Strengthening defense ties, India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) kick off the inaugural “Desert Cyclone 2024” joint military exercise today. This two-week drill in Rajasthan focuses on boosting interoperability through sharing best practices in urban warfare.
The exercise comes amidst growing bilateral defense cooperation between the two nations. As stated by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, potential areas for collaboration include:
- Joint development and production of defense equipment: This paves the way for co-creating state-of-the-art military technology.
- Expanded military exercises: Both nations seek to increase joint training across all branches, particularly naval exercises for maritime security.
- Strategic information exchange: Sharing expertise on tactics and doctrines fosters deeper tactical understanding between the forces.
- Technical cooperation on specific projects: Collaboration on projects like the Intermediate Jet Trainer program underscores the commitment to joint development.
This exercise builds upon the legacy of the first-ever India-UAE Air Forces exercise held in 2008 at the Al-Dhafra base in Abu Dhabi. “Desert Cyclone 2024” marks a significant step forward in solidifying the strategic partnership between these two influential regional powers.