Jaishankar Meets Iraq DPM Fuad Hussein at UN HQ
Synopsis
EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar met Iraqi Deputy PM and FM Fuad Hussein at UN HQ on September 25, discussing West Asia developments and India-Iraq economic and energy ties — continuing India's pattern of high-level bilateral engagement on UN sidelines.
Key Takeaways
Jaishankar met Iraqi DPM and FM Fuad Hussein at the United Nations Headquarters, New York on September 25, 2026 .
The two ministers exchanged perspectives on developments in West Asia .
Discussions also covered India-Iraq economic and energy ties , a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship.
Iraq is a longstanding and significant crude oil supplier to India , with diplomatic ties dating to 1947 .
The meeting fits India's established practice of using UN General Assembly sidelines for bilateral engagement with West Asian counterparts.
Fuad Hussein holds both the Deputy Prime Ministership and the Foreign Affairs portfolio, giving the meeting immediate political and diplomatic weight.
On the sidelines of the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Union External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar sat down with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein on Friday, September 25, 2026 — a meeting that brought together two nations whose relationship is built as much on barrels of crude oil as on decades of diplomacy.
West Asia on the table at New York
Dr. Jaishankar described the meeting as 'a real pleasure,' noting that the two ministers 'exchanged perspectives on developments in West Asia.' The region has rarely been more consequential — and India, as a major power with deep economic exposure to the Gulf and beyond, has every reason to stay closely calibrated to every shift in the regional order. The UN General Assembly week is a key fixture in India's diplomatic calendar for precisely this kind of high-density, high-value exchange.
Fuad Hussein is one of Iraq's most senior figures, holding both the deputy premiership and the foreign affairs portfolio — a combination that gives any bilateral conversation immediate political weight. For India, engaging him directly at this level signals the seriousness with which New Delhi views the bilateral relationship.
Energy ties that power the relationship
Iraq has long ranked among India's top crude oil suppliers, a position cemented over decades since diplomatic relations were first established in 1947. The two ministers also discussed 'economic and energy ties' — the unglamorous but load-bearing beam of the India-Iraq relationship. As India continues efforts to diversify its energy supply chain, maintaining a strong, direct channel with Baghdad is not optional. It is strategic.
India routinely uses UN sidelines for exactly these bilateral conversations with West Asian counterparts — threading together regional security awareness and energy security in a single meeting room. This one fits that well-established pattern, with the added urgency of an actively shifting West Asian landscape.
India's West Asia engagement in sharper focus
The meeting is another data point in India's sustained, multi-track engagement with the broader West Asian region — through bilateral channels, multilateral forums, and the long-standing ties of energy trade and diaspora. Dr. Jaishankar has been a consistent architect of this approach, treating the region not as a peripheral concern but as a core theatre of Indian foreign policy. A conversation with Fuad Hussein in the corridors of the UN is, in that sense, exactly where it should happen — and exactly who should be having it.
Point of View
The direct engagement at deputy-PM level is a deliberate signal of relationship management, not mere courtesy. For Dr. Jaishankar, who has consistently elevated India's West Asia posture, every sideline conversation is an instrument of a larger design. The energy dimension gives this diplomatic exchange an immediate economic stake that goes well beyond protocol.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Jaishankar meet Fuad Hussein at the UN?
EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar met Iraqi DPM and FM Fuad Hussein on the sidelines of the United Nations in New York on September 25, 2026, to discuss regional developments in West Asia and bilateral economic and energy ties between India and Iraq.
Who is Fuad Hussein of Iraq?
Fuad Hussein is Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, one of the country's most senior officials responsible for foreign policy and diplomatic engagement.
What are India-Iraq energy relations?
Iraq is a major crude oil supplier to India, and the two countries have maintained diplomatic and trade relations since 1947. Energy trade forms the backbone of the bilateral relationship.
Does India hold bilateral meetings at the UN General Assembly?
Yes. India routinely uses the UN General Assembly week in New York as an opportunity for high-density bilateral meetings with counterparts from across the world, including West Asian nations.
What is India's diplomatic stance on West Asia?
India maintains active, multi-track engagement with West Asian nations through bilateral visits, multilateral forums, and sustained energy and trade ties, treating the region as a core theatre of its foreign policy.
