From Coffee Breaks to Cabinet Tables: S. Jaishankar’s Quiet Diplomacy at Sir Bani Yas Forum 2025
- Joydeep Chakraborty
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
The three-day Sir Bani Yas Forum 2025 in Abu Dhabi served as an important venue for India’s diplomatic engagement, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar holding multiple bilateral discussions on global and regional issues.
Designed as a retreat rather than a summit, the Sir Bani Yas Forum has quietly become one of the world’s most effective platforms for strategic dialogue. It encourages frank and constructive dialogue, allowing ministers to explore solutions, build trust, and understand differing perspectives without the pressures of formal diplomacy.
Bilateral Diplomacy in Action
During the forum, S. Jaishankar engaged in a series of high-level bilateral meetings with counterparts from Europe, the United Kingdom, and Egypt.
These interactions, held on the sidelines of the three-day summit, focused on pressing geopolitical and security issues that affect regional stability and global governance.
India, the UAE’s second-largest trading partner, has significant stakes in these discussions. Talks held at the forum are more than ceremonial—they impact billions in bilateral trade, investments, and energy security.
In the hallway of the forum, Jaishankar had a chance “to catch up” with Egypt’s Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty—a few minutes that led to a deeper conversation on bilateral cooperation. Jaishankar also used meetings with European ministers to briefly share India’s experiences in regional security and counterterrorism, demonstrating India’s role as a constructive partner in international discussions.
Snapshot of Global Engagement
On December 13, 2025, Jaishankar met with Luxembourg’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel, Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, and Latvia’s Foreign Minister Baiba Braze. Sharing the moments on social media, he highlighted the value of these exchanges in building a network of trusted relationships.
The following day, he met UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, posting that it was “good to see” him on the sidelines of the forum. These snapshots of diplomacy may seem casual, but they are crucial in laying the groundwork for formal agreements and coordinated policy approaches.
The Sir Bani Yas Forum: History and Relevance
Established in 2011, the Sir Bani Yas Forum was created to provide a discreet, high-level platform for discussing pressing regional and global political, security, and economic challenges. Held on Sir Bani Yas Island or in Abu Dhabi, the forum offers a retreat-style environment far from the formality of capital-based summits.
Over the years, it has attracted foreign ministers, senior officials, and strategic experts from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. By fostering candid conversations and quiet diplomacy, the forum has become a trusted space for confidence-building, policy coordination, and long-term international cooperation.
The 2025 edition—the 16th—was particularly significant, coming amid a complex global environment marked by shifting alliances, regional conflicts, and emerging security threats. Officials from India, the UK, Egypt, Pakistan, and several European countries participated in bilateral and multilateral discussions focused on regional stability, diplomatic cooperation, and global security challenges.
How India Reaps Strategic Benefits
Participation in forums like Sir Bani Yas is invaluable for India. First, they offer a neutral, informal setting to discuss sensitive geopolitical and security matters outside rigid diplomatic frameworks.
Second, the forum facilitates both bilateral and multilateral engagements, helping India strengthen ties across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Asia—crucial for advancing trade, investment, and energy interests.
Third, these platforms enhance India’s stature as a responsible global actor, allowing it to articulate positions on counterterrorism, regional stability, and governance while contributing to broader international discussions.
Lastly, the retreat-style interactions foster trust and consensus-building, helping India manage differences, reduce misunderstandings, and align its priorities with global partners.
The Quiet Power of Informal Diplomacy
The Sir Bani Yas Forum serves as a reminder that diplomacy is often forged not through grand announcements but in quiet hallways, over shared coffee, and in the subtle gestures exchanged across tables. As External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s interactions in Abu Dhabi demonstrate, even brief meetings and informal conversations contribute to sustaining strategic continuity and trust.
Each handshake and shared smile carries reassurance, laying the groundwork for broader diplomatic initiatives and reflecting a measured, sophisticated approach to advancing India’s multilateral strategy.
In an era defined by complex geopolitical flux, forums like Sir Bani Yas allow India to safeguard its interests while actively shaping global conversations—one corridor discussion, one handshake, one shared understanding at a time.
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