NEW DELHI — Officials confirmed Tuesday that the Prime Minister will undertake a brief stopover in the UAE before traveling to Europe, demonstrating the nation's commitment to diplomatic independence by asking an active conflict zone if its energy shipments are still on schedule.

The stopover follows a similar three-hour standalone trip to New Delhi by the UAE President in January 2026, which secured a $3 billion, 10-year liquefied natural gas agreement. "Our bilateral trade reached nearly $100 billion in 2025, reflecting a deepening strategic partnership," said a Ministry spokesperson, carefully avoiding any mention of the UAE's recent exit from OPEC or the US-Iran war that has shuttered the Strait of Hormuz. "This brief detour simply proves our relationship is strong enough to withstand minor geopolitical shifts, such as the total militarization of our primary shipping lane."

Noting a pattern of short, high-impact visits dating back to a brief 2023 detour after the Bastille Day parade, officials stressed that the stopover is purely about fostering regional stability. "India maintains complete strategic autonomy in its foreign policy," the spokesperson added. "We are entirely free to choose whichever heavily contested, war-torn Gulf state we must desperately rely on to keep our lights on."