Jaishankar’s visit spans Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman from July 5 to 10.
This Gulf trip is set against the backdrop of rapidly changing political circumstances in West Asia, following the signing of an agreement aimed at resolving the US-Iran conflict.
Jaishankar expressed gratitude to the Qatar PM for prioritizing the safety and welfare of the Indian community in the region.
“Discussed multiple dimensions of our bilateral cooperation, particularly in energy, trade, investments, connectivity, security, and people-to-people connections. Explored fresh opportunities to strengthen our Strategic Partnership,” Jaishankar shared on X.
He also exchanged views on the West Asia conflict and its repercussions with PM Al-Thani, who also serves as Qatar’s foreign minister.
During this visit, Jaishankar plans to meet with his counterparts and prominent leaders from the four Gulf nations to bolster bilateral ties and deliberate on regional developments and issues of shared concern.
Qatar and Oman, along with Pakistan, have taken on the role of mediators in achieving a ceasefire in Iran after weeks of rising tensions. The indirect discussions between the US and Iran in Doha are expected to persist following the week-long mourning period for Iran’s late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which commenced on Friday.
Following his tour of the four Gulf states, Jaishankar will head to New York on July 13 to initiate India’s official campaign for a UN Security Council seat for the 2028-29 term. He will then participate in the 3rd India-EU Trade and Technology Council meeting in Brussels on July 14-15, where he will engage with EU and Belgian officials.
