same time, they are also threatening
04:38India's own security in that sense.
04:40And therefore, our own strategic pursuit
04:43of our objectives and strategic partnerships
04:46with countries like UAE and Saudi Arabia
04:48and some other countries in the region
04:51has gone on from strength to strength.
04:54As far as UAE is concerned, it is a unique partnership.
04:58And you remember that when Prime Minister Modi took over,
05:00UAE was the first country.
05:02He has been there seven times himself.
05:04And this is the fifth visit of Sheikh Zayed to India,
05:08which is rare in any sense of the term,
05:11wherever you look at it.
05:13You will not find this kind of banhomi,
05:14this kind of sort of coordination with both the countries
05:20and also in the regional and sub-regional context.
05:24Now, this visit was short,
05:26but highly substantive and significant.
05:28Now, in order to do such visits,
05:31it is also important that the prior consultations happen.
05:35If you remember, Dr. Jashankar was in Abu Dhabi
05:38for a strategic dialogue, which was held.
05:41And then before that, we had the Joint Commission meeting
05:43as well as the High Council meeting,
05:45which had already worked out on several important outcomes.
05:49At the same time, currently, as we are seeing,
05:52there is a very different kind of situation happening
05:55in the Middle East, especially in the GCC countries.
05:59And that we are looking at new kind of defense
06:02and strategic equations are emerging in the region.
06:05I actually wanted to ask you about the defense agreement only,
06:07Ambassador Thirikudan.
06:08I had that we have seen a letter of intent
06:09for strategic defense partnership among other big defense moves.
06:13Does this trip point to some immediate regional security pressure
06:17and why UAE has decided to enter into this defense partnership with India?
06:23How we should read this?
06:24As you know, we do have a defense agreement
06:27and our chiefs have been visiting.
06:30We have been conducting military exercises with UAE
06:33and with other countries in the region,
06:35but mainly with the United Arab Emirates.
06:37And this was the first country where the chief of army staff also visited.
06:40And we have been having regular exchanges with UAE in that sense.
06:45But right now, what we are trying to do is we are expanding
06:48the defense partnership into innovation,
06:51into joint manufacturing, into different areas.
06:53And of course, this is to do something to do
06:56with the regional developments that have taken place.
06:58There are certain polarizations that are taking place.
07:01And I would also say that since we are looking at Pakistan
07:05getting deeply immersed into the becoming sort of net security providers.
07:11So India has been always looked up by various countries in the region.
07:15And I can tell you from personal experience
07:17that they want India to play a greater role.
07:20And in fact, many of the people want India
07:22to be a security arbiter in the region as well.
07:25Although we have not resorted to that,
07:27but that is one thing.
07:28On this particular thing,
07:30I would say between UAE and India
07:33and during this visit is pretty clear
07:34that the key areas...
07:36You're absolutely right, Ambassador Thakurayan.
07:37A lot is happening in West Asia region.
07:39But if I may, you know,
07:41try and understand from you that, you know,
07:42recently President Donald Trump has extended an invitation
07:45to Prime Minister Narendra Modi
07:46to be part of the Board of Peace on Gaza Reconstruction.
07:49How do you see this development for India?
07:52And do you think that, you know,
07:54today's summit also indicates
07:55for India's West Asia diplomacy
07:58amid these fast-moving U.S.-led initiatives?
08:02Well, U.S. initiative is very much understandable.
08:07President Trump has been committed to Gaza peace.
08:10He has been trying very hard, actually,
08:11despite several odds,
08:13including from their own strategic partner in Israel,
08:18which is opposing it, actually.
08:20Even the Board of Peace,
08:21they are not on the same,
08:22I would say, same cardboard to begin with
08:26on their chessboards.
08:26So they don't like Pakistan being there.
08:29They don't like the Turkey being there
08:33or their forces being there.
08:34That's the Israeli objections to that.
08:37But as far as India is concerned,
08:38nobody has any objection to anyone.
08:40But India is not,
08:42India has been invited.
08:43But I doubt very much that we'll be accepting it.
08:46But India should be providing assistance,
08:48which we have been doing,
08:49humanitarian assistance for Gazans,
08:51who have suffered a great deal.
