VISIT OF PM MODI TO THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a visit to Saudi Arabia on 22 and 23 April 2025 at the invitation of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Earlier, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia came to New Delhi in September 2023 for the G-20 Summit held in India. Narendra Modi is visiting Saudi Arabia for the third time since becoming Prime Minister in 2014. Before it, Modi visited Saudi Arabia in 2016 and 2019.

PM Narendra Modi was given a grand welcome in Saudi Arabia. He was welcomed with a 21-gun salute at the airport.  When PM Modi's plane entered Saudi Arabia's airspace, he was given an air escort. This visit is essential because of the strategic partnership between India and Saudi Arabia.

This shows the respect, honor, and deep friendship of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi is visiting Jeddah at a time when tariff war is going on all over the world.

Jeddah is a very important city for communication between India and Saudi Arabia as it has been a major port for trade between the two countries for centuries. It is also the gateway to Mecca. Every person coming for Umrah and Haj first reaches Jeddah and then goes to Mecca.

A WAVE OF PATRIOTIC ENTHUSIASM

 

 A wave of patriotic enthusiasm swept through the Indian community in Jeddah as members of the diaspora gathered to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The crowd broke into a soulful rendition of ‘Saare Jahan Se Achha’, expressing pride and excitement over the PM’s visit. Many attendees described the moment as deeply emotional and historic. From young children to senior professionals, everyone expressed joy and pride over the PM’s visit.

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL – SPC

 

The Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) was established between the two countries in October 2019. The meeting was co-chaired by PM Narendra Modi and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.

During the Council meeting, the leaders reviewed the extensive progress made across political, defense, trade, energy, technology, agriculture, and people-to-people exchanges. They signed the official minutes of the session, underscoring mutual commitment to strengthening cooperation under the SPC framework.

According to sources, reflecting the growing defense ties, including joint military exercises, training programs, and cooperation in the defense industry, the leaders announced the formation of a new ministerial committee on defense cooperation. Additionally, recognizing the growing cultural and social engagement between the two countries, the Council established a new ministerial committee on tourism and cultural cooperation.

Saudi Arabia is India's fifth-largest trading partner, while India is Saudi Arabia's second-largest trading partner. The bilateral trade between the two countries has reached $43 billion in the financial year 2023-24.

Saudi Arabia is also India's third largest crude oil and LPG supplier. In 2023-24, Saudi supplied 33.35 million metric tonnes of crude oil and 18.2% of India's LPG imports to India.

HIGH LEVEL TASK FORCE ON INVESTMENT (HLTF)

 

India-Saudi Arabia High-Level Task Force on Investments held its meeting in Riyadh, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jeddah, the details of which are as follows:

• Building on the commitment of Saudi Arabia to invest USD 100 billion in India in multiple areas including energy, petrochemicals, infrastructure, technology, fintech, digital infrastructure, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and health, the joint High-Level Task Force on Investment came to an understanding in multiple areas to rapidly promote such investment flows.
• Both sides agreed to collaborate on establishing two refineries in India.
• The progress made by HLTF in areas such as taxation is a major breakthrough for greater investment cooperation in the future.

BOTH THE LEADERS WITNESSED THE SIGNING OF FOUR MoUs

PM Modi held a bilateral meeting with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and both leaders witnessed the signing of four MoUs, including space, health, anti-doping, and posts council.

• An MoU was signed between the Saudi Space Agency and the Department of Space of India on Cooperation in the field of Space Activities for Peaceful Purposes.
• The Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India signed an MoU on Cooperation in the field of Health.
• An MoU between the Saudi Arabian Anti-Doping Committee (SAADC) and the National Anti-Doping Agency, India (NADA) on Cooperation in the field of Anti-Doping Education and Prevention was signed between both parties.
• An agreement between the Saudi Post Corporation (SPL) and the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications of India on Cooperation in Inward Surface Parcel was also signed.

India is becoming an important supplier of defense materials to Saudi Arabia. Last year, an exclusive agreement was signed for the export of ammunition worth about $225 million to the Kingdom.

India values ​​its historical ties with Saudi Arabia. Bilateral relations between the two countries have gained significant momentum in the last decade. The two countries have had diplomatic relations since 1947.

For many decades in the past, India's relations with the Gulf countries were limited to the import of energy and export of blue and white-collar labor from India. The Gulf countries have been dependent on migrants for the development and growth of their economy and India on the Gulf countries for energy. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi took this relationship forward and the Gulf countries are not only business partners of India but also strategic partners.

MODI RETURNED LEAVING SAUDI TOUR MIDWAY

 

PM Modi had to return to India after the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, leaving his Saudi Arabia tour midway. This is the biggest terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir after the 2019 Pulwama attack. Terrorists opened fire on tourists, killing 27 people. The dead include a tourist from UAE and a tourist from Nepal. The incident took place on 22.04.2025 at around 2.45 pm in the Baisaran Valley of Pahalgam. The terrorists fired on the tourists and escaped.

SIGNS OF CHANGE

 

Saudi Arabia's participation in the BRICS summit has begun to signal a shift towards a more multipolar world order.

Saudi Arabia is actively pursuing ties with non-Muslim majority countries such as India, China, and Russia. This reflects a pragmatic approach to foreign policy, prioritizing economic and strategic interests.

Director of the think tank Sanobar Institute and Pakistani analyst Qamar Cheema has presented PM Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia as a challenge for Pakistan. Cheema said, "Narendra Modi is going to influence not only Saudi Arabia but also the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Saudi Arabia is India's fifth-largest trading partner. Pakistan doesn't even stand a chance. How long will you keep telling them about Islam?"

Dr. Mohammad Mudassir Qamar says, "Earlier the relationship between Gulf and India was one of transactions but now it is one of friendship and partnership. Now the Gulf countries are India's strategic partners. PM Modi has brought the relationship with Saudi Arabia out of the clutter of the past and added warmth to it through diplomacy."