Exercise aims to enhance interoperability during peacekeeping missions, Indian Ministry of Defence says Emirati contingent comprises 45 soldiers from the Zayed First Brigade NEW DELHI: Dozens of UAE Army personnel arrived in India this week for the Desert Cyclone military exercise, the first joint drill between the Emirati and Indian land forces. The UAE contingent comprises 45 soldiers from the Zayed First Brigade, while the 45 Indian Army troops participating in the drill are represented mainly by a battalion from the Mechanised Infantry Regiment, the Indian Ministry of Defence said in a statement as the exercise commenced on Tuesday. The two-week drill, which the ministry said aims to “enhance cooperation and interoperability between both the sides during peacekeeping operations,” is taking place in Mahajan in the northern state of Rajasthan and will conclude on Jan. 15. Exercises between the armed forces of the two countries have been increasingly frequent since the two countries signed a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2017. So far, however, they have involved only their navies and air forces, India’s Ambassador to the UAE Sunjay Sudhir told Arab News on Wednesday. “Desert Cyclone, which started yesterday, is the first army-to-army bilateral exercise,” he said, adding that the previous drills and the ongoing one were a “sign of the growing and diversified strategic partnership between India and the UAE.” The UAE has been emerging as India’s key partner in the Gulf region, both in terms of defense and lately also trade, since the signing of a comprehensive economic partnership agreement in 2022. “In the backdrop of close economic and trade relations, the two countries developing closer relations in defense and strategic arena is becoming a template for other Gulf partners. India and UAE are already cooperating in countering terrorism and other cross-border crimes,” Ranjit Kumar, defense analyst based in Delhi, told Arab News. “The strengthening of cooperation and high-level exchanges among the armed forces indicate that the two countries are coming closer on the strategic arena.”