08:53But India is acceptable everywhere.
08:55And that is the beauty of India's diplomacy,
08:58I would say.
08:59And West Asia, India's West Asia diplomacy
09:01has been a great success.
09:03And the result of that is clearly evident
09:06in any of the areas you see,
09:09whether from Saudi Arabia down to the UAE,
09:12to Israel or to Egypt,
09:14any country you look at,
09:16India's relationship has become strategic
09:19in the real sense of the term and the region.
09:23Absolutely, Ambassador Dugunad.
09:25The diplomacy of India has actually,
09:27you know, gave these dividends.
09:29And in fact, thanks to all of our diplomats
09:32like you who have served for the country
09:33and provided the building block for this partnership.
09:36Thank you very much for sharing your perspective
09:37and thoughts on this important visit.
09:42And moving on,
09:43let's talk about yet another visit.
09:45Because External Affairs Minister,
09:46Dr. S. Jaisankar,
09:47held talks with Poland's Deputy Prime Minister
09:49and Foreign Minister, Raduslaw Sikorsky,
09:51and urging the European country
09:53to display zero tolerance for terrorism,
09:55not fuel terrorist infrastructure
09:57in India's neighborhood.
09:59And there is a special reference
10:00to this remark by External Affairs Minister,
10:02Dr. Jaisankar,
10:03because recently,
10:04Poland's Deputy Prime Minister
10:05and Foreign Minister, Raduslaw,
10:07visited Pakistan as well,
10:08and he signed a joint statement
10:10wherein there was a mention about Kashmir as well.
10:13However, Dr. Jaisankar further stated
10:15that both countries
10:16should exchange views and perspective.
10:18And India's Foreign Minister
10:20also said that India and Poland
10:21had traditionally shared
10:22warm and friendly ties,
10:24and he also recalled
10:26Prime Minister Narendra Modi's
10:27visit to Poland in 2024,
10:29which elevated the bilateral ties,
10:31the bilateral relation
10:32between India and Poland
10:33to a strategic partnership.
10:35And External Affairs Minister,
10:37Dr. Jaisankar,
10:37said that both sides
10:38would review the action plan
10:402024-28
10:42to fully realize
10:43the potential
10:44of the strategic partnership.
10:45However, on the other side,
10:46the Polish Deputy Prime Minister
10:48said that both countries
10:50were dynamic players
10:51in the region
10:52and should explore
10:53opportunities together.
10:54He also said
10:55that Poland has been
10:56victim of terrorism.
10:58He also expressed
10:58that how selective targeting
11:00through tariffs,
11:01mind it,
11:01he also mentioned about tariffs,
11:03could widen
11:04the global trade disruptions.
11:08Deputy Prime Minister,
11:10you are no stranger
11:12to our region
11:12and are more than familiar
11:14with the long-standing challenges
11:17of cross-border terrorism.
11:19I hope at this meeting
11:21to discuss some of your recent travels
11:23to the region.
11:25Poland should display
11:26zero tolerance for terrorism
11:27and not help fuel
11:29the terrorist infrastructure
11:31in Armageddon.
11:32I completely agree with you
11:35on the need
11:35to counter
11:36trans-national,
11:37trans-border terrorism.
11:40Poland,
11:40as you may have heard,
11:42has been a victim
11:45of both arsons
11:46and attempted
11:47state terrorism
11:49when Polish railway line
11:51was blown up
11:53under a moving train
11:54just very recently.
11:56Fortunately,
11:57through the incompetence
11:59of the terrorists,
12:01there were no casualties.
12:03I also completely agree
12:05with you
12:06on the unfairness
12:08of selective targeting.
12:12And now let's cut across
12:13to my colleague
12:14and Foreign Affairs
12:15Editor of India today,
12:16Geeta Bohan.
12:17Geeta,
12:18you heard
12:18Excellency Affairs Minister
12:19Dr. S. Jayashankar
12:20clearly giving
12:21a red line for India
12:23in the presence
12:24of the Deputy Prime Minister
12:25of Poland.
12:26What do you make
12:26out of this statement?
12:28Is it a red line
12:29being drawn by India
12:31that, you know,
12:32or maybe a veiled warning
12:33that, you know,
12:34India will be compelled
12:35to review the relationship
12:36if, you know,
12:37such things
12:38are being continued
12:39by Poland?
