NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Jeddah today for a two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia, marking his first-ever visit to the Kingdom’s commercial capital. Invited by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, this trip will be PM Modi’s third to the Kingdom after earlier visits in 2016 and 2019. It comes as part of the ongoing high-level diplomatic engagements between the two nations, following the Crown Prince’s own state visit to New Delhi for the G20 Summit in September 2023.
PM Modi and the Crown Prince are set to co-chair the second meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council during the visit. According to Indian Ambassador Suhel Ajaz Khan, a large number of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed, with key discussions centred on strengthening economic ties, bolstering defence cooperation and addressing regional political challenges.
Ambassador Khan highlighted that around 2.7 million Indians reside in Saudi Arabia, significantly contributing to the Kingdom’s development while maintaining close cultural and familial ties with India.
On the defence front, the visit is expected to provide further momentum to an already robust partnership. India and Saudi Arabia signed a bilateral defence cooperation MoU in 2014, and have since conducted joint naval and land exercises.
Plans are underway for another round of naval drills soon, as per Khan.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri noted that regional and international issues such as the situation in West Asia, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and maritime security concerns related to Houthi attacks will also be discussed.
Bilateral trade between the two nations currently stands at around $43 billion, and PM Modi’s visit is seen as a key step in not only boosting economic ties but also strengthening India’s engagement with the broader Gulf and Islamic world.
PM Modi and the Crown Prince are set to co-chair the second meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council during the visit. According to Indian Ambassador Suhel Ajaz Khan, a large number of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed, with key discussions centred on strengthening economic ties, bolstering defence cooperation and addressing regional political challenges.
Ambassador Khan highlighted that around 2.7 million Indians reside in Saudi Arabia, significantly contributing to the Kingdom’s development while maintaining close cultural and familial ties with India.
On the defence front, the visit is expected to provide further momentum to an already robust partnership. India and Saudi Arabia signed a bilateral defence cooperation MoU in 2014, and have since conducted joint naval and land exercises.
Plans are underway for another round of naval drills soon, as per Khan.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri noted that regional and international issues such as the situation in West Asia, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and maritime security concerns related to Houthi attacks will also be discussed.
Bilateral trade between the two nations currently stands at around $43 billion, and PM Modi’s visit is seen as a key step in not only boosting economic ties but also strengthening India’s engagement with the broader Gulf and Islamic world.
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