During PM Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia in the last week of October, both Modi and the Saudi royal family reiterated the strong ties between India and Saudi Arabia and further strengthening of the same. India and Saudi Arabia are seeking greater synergy in terms of business, security, regional hegemony and a quid pro quo towards further trade and mutually beneficial growth.
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In the backdrop of Pakistan’s attempts to ramp up cross-border terrorism in Kashmir, Saudi Arabia sided with India in condemning global terrorism.
Suadi Arabia and India will be conducting joint naval exercises in December. Both naval powers are looking to secure their sovereign maritime interests in the Arabian Sea.
PM Modi hailed India-Saudi relations saying, “Our relation with Saudi Arabia is several years old. Our ancient relations has built a strong foundation for our strategic partnership.“
Modi visited Saudi Arabia at the personal invitation of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and to give a keynote address to the Future Investment Initiative (FII).
With the rising unreliability of USA, the long term geopolitical partner of Saudi Arabia and the growing instabilities in the Middle East as well as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia seems to be looking towards India as the future in terms of military and economy co-operations and alliance.
Modi stressed on the stability of Indian politics after the consolidation of national power by the BJP, the rapid growth in Indian startup ecosystem as well as skillbase and the importance of petrochemical industry to advocate stronger economic and trade ties between the two nations.
Curiopedia
Indo-Arab Historic Relations – Trade and cultural links between ancient India and Arabia date back to the third millennium BC. By 1000 AD, the trade relations between southern India and Arabia flourished and became the backbone of the Arabian economy. Arab traders held a monopoly over the spice trade between India and Europe until the rise of European imperialist empires. India was one of the first nations to establish ties with the Third Saudi State. During the 1930s, British India heavily funded Nejd through financial subsidies. Formal diplomatic relations between contemporary India and Saudi Arabia were established soon after India gained independence in 1947. Relations between the two countries have strengthened considerably owing to collaboration in regional affairs and trade. Saudi Arabia is one of the largest suppliers of oil to India, who is one of the top seven trading partners and the fifth biggest investor in Saudi Arabia. More Info
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