12:40Because, you know,
12:41you know that
12:41how Deputy Prime Minister
12:42of Poland
12:43recently visited Pakistan
12:45and he signed
12:45a joint declaration,
12:47joint document
12:47where Kashmir
12:48was also mentioned.
12:50Well, absolutely, Pranit.
12:52The fact that
12:52in October,
12:54the Deputy Prime Minister
12:55of Poland
12:56was in Islamabad
12:57and in their joint
12:58communique,
12:59they did mention
13:00and there was a mention
13:02of Kashmir.
13:03So,
13:03this is not the first time.
13:05In fact,
13:05this would be
13:06the second time
13:07that there is a
13:08direct response
13:10to that joint
13:11communique
13:11wherein,
13:12and now we're looking
13:13at a face-to-face
13:14communication
13:15where Dr. Jayashankar
13:16in no uncertain words
13:17has told
13:18the Polish side
13:20that there can be
13:22no interference
13:23when it comes
13:23to the issue
13:24of Kashmir.
13:24Cross-border terrorism
13:26is an issue
13:27that India suffers
13:27and it suffers
13:28at the hands
13:29of Pakistan.
13:31So,
13:31there cannot be,
13:32there are no good
13:32or bad terrorists
13:33and over here
13:34the Polish side
13:36should be careful
13:37in ensuring
13:38that it does not
13:38cause trouble
13:39in the neighbourhood.
13:41So,
13:41that's a very strong
13:42statement coming
13:43in from India.
13:44India has been
13:45reiterating this
13:45as you know
13:47with all countries
13:48that now
13:49even mention
13:49Kashmir
13:50in their statements,
13:51their joint
13:52communique
13:52or as passing remarks.
13:54So,
13:54this is a red line
13:55that India has had
13:56now for a while
13:57with various countries
13:58that it also includes
13:59all European nations
14:00including Poland.
14:02But Gita,
14:03Deputy Prime Minister
14:04of Poland
14:04also mentioned
14:05about the tariff issue.
14:07What are the issues,
14:08what are the common grounds
14:09where India and Poland
14:09can work together
14:10especially at a time
14:11when you know
14:12entire Europe
14:13is also feeling
14:14the pain and pinch
14:15of the President Donald
14:16Trump led tariffs?
14:17Well,
14:18that's a very
14:18interesting one
14:19because you know
14:20Pranant,
14:20there was a to and fro
14:21between Dr. Jay Shankar
14:23and his Polish counterpart
14:26on the tariffs
14:28and selective targeting
14:29of India.
14:30He said it went
14:31beyond just tariffs.
14:33So,
14:33yes,
14:34the two sides
14:34maybe still do not
14:36see eye to eye
14:37or are not on the
14:38same platform
14:38when it comes
14:39to the issue
14:39of tariffs
14:40and how India
14:41was isolated
14:42by Europe
14:43or selectively
14:44targeted
14:45for having continued
14:46to buy Russian oil.
14:47On the other hand,
14:49he has made public
14:50statements
14:50that India
14:51has reduced
14:52Russian oil
14:53although there's
14:53no official statement
14:54to that effect.
14:56But yes,
14:56tariffs are very important
14:58and that's why
14:58the Indian side
15:00Absolutely,
15:01Gita,
15:01tariffs are important.
15:02Thank you very much
15:03for sharing your context
15:04and perspective
15:05on this issue.
15:06But in fact,
15:07this is the second
15:08important visit
15:08from Europe
15:09ahead of India,
15:10EU signing and FTA.
15:11But moving on,
15:12let's talk about
15:13India and Pakistan
15:14because India
15:15and Pakistan
15:15are rivals
15:16for decades
15:16and now face
15:17a test
15:18no one expected.
15:19A US-led
15:20board of peace
15:21for Gaza.
15:22One brings credibility
15:23of institutions,
15:24building and restraint.
15:26The other brings
15:27suspicion
15:27and a history
15:28of terror links.
15:29Can New Delhi
15:30rise above the chaos
15:31and show the world
15:32how peace works,
15:33how peace is done?
