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Saudi Foreign Minister’s Visit to India Strengthens Bilateral Ties

4 minutes read

Saudi Foreign Minister’s Visit to India Strengthens Bilateral Ties

4 minutes read

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, has commenced a significant two-day official visit to India. The visit aims to bolster the strategic partnership between the two nations. Prince Faisal arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday night at the Air Force Station in Palam. The trip includes high-level meetings focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation across various sectors.

A central event of the visit is the co-chairing of the second meeting of the Political, Security, Social, and Cultural Committee under the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council (SPC). This council was established in 2019 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Saudi Arabia to deepen collaboration in multiple areas. The meeting took place on Wednesday at Hyderabad House, where Prince Faisal met with India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM), S. Jaishankar.

In his opening remarks, Jaishankar emphasized the historical and enduring ties between India and Saudi Arabia, which are rooted in centuries of trade, cultural exchange, and economic collaboration. He noted, “Our two countries of course enjoy a long-standing friendship reflecting centuries-old economic and socio-cultural ties. Under the guidance of our leadership, we have witnessed a deepening of our multifaceted bilateral ties across various domains.”

One of the focal points of their discussions was the expansion of defence and security cooperation. Jaishankar highlighted significant progress in this area, including plans for the first-ever joint land forces exercise scheduled for 2024 and two joint naval exercises. Both ministers also discussed expanding defence industry cooperation and regular exchanges in training and capacity building. The growing security collaboration includes joint efforts in counter-terrorism, combating extremism, and addressing terrorism financing and drug trafficking.

Prince Faisal affirmed the strength of the Saudi-India partnership, emphasizing that it has evolved into a “robust and solid partnership.” He expressed optimism about the future of bilateral relations, particularly following the progress made during the inaugural meeting of the Saudi-India Strategic Partnership Council, which was co-chaired by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The talks also focused on enhancing economic and cultural cooperation. In recent years, India and Saudi Arabia have formalized several bilateral agreements covering sectors such as food exports, pharmaceuticals, electrical interconnectivity, energy, small and medium enterprises, and digitization. Both countries are exploring new collaborations in emerging fields like fintech, clean hydrogen, textiles, mining, and energy efficiency.

Prince Faisal noted, “The relationship between our countries is built on centuries of trade and cultural exchange, which have laid the foundation for our current strategic partnership.” He emphasized the importance of continued cooperation in sectors that align with their mutual economic development goals.

Jaishankar, in his remarks, stressed the value of enhancing collaboration in culture, tourism, and youth exchanges, which can contribute to stronger people-to-people ties between the two countries.

A significant aspect of the meeting was the focus on the welfare of the Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia. The EAM expressed gratitude to the Saudi government for their support of the 2.6 million-strong Indian community in the Kingdom. “We have maintained a good tempo of high-level engagements and coordination across the multilateral forum. The Indian community in Saudi Arabia is 2.6 million strong, and I take the opportunity to thank you for ensuring their welfare and for their comfort,” Jaishankar stated.

Prince Faisal’s visit to India follows the recent visit of Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, to Saudi Arabia. Earlier this month, Goyal participated in the Plenary Session of the Eighth Edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII), highlighting the critical role of international partnerships in fostering innovation and investment.

The ministers also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern. Prince Faisal stressed the importance of coordinated efforts in addressing international peace, security, and economic development challenges. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to align their positions on issues of shared concern, benefiting their nations and the broader region.

“The ministerial committee and its subcommittees should draw guidance from our leaders’ shared conviction in our partnership’s immense value and potential. We recognize the importance of sustained, coordinated efforts across all areas of cooperation,” Prince Faisal said.

The visit of Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud to India marks a significant step in strengthening the multifaceted ties between the two countries. The high-level talks and strategic council meeting underline the commitment of both nations to enhance cooperation across various domains, including defence, security, economy, and culture. With a shared vision of progress and stability, the India-Saudi Arabia partnership is set to grow stronger, benefiting both countries and contributing to regional stability.

 

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