 "Modi visits Jeddah: 5 things about India-Saudi Arabia ties")
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Jeddah, the commercial capital of Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, 22 April, at the invitation of His Royal Highness Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. This diplomatic visit reflects the ongoing commitment of both nations to further deepen their bilateral ties.
As part of the visit, Prime Minister Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will co-chair the second meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council. This key forum aims to enhance cooperation across numerous sectors. With a focus on boosting economic collaboration, advancing defence cooperation, and addressing pressing regional political challenges, the visit underscores the importance of strengthening these past longstanding ties between India and the modern Kingdom.
Here are five key diplomatic ties India shares with Saudi Arabia
1. Strategic Partnership Council (SPC)
Established in 2019 by Prime Minister Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, this platform serves as the foundation of bilateral relations with the two nations. The SPC facilitates high-level diplomatic engagements and advances cooperation and collaboration across various sectors. " Strategic Partnership Council helped India address its expectations and aspirations. In these four years, it has emerged as an effective medium to further strengthen our strategic partnership." PM Modi stated on his official page.
2. Economic and Trade Relations
The mutual trade partnership between the two nations has steadily grown over the years, with India being the second-largest trade partner of Saudi Arabia, while it is the fifth-largest trading partner of India. According to the Ministry of Extrenal Affairs, in the fiscal year (FY) 2023-24, bilateral trade reached USD 42.98 billion. Indian exports totaled USD 11.56 billion, while imports stood at USD 31.42 billion, spanning various sectors such as automobiles and petroleum.
3. Energy Partnership
Energy remains a central pillar of the India–Saudi Arabia bilateral relationship, with the Kingdom being the third-largest source of crude oil and petroleum for India. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India imported 33.35 million metric tonnes (MMT) of crude oil from Saudi Arabia in FY 2023–24. Additionally, Saudi was the third-largest supplier of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), accounting for 18.2% of India’s total LPG imports during the same period.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts4. Defence ties
Saudi and India, as maritime neighbours, have strengthened their naval cooperation through joint exercises. The first of these, ‘Al Mohed Al Hindi’, was conducted in August 2021 with the aim of enhancing maritime security operations and naval manoeuvres. In addition to naval collaboration, the two nations held their first joint land forces exercise, ‘Ex-Sada Tanseeq-I’, in 2024.
A significant milestone in defence relations was marked by the visit of Hon’ble Minister of State for Defence, Shri Ajay Bhatt to Riyadh for the World Defence Show in February 2024. During this visit, an MoU was signed between Munitions India Limited and a local Saudi partner, facilitating the supply of artillery ammunition worth USD 225 million, highlighting the growing cooperation in defence production and exports.
5. Strategic Investments
Indian investments in Saudi Arabia have surged in recent years, reaching a total of approximately USD 3 billion in August 2023. These investments span over various sectors, including construction, IT, energy, and pharmaceuticals. Notable companies such as L&T, TATA Motots, and Wipro have established a significant presence in the Kingdom. On the other hand, Saudi investments in India, including those from the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and other Saudi-backed entities, have amounted to around USD 10 billion.
“India’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and Saudi Arabia’s ‘Vision 2030’ are national programmes that can be mutually beneficial to both sides.” Shri Ajay Bhatt stated in a press relase after his visit to Saudi Arabia.
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