15:35More on this
15:35in Statecraft
15:36with Gita Mohan.
15:44India and Pakistan,
15:57historic rivals,
15:58nuclear-armed neighbours,
16:00long-time adversaries
16:01and now,
16:03both have been invited
16:04to sit together
16:04on a US-led
16:05board of peace
16:06for post-war Gaza.
16:08Hard to imagine,
16:10yet here we are.
16:10President Donald Trump
16:12announced the creation
16:13of the board of peace
16:14intended to oversee
16:15governance and reconstruction
16:17in Gaza
16:18after the recent conflict.
16:20Both India and Pakistan
16:21have received invitations
16:22to participate.
16:24Whether they accept
16:25or how they respond
16:26remains to be seen.
16:28A bold diplomatic experiment
16:30or a potential recipe
16:31for friction.
16:32How can two countries
16:34whose history is defined
16:35by wars and deep mistrust
16:36where one conducts
16:38cross-border terrorism
16:39against the other
16:39possibly collaborate
16:41on rebuilding
16:42a territory as fragile
16:44as Gaza?
16:45And what does it mean
16:46for the region
16:47and the world
16:48if they try?
16:49Hello and welcome.
16:50You're watching Statecraft
16:51with me, Gita Mohan.
16:52Let's be honest
17:02about the contrast here.
17:03India arrives at this table
17:05with credibility
17:06earned through restraint,
17:08institution building
17:08and humanitarian action.
17:11Pakistan arrives
17:12with questions
17:13about intent,
17:14about credibility
17:15and about a long history
17:16of entanglement
17:17with terror outfits
17:18that have thrived
17:19in chaos,
17:20not peace.
17:21If this board
17:22is meant to stabilise Gaza,
17:24the difference between
17:25a builder and a spoiler
17:27will matter
17:28immediately.
17:30You see,
17:30India's invitation
17:31is almost textbook strategy here.
17:34Neutral,
17:35credible,
17:36unburdened
17:36by past aggression
17:37in West Asia,
17:39strong ties with Israel,
17:41goodwill across the Arab world,
17:43a track record
17:43of humanitarian aid
17:45and institution building
17:46rather than military dominance.
17:49Israel's ambassador to India,
17:50Rovin Azhar,
17:51has made it clear
17:52that Pakistan's participation
17:54is deeply problematic.
17:56Azhar expressed
17:56serious concern
17:57over Pakistan army involvement,
18:00pointing to growing links
18:01between Hamas
18:02and Pakistan-based terror groups,
18:04including Lashkar-e-Tawibah.
18:06Israel fears legitimising actors
18:08it considers destabilising.
18:11Unlike India,
18:12Pakistan carries baggage
18:13that could complicate governance
18:15and aid delivery in Gaza.
18:18For Pakistan,
18:19the stakes are equally high.
18:20Credibility,
18:21perception,
18:22trust.
18:23Its historical associations
18:24with militant networks
18:25coupled with domestic instability
18:28could undermine
18:29its ability
18:30to deliver results.
18:31Israel's warnings add weight.
18:33Any misstep
18:34risks reinforcing
18:36its image
18:36as unreliable
18:37in international peace efforts.
18:39Trump's calculus
18:42is deliberate.
18:43He wants to break
18:44Gaza's historical cycle,
18:46destruction followed
18:46by rebuilding
18:47with no governance.
18:49Including India
18:50signals legitimacy
18:51to Palestinians
18:52and Arabs.
18:54Including Pakistan
18:55signals inclusivity
18:56but risks friction.
18:58He also wants
18:59to block China
19:00from dominating reconstruction,
19:02ensuring transparency
19:03over debt-driven influence.
19:05Globally,
19:07the implications
19:08are profound.
19:09Success
19:09could rewrite
19:10the playbook
19:11for rival states
19:12collaborating
19:13in forced conflict
19:14reconstruction.
19:15Failure reinforces
19:16a familiar narrative.
19:18History
19:18and rivalry
19:19trump
19:19responsibility.
19:22For India,
19:23success is a chance
19:24to demonstrate
19:24global credibility,
19:26responsible power
19:27and moral authority.
