Prince Salman of Saudi Arabia is currently on his second state visit to India, where he is meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss various topics of mutual interest. The main areas of focus include trade, economy, defense, and cultural cooperation between the two nations. This visit comes after the Saudi Crown Prince attended the G20 Summit in New Delhi.
The high-profile meeting between Prince Salman and Prime Minister Modi took place at Hyderabad House in Delhi. They co-chaired the First Leaders’ Meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council, which is a bilateral agreement signed by India and Saudi Arabia in Riyadh in 2019. This meeting aimed to assess the progress of two ministerial committees within the Strategic Partnership Council – the Political, Security, Social and Cultural Cooperation Committee, and the Economy and Investments Cooperation Committee. The leaders also discussed various aspects of bilateral relations, including politics, security, defense, trade, economy, culture, and people-to-people ties. Additionally, they touched upon regional and global issues of common interest.
India and Saudi Arabia have a long history of cordial relations and extensive people-to-people ties. Bilateral trade reached a record high of USD 52.75 billion in the fiscal year 2022-23. Both countries also have a strong partnership in the energy sector, with India being one of Saudi Arabia’s largest trading partners and a significant importer of Saudi Arabian oil.
Prime Minister Modi mentioned during his 2019 visit to Riyadh that India and Saudi Arabia have a Joint Committee on Defense Cooperation (JCDC) that meets regularly. They have identified several areas of mutual interest and collaboration in defense and security.
The Saudi Arabian Crown Prince was accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan before his meeting with Prime Minister Modi. After concluding his engagements in Delhi, Prince Salman had a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan before departing from New Delhi.
During the G20 Summit, both India and Saudi Arabia were part of the signatories for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. This initiative, considered by many as a potential alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, aims to strengthen economic partnerships and cultural integration between the three regions. Once completed, it could serve as a modern-day Silk Road, facilitating trade and alliances across continents.
Overall, Prince Salman’s visit to India highlights the strong bilateral ties and the desire to enhance cooperation in various domains, further strengthening the relationship between the two countries.