India, Oman and UAE to Form Technical Trilateral Committee Over West Asia Airspace Challenges: Ram Mohan Naidu

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu held discussions with UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri amid growing geopolitical tensions in West Asia and their impact on regional aviation operations. During their meeting on Thursday, the two ministers agreed to establish a technical trilateral committee comprising India, Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The proposed panel will focus on addressing operational difficulties affecting regional airspace and developing coordinated solutions, Naidu said.

Sharing details of the meeting on social media platform X, Naidu described the discussions as forward-looking and underlined the importance of regional cooperation in dealing with aviation-related challenges arising from the evolving geopolitical situation. He said the proposed committee would provide a platform for the three countries to work together on operational concerns and strengthen coordination between their aviation authorities.

The minister further noted that the meeting had helped prepare the ground for technical discussions between the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Middle East (MID) and Asia-Pacific (APAC) regions, scheduled for later this month. These discussions are expected to address the challenges facing regional airspace operations.

The initiative comes amid continuing instability in West Asia following the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which began with US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets on February 28. Tehran has retaliated with missile and drone attacks targeting American military installations in the Gulf, while Washington has maintained a naval blockade of Iranian ports.

US President Donald Trump has warned that Washington could resume military strikes against Iran if the situation worsens, signalling that tensions between the two sides remain high. The regional security situation has also been affected by developments involving Yemen's Houthi rebels, who have claimed drone attacks against Saudi energy and military infrastructure. The Saudi-led coalition, meanwhile, has reported intercepting drones heading towards Riyadh and the kingdom's Eastern Province.

The United Nations Security Council has renewed sanctions against the Houthis and called for an end to attacks that threaten regional peace and security. Amid these developments, the proposed India-Oman-UAE committee is expected to strengthen cooperation on aviation matters and help the countries develop a coordinated response to disruptions caused by the changing security environment. Airspace restrictions and security concerns in conflict-affected regions can force airlines to modify flight paths, potentially increasing travel times, fuel consumption and operating costs.

India and the UAE have also maintained regular diplomatic engagement to expand their broader strategic partnership. Earlier, on November 10, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met UAE Ambassador to India Abdulla Saif Al Nuaimi in New Delhi. Their discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation and deepening strategic ties.

In a post on X, Jaishankar expressed his willingness to further develop the partnership between the two countries. Economic cooperation and investment opportunities have also remained important areas of engagement. The latest aviation initiative highlights the growing importance of regional collaboration as India and its Gulf partners seek to maintain stable air connectivity despite the uncertainties created by the ongoing West Asian crisis.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.