India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently held bilateral talks with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, during the latter’s official visit to New Delhi.
The meeting, held at Hyderabad House, highlighted the deepening strategic relationship between India and Saudi Arabia and set the stage for advancing shared priorities between the two nations.
This visit by Prince Faisal marks another significant moment in the India-Saudi relationship, which has been growing stronger with each high-level engagement. Arriving in India on Tuesday evening for a two-day official visit, Prince Faisal’s presence underscored Saudi Arabia’s commitment to building on the foundations laid by the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council.
Established in 2019 after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Saudi Arabia, the Council has become a key framework for cooperation across a wide range of sectors.
Following the bilateral talks, Jaishankar and Prince Faisal led discussions for the second session of the Political, Security, Social, and Cultural Committee of the Strategic Partnership Council.
This session involved a review of the progress made by the four Joint Working Groups, which focus on priority areas of mutual interest: Agriculture and Food Security, Energy, Technology and Information Technology, and Industry and Infrastructure.
By addressing these critical sectors, both leaders emphasised the growing scope of economic and technological cooperation and acknowledged the significant strides made in joint initiatives that align with their nations’ developmental goals.
India and Saudi Arabia’s relationship is steeped in history, marked by centuries of trade, economic exchanges, and cultural ties. Official diplomatic relations were established shortly after India’s independence in 1947. Since then, the two nations have achieved numerous milestones.
King Abdullah’s historic visit to India in January 2006, which led to the ‘Delhi Declaration,’ was a turning point that advanced the bilateral partnership. This was further strengthened by the ‘Riyadh Declaration’ in 2010, which elevated India-Saudi relations to a strategic level, setting a vision for cooperation that has only grown over the years.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Riyadh in 2016 was another key moment, symbolising the strong bond between the nations. During this visit, he was awarded the King Abdulaziz Sash, Saudi Arabia’s highest civilian honour, a gesture that underscored the Kingdom’s appreciation for India’s importance as a strategic partner.
Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s visit to India in 2019 further expanded this partnership, with Saudi Arabia committing to invest approximately USD 100 billion in India’s economy, reflecting confidence in India’s potential as a major economic partner.
The talks also addressed trade and investment, where both leaders expressed optimism about future collaborations. Saudi Arabia is among India’s most important trading partners in the Middle East, with substantial investments in energy, petrochemicals, infrastructure, and technology. The strong trade links between India and Saudi Arabia not only fuel economic growth but also create avenues for greater people-to-people ties and cultural exchanges.
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