19:29For Pakistan,
19:30participation
19:30is an opportunity
19:31to build trust
19:32but missteps
19:33could reinforce
19:34negative perceptions.
19:37Gaza may have
19:38found a board
19:38but whether it becomes
19:39a model of collaboration
19:41or a cautionary tale
19:42depends on these
19:43two historic rivals
19:44navigating history,
19:46strategy
19:47and human need.
19:48The gamble is real.
19:50The moment is historic.
19:51And for Gaza,
19:52the difference between
19:53success and failure
19:54may come down
19:55to the ability
19:56of old enemies
19:57to act like partners.
19:59Thank you for watching
20:00Statecraft.
20:01and that's all we have
20:04in this edition
20:05of India Today Global
20:05but before I sign off
20:07I leave you with the story
20:09of Marvel Studio
20:10because after 37 films
20:11and a decade and a half
20:12of dominance
20:13the Marvel Cinematic Universe
20:15is facing
20:15what many are calling
20:17superhero fatigue
20:18but now
20:18Marvel is betting big
20:20on Dark Reset.
20:21A new villain,
20:22a massive cast
20:23and the return
20:24of the biggest star.
20:26Shri Deja Gosabi
20:26breaks down
20:27what Avengers Doomsday
20:29really means
20:29for the future of Marvel.
20:40After years of
20:42uneven box office results
20:43and mixed fan response,
20:45Marvel is preparing
20:46its boldest move yet.
20:48Not a new hero
20:49but a legendary villain,
20:51Dr. Victor Von Doom.
20:53And the man behind the mask?
20:55The face that built the MCU
20:57Robert Downey Jr.
21:03The former Iron Man returns
21:05but not as a saviour
21:06but as the franchisee's
21:08most dangerous enemy.
21:10A reveal that sent
21:12Comic-Con into meltdown
21:13and instantly put
21:15Avengers Doomsday
21:16on the map.
21:17Marvel insiders say
21:24he was the only one
21:26who could carry the role
21:27while critics say
21:28it's proof
21:29Marvel is running
21:30out of ideas.
21:32Either way,
21:33attention is back.
21:37Yeah,
21:38I can fly.
21:39And so are
21:39almost everyone else.
21:42Chris Evans
21:43Chris Hemsworth
21:46Tom Holland
21:49Pedro Pascal
21:52Florence Pugh
21:55Patrick Stewart
21:57Ian McKellen
22:00Benedict Cumberbatch
22:03The cast list reads
22:06like a cinematic phone book.
22:09Recent teasers suggest
22:11this isn't just another
22:12Avengers film.
22:14It's a multiverse collision.
22:21Steve Rogers is back.
22:23Younger and holding a child.
22:41Thor is seen on his knees
22:44praying to protect
22:46his adopted daughter.
22:48So that I may fight
22:49once more,
22:50defeat one more enemy
22:51and return home to her.
22:55And for the first time ever,
22:57the X-Men
22:58officially enter the MCU.
22:59Meanwhile,
23:14Wakanda faces a new threat
23:16as Suri join forces
23:17with the Fantastic Four,
23:19hinting that this battle
23:20won't be limited to
23:21one world
23:22or one universe.
23:24I have mine.
23:31King M. Baku
23:32of Wakanda.
23:35Ben,
23:36Yancy Street
23:37between Broom and Grant.
23:38Marvel is clearly
23:39raising the emotional stakes.
23:41Legacy,
23:42family,
23:43children,
23:44afterlife.
23:44And at the center of it all,
23:50Doom.
23:52A character obsessed
23:53with power,
23:54destiny and control.
23:57With Spider-Man
23:58returning this July,
24:07Doom's day arriving
24:08on 18th December
24:09and Secret Wars
24:10locked for 2027.
24:12Marvel is building
24:13towards its biggest
24:14crossover since Endgame.
24:22The question now
24:23isn't who's coming back.
24:30It's whether Marvel
24:32can make audiences
24:33care again.
24:38Because Avengers Doomsday
24:40isn't just another sequel.
24:42It's Marvel's test
24:43of survival.
24:44Marvel's test.
24:46Only he can rebuild
24:48what was lost.
24:49With Shittaja Gosavi,
24:51Beora Report,
24:52India Today.
24:52Or be amazed.
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