PM Modi Departs For Saudi Arabia; Calls Ties A Strategic Partnership With Growing Momentum

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has highlighted the strategic depth and growing momentum in India’s relationship with Saudi Arabia, noting the mutually beneficial partnership that has developed over recent years.

This statement was made as PM Modi departed for a two-day State visit to Saudi Arabia, invited by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Taking to X, PM Modi posted, “Leaving for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where I will be attending various meetings and programmes. India values our historic relations with Saudi Arabia. Bilateral ties have gained significant momentum in the last decade. I look forward to participating in the 2nd Meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council. I will also be interacting with the Indian community there.”

The Prime Minister underscored that the long-standing ties between India and Saudi Arabia have evolved into a robust, strategic partnership, covering areas such as defence, trade, investment, energy, and people-to-people connections.

“India deeply values its long and historic ties with Saudi Arabia which have acquired strategic depth and momentum in recent years. Together, we have developed a mutually beneficial and substantive partnership including in the domains of defence, trade, investment, energy and people-to-people ties,” PM Modi added in his statement.

The Prime Minister also emphasised the shared commitment between the two nations to foster regional peace, prosperity, security, and stability.

Third Visit To Saudi Arabia; First Time To Jeddah

This visit marks PM Modi’s third trip to Saudi Arabia in the last decade, but it is his first to Jeddah.

Prime Minister Modi will be attending the second meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council, building on the successful 2023 State visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to India.

“This will be my third visit to Saudi Arabia over the past decade and a first one 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,” PM Modi asserted.

Alongside bilateral discussions, PM Modi will meet with the vibrant Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia, whom he described as a ‘living bridge’ between the two countries, contributing immensely to strengthening cultural and human ties.

“I am also eager to connect with the vibrant Indian community in Saudi Arabia that continues to serve as the living bridge between our nations and (is) making an immense contribution to strengthening the cultural and human ties,” the Prime Minister noted.

PM Modi’s previous visits to Saudi Arabia were in 2016 and 2019.

This trip follows Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s State Visit to India in September 2023 during the G20 Summit and his participation in the inaugural meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India and Saudi Arabia share close and friendly relations, with deep socio-cultural and trade ties.

The Prime Minister’s visit is expected to further deepen these ties and provide an opportunity for discussions on regional and global matters of mutual interest.

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