External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Tuesday, as the three nations deepened their trilateral partnership across emerging and strategic sectors. Collaboration in Artificial Intelligence (AI), space, health sciences, energy, and culture dominated the agenda.

What Was Discussed

The three ministers reviewed the progress of trilateral cooperation across agreed areas of mutual interest, with particular focus on space exploration, artificial intelligence, and culture and heritage. They also assessed the evolving situation in West Asia, according to a statement released by India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to building constructive ties through concrete initiatives and agreed to convene at regular intervals to track progress across all synergetic areas.

Jaishankar's Post on X

Jaishankar shared his assessment of the meeting on social media platform X, writing: 'Glad to participate in the India-UAE-France trilateral on the sidelines of UNGA81. Collaboration in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, Space, health sciences, energy and culture was the main topic of discussion. Our shared interests and complimentary capabilities offer immense scope for cooperation. Agreed to meet again soon to take the discussion forward.'

Separate India-France Bilateral on Ukraine and UNSC Reform

On 21 September, Jaishankar held a separate bilateral meeting with Barrot in New York, where the two reviewed the full spectrum of the India-France Special Global Strategic Partnership. Regional and global flashpoints — specifically the Ukraine conflict and the Gulf crisis — were discussed, as were multilateral concerns including the reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Jaishankar posted on X: 'Pleasure to meet FM Jean-Noel Barrot of France UN High Level Week. Our regular meetings and telecons enable us to maintain the momentum of our Special Global Strategic Partnership. Regional and global issues, specifically the Ukraine & Gulf crisis were discussed. Also exchanged views on multilateral issues, including the reform of UN Security Council.'

Why the India-UAE-France Format Matters

The India-UAE-France trilateral is a relatively nascent but strategically significant format, bringing together three nations whose bilateral ties each carry independent geopolitical weight. India and France share a Special Global Strategic Partnership that spans defence, nuclear energy, and space. India and the UAE are bound by one of the subcontinent's deepest economic and diaspora ties, reinforced by a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. France and the UAE maintain close defence cooperation in the Gulf region.

Notably, this trilateral convergence comes as all three countries navigate shifting alignments on AI governance, clean energy transitions, and space commercialisation — sectors where complementary capabilities could accelerate outcomes faster than bilateral frameworks alone. The UNGA margins have increasingly become a venue for India to consolidate plurilateral formats beyond traditional blocs, a pattern consistent with New Delhi's multi-alignment doctrine.

What Comes Next

The three sides have committed to meeting again 'soon,' though no specific timeline has been announced beyond the agreement to convene at regular intervals. Concrete initiatives are expected to be formalised in subsequent rounds, with space and AI cooperation likely yielding the first tangible deliverables given their proximity to active national programmes in all three countries.