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Indian Express
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
India, Saudi Arabia condemn terrorism, hail ties
In a strongly-worded message to Pakistan, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday condemned 'cross-border terrorism', and called on all States to reject the use of terrorism against other countries, dismantle terrorism infrastructure and bring perpetrators of terrorism to justice swiftly. This was part of the joint statement issued after the Prime Minister's visit to Saudi Arabia, that was cut short due to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on Tuesday. Modi returned on Wednesday morning, instead of on Wednesday night. The joint statement specifically condemned the attack, as it said, 'Both sides strongly condemned the gruesome terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025, which claimed the lives of innocent civilians. In this context, the two sides condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, and emphasized that this remains one of the gravest threats to humanity.' 'They agreed that there cannot be any justification for any act of terror for any reason whatsoever. They rejected any attempt to link terrorism to any particular race, religion or culture,' it said. 'They welcomed the excellent cooperation between the two sides in counter-terrorism and the terror financing. They condemned cross-border terrorism, and called on all States to reject the use of terrorism against other countries, dismantle terrorism infrastructure where it exists, and bring perpetrators of terrorism to justice swiftly. Both sides stressed the need to prevent access to weapons including missiles and drones to commit terrorist acts against other countries,' it said. This followed the terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam, where 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed. On Tuesday, Modi delayed his scheduled meeting with the Saudi crown prince by at least two hours to assess the situation in Kashmir. The PM, who held bilateral talks with the Saudi crown prince, skipped an official dinner before returning home on Tuesday night. The Muslim World League, based in Makkah, also condemned the terrorist attack. During the talks, Modi and MBS appreciated the deepening of the defence ties as a key pillar of the strategic partnership and welcomed the creation of a Ministerial Committee on Defence Cooperation under the Strategic Partnership Council. 'They noted with satisfaction the growth of their joint defence cooperation including numerous 'firsts; like the first ever Land Forces exercise 'Sada Tanseeq', two rounds of the Naval exercises 'Al Mohed Al Hindi', many high-level visits, and training exchanges, towards ensuring the security and stability of the region,' the statement said.
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First Post
22-04-2025
- Business
- First Post
Modi visits Jeddah: 5 things about India-Saudi Arabia ties
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Jeddah highlights the deepening strategic partnership between India and Saudi Arabia, particularly in the areas of trade, energy, and defence. Read on to explore the bilateral relationship between the two nations. read more Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Jeddah, the commercial capital of Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, 22 April, at the invitation of His Royal Highness Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. This diplomatic visit reflects the ongoing commitment of both nations to further deepen their bilateral ties. As part of the visit, Prime Minister Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will co-chair the second meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council. This key forum aims to enhance cooperation across numerous sectors. With a focus on boosting economic collaboration, advancing defence cooperation, and addressing pressing regional political challenges, the visit underscores the importance of strengthening these past longstanding ties between India and the modern Kingdom. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Here are five key diplomatic ties India shares with Saudi Arabia 1. Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) Established in 2019 by Prime Minister Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, this platform serves as the foundation of bilateral relations with the two nations. The SPC facilitates high-level diplomatic engagements and advances cooperation and collaboration across various sectors. " Strategic Partnership Council helped India address its expectations and aspirations. In these four years, it has emerged as an effective medium to further strengthen our strategic partnership." PM Modi stated on his . 2. Economic and Trade Relations The mutual trade partnership between the two nations has steadily grown over the years, with India being the second-largest trade partner of Saudi Arabia, while it is the fifth-largest trading partner of India. According to the Ministry of Extrenal Affairs, in the fiscal year (FY) 2023-24, bilateral trade reached USD 42.98 billion. Indian exports totaled USD 11.56 billion, while imports stood at USD 31.42 billion, spanning various sectors such as automobiles and petroleum. 3. Energy Partnership Energy remains a central pillar of the India–Saudi Arabia bilateral relationship, with the Kingdom being the third-largest source of crude oil and petroleum for India. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India imported 33.35 million metric tonnes (MMT) of crude oil from Saudi Arabia in FY 2023–24. Additionally, Saudi was the third-largest supplier of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), accounting for 18.2% of India's total LPG imports during the same period. 4. Defence ties Saudi and India, as maritime neighbours, have strengthened their naval cooperation through joint exