India-Saudi Arabia relations took center stage as Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as one of India’s most trusted friends and valuable partners. He emphasized that the growing partnership holds limitless potential across trade, energy, technology, and cultural ties.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Saudi Arabia “one of India’s most valued partners — a maritime neighbor, a trusted friend, and a strategic ally” as he traveled to Jeddah on Tuesday for a two-day visit. Additionally, he stated that the two nations’ alliance had “limitless potential.”
In addition to accelerating Riyadh’s $100 billion investment plan for India, Modi is scheduled to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday night. The two leaders are anticipated to talk about deepening cooperation in a number of important areas, including energy, defense, and trade.
In addition to their bilateral relationship, the two presidents will discuss important regional and international problems, such as the state of affairs in West Asia as a whole.
Modi Highlights Strengthening India-Saudi Arabia Relations During Jeddah Visit
“This will be my third visit to Saudi Arabia over the past decade and my first to the historic city of Jeddah. I look forward to participating in the 2nd Meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council and building upon the highly successful State visit of my brother, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to India in 2023,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, underlining the deepening India-Saudi Arabia relations.
As a special gesture reflecting the strength of the bilateral bond, the Prime Minister’s aircraft was escorted by F-15 fighter jets of the Royal Saudi Air Force as it entered Saudi airspace.
“Our connection is not new,” Modi stated in an interview with Arab News. It has its roots in centuries-old trade across civilizations. There has been an ongoing exchange of ideas and commerce between our two powerful countries. A significant turning point was reached in 2019 with the establishment of the Strategic Partnership Council. Since then, our collaboration has grown in a variety of areas. And this is only the beginning, I assure you. Our collaboration offers boundless possibilities.
Modi: India-Saudi Arabia Relations a Pillar of Stability in Uncertain Times
“What anchors our relationship is mutual trust and goodwill. In a world full of uncertainties, our bond stands strong as a pillar of stability. I truly believe these are promising times for India-Saudi Arabia relations. And, I must say, the Saudi leadership has played a vital role in strengthening this partnership,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.
He added, “India and Saudi Arabia will keep moving forward together — for peace, progress, and prosperity, not just for our people, but for the entire world.”
“His Royal Highness has left a deep impression on me,” he remarked in reference to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. His wisdom, his vision for the future, and his enthusiasm for realizing his people’s dreams are simply astounding. Saudi Arabia has experienced significant social and economic change while he has been in power.
Modi Highlights Personal Rapport with Crown Prince, Strengthening India-Saudi Arabia Relations
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reflected on his close relationship with the Saudi Crown Prince, emphasizing the “personal warmth and trust” they share. “And yes, this personal rapport has naturally translated into how both countries give priority to our partnership,” he said.
Modi added that the Crown Prince is a strong advocate of India-Saudi Arabia relations, noting his continued support for the Indian diaspora. “He has been a great supporter of the Indian community in Saudi Arabia, and our people living there deeply admire him,” the Prime Minister remarked.
“We discuss how to make this alliance future-ready. India and Jeddah have a unique relationship. This renowned city has been one of the main hubs for our trade and interpersonal interactions for ages. “Our pilgrims have been walking the streets of Jeddah on their holy journey for Hajj and Umrah for ages as a gateway to Makkah,” he continued.
India-Saudi Arabia Relations: Modi Calls Economic Ties ‘As Old As the Monsoon Winds’
Terming the economic dimension of India-Saudi Arabia relations as “as old as the monsoon winds,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the historic and strategic bond between the two nations.
“Given the proximity of our nations and the complementarity of our economies, there is a natural connect. That is why even during global challenges, our trade ties have not just survived, but grown,” Modi said.
He added that while sectors like energy, agriculture, and fertilisers dominate trade, diversification efforts have yielded results, with Indian businesses and Saudi industries forging deeper connections.
Modi added that improving investment partnerships and forging closer linkages between the two nations’ businesses and industries were strengthening India-Saudi Arabian ties. Saudi Arabia is one of India’s top energy partners. India is also helping to ensure Saudi Arabia’s food security. I’ve heard that Indian rice is preferred in Saudi Arabia! “Saudi dates are also popular in India,” he remarked.
Modi stated that bilateral investments between Saudi Arabia and India have been growing, citing a number of “complementarities between Saudi Vision 2030 and India’s Viksit Bharat 2047.” Saudi majors now have a plethora of options to engage and collaborate on the Indian economic story, ranging from global supply chain partnerships to the space economy. In Saudi Arabia, Indian businesses have continued to be well-represented in a number of industries. They are contributing significantly to the fulfillment of Saudi Vision 2030. “We want to improve this connection,” he continued.
India-Saudi Arabia Relations: Modi Highlights Investment Treaty and FTA Potential
In the context of strengthening India-Saudi Arabia relations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that both nations are working towards finalizing a bilateral investment treaty.
He further emphasized, “The proposed Free Trade Agreement between India and the GCC has immense potential to transform the economic relationship between India and Saudi Arabia, and the region in general.”4
India-Saudi Arabia Relations: Modi Invites Saudi Firms to Join India’s Viksit Bharat Growth Journey
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasizing the growing scope of India-Saudi Arabia relations, invited Saudi companies to tap into the “remarkable opportunities in India as part of our Viksit Bharat journey.”
He encouraged participation in sectors such as next-generation infrastructure, logistics, renewable energy, healthcare, utilities, innovation, start-ups, and the blue economy. “Deeper engagements and two-way collaborations between companies of both countries will go a long way in strengthening the bilateral economic partnership,” Modi added.
According to Modi, the two nations’ increasing cooperation and engagement in defense and security is a sign of their strong mutual trust. It also demonstrates our shared dedication to maintaining regional stability and our determination to deal with the changing issues in our larger neighborhood. Security coordination has steadily improved. This covers topics including fighting extremism, countering counterterrorism, stopping the funding of terrorists, and battling drug trafficking. Recognizing cybersecurity’s increasing significance in today’s linked world, we are also investigating new avenues for collaboration in this area,” he stated.
Modi said that the first-ever joint exercises between the two land forces were a significant milestone for Saudi Arabia and India last year. He noted that two successful iterations of the joint naval exercise Al-Mohed Al-Hindi, conducted in 2021 and 2023, were a complement to these.
India-Saudi Arabia Relations: Modi Stresses Strong Defence-Industry Collaboration
Highlighting the strategic depth of India-Saudi Arabia relations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the mutual support for deeper defence-industry collaboration between the two nations.
“Both of us support deeper defence-industry collaboration. Over the past decade, defence manufacturing has taken deeper roots in India. Today, there is a strong military industrial complex with the ability to manufacture quality ammunition, small arms, tanks, and armoured carriers,” Modi stated.
He added, “For the Air Force, we are building drones, advanced light helicopters, and fighter jets. For the Navy, we have the capacity to build patrol boats, submarines, and even aircraft carriers.”
“We are doing more than just meeting our own needs. Additionally, India has become a major provider of defense equipment to over 100 nations worldwide. I’m happy that we were able to provide for part of the Saudi Arabian military’s requirements. We encourage greater interaction between both nations’ private sector participants. Saudi participation in India’s defense manufacturing sector, which is now open to private investment, is something we would welcome,” he continued.
India-Saudi Arabia Relations: Modi Hails IMEC as Game-Changer for Regional Connectivity
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting a transformative initiative within the framework of India-Saudi Arabia relations, spoke about the proposed India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) project.
“India and Saudi Arabia, along with the European Union, the UAE, France, Germany, Italy, and the US, jointly launched the India–Middle East–Europe Corridor initiative in New Delhi in September 2023. This corridor will define the future of connectivity in all forms for centuries to come,” Modi said.
He emphasized that the corridor will become a key catalyst for commerce, connectivity, and growth across the region, enhancing both physical and digital connectivity.
He went on to say that the corridor would promote trade facilitation, boost accessibility to commerce, and support the growth of robust and reliable supply chains. “The corridor will result in a transformative integration of Asia, Europe, and the Middle East by increasing efficiencies, reducing costs, enhancing economic unity, creating jobs, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions,” Modi stated.
India-Saudi Arabia Relations: Modi Underscores Joint Role in IMEC Success and Green Energy Push
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed the vital role of India-Saudi Arabia relations in ensuring the success of the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
“Both India and Saudi Arabia have a key role to play in the success of this corridor,” he said. “We are committed to working with our Saudi partners to realise the vision of connectivity, including multi-modal logistics, data connectivity, and electrical grid integration.”
Modi also highlighted that under this initiative, both nations are collaborating on clean and green hydrogen production and related supply chains, positioning the corridor as a future-ready model of sustainable growth.
“I visualise this initiative has a transformational potential for humanity. It can be the new Silk Route of the 21st century that will bring benefit to the generations to come,” he added.
Regarding Saudi Arabia’s 2.7 million Indian population, he conveyed his appreciation to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for their support of the Indian community. “We will always remember how they treated the Indians like family during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic. One of the most significant traits of Indians is that they make their new country their home. They are devoted, law-abiding, and fundamentally professional. Empathy, compassion, and concern are virtues they bring with them,” Modi stated.
Their host nation respects them for this precise reason. Saudi Arabia is not an exception. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has always commended the Indian community and acknowledged their important role in the Kingdom’s economic development. They belong to the Saudi family, he has even said. “These compliments always make me feel proud and happy,” he continued.
“The 4Cs — Care, Connect, Celebrate, and Contribute — is the motto of our engagement with our diaspora,” Modi added, referring to the Indian diaspora members as “rashtradoots (national ambassadors).” Modi will meet with members of the Indian community on Tuesday night. We place a high priority on their welfare, safety, and general well-being.
“We have established mechanisms for safe and legal migration,” Modi stated, referring to the programs that have been started for the Indian diaspora during the last ten years. A living link between our two nations is the 2.7 million-strong Indian population in Saudi Arabia. I applaud them for promoting their traditions and beliefs in addition to upholding them.
India-Saudi Arabia Relations: Modi Highlights Deep Cultural and People-to-People Ties
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the longstanding people-to-people connections between India and Saudi Arabia, saying, “Our people have interacted with each other since the days of ‘Kalila wa Dimna’.”
He added that the growing cultural connect between the two nations is a reflection of their mutual understanding and appreciation, underscoring the importance of India-Saudi Arabia relations in fostering stronger ties between the two peoples.
India-Saudi Arabia Relations: Modi Highlights Growing Religious and Cultural Exchanges
Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched upon the significant aspects of India-Saudi Arabia relations, particularly in the realm of religious tourism and cultural exchanges.
“As far as religious tourism is concerned, as you know, we have a large Muslim population, and they visit your beautiful country each year for Umrah and Hajj pilgrimage. We are grateful to the Saudi leadership for the continued assistance provided to Indian pilgrims,” Modi said.
He also mentioned the growing popularity of Yoga in Saudi Arabia, thanks to the support of the Saudi government, and noted the increasing interest in cricket, further cementing the diverse cultural and sporting ties between the two nations.
According to what I’ve been told, Arab broadcasters operate popular Indian-themed stations throughout the Kingdom. Additionally, Indian performers and films have a sizable fan base. The inaugural World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit will take place in Mumbai, India, from May 1–4. In order to expand our cultural and entertainment partnership, we anticipate Saudi Arabia attending the summit in force, Modi continued.
He also discussed the international recognition of Indian universities. He declared, “They are prepared to seize opportunities as and when they present themselves in Saudi Arabia as well.”
