External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar co-chaired the India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Troika Ministerial Meeting in New York on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. In a social media post, Dr Jaishankar said the meeting reviewed the progress of the India-GCC Joint Action Plan 2024-28 and discussed ways to further advance the partnership.

He welcomed the launch of negotiations for the India-GCC Free Trade Agreement. He said India looks forward to strengthening ties with the GCC in areas including trade, investment, energy, food security, health, new technologies, culture and people-to-people exchanges. Dr Jaishankar also thanked the GCC leadership for its support to the Indian community. He reiterated India’s strong commitment to freedom of navigation and the safety of seafarers and commercial shipping.