Soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Abu Dhabi on Friday, the BJP shared a clip claiming that its plane was escorted by F-16 fighter jets as it entered UAE airspace. Amit Malviya, head of the BJP’s IT cell, shared the clip on Channel
Prime Minister Modi arrived in the UAE this afternoon, at the start of a five-nation visit that also includes the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit also comes at a time when there is still uncertainty over the future of the Iran-US war, which has affected parts of the UAE, such as Abu Dhabi and Dubai, for a long time.
Energy security will be the main focus of the Prime Minister’s visit to Abu Dhabi, where he is also expected to sign key agreements with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on LPG supplies and strategic petroleum reserves.
F-16 aircraft and the UAE weapons stockpile
The F-16 fighter jet is part of the highly capable UAE Air Force and has been used in airstrikes in Iraq alongside US forces during the fight against ISIS.
Aside from aircraft, the UAE’s ammunition also boasts reconnaissance drones and a stockpile of bombs and short-range missiles supplied by the United States.
Read also: Hints from the government, warning from experts: Why might this rise in fuel prices be just the beginning?
The UAE is a major arms buyer and, as a recent Bloomberg report stated, also has Patriot and THAAD missile systems, and Black Hawk helicopters, and its main suppliers include the United States, France and South Korea.
Big deals between India and UAE
During Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Abu Dhabi, India and the UAE signed two major agreements – one on the supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and the other on strategic petroleum reserves. These deals come at a time when concerns about liquefied petroleum gas supplies have dominated India, and what worries citizens most is the rise in gasoline and diesel prices by $3 per litre, imposed by state-run oil companies.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Abu Dhabi is scheduled to last only two hours, after which he will head to the India-Nordic Summit. In the UAE, Prime Minister Modi also met UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Read also: ‘A true treasure of leadership’: UAE minister talks about PM Modi ahead of key visit
His visit to the UAE is part of a five-country tour he began today, which includes the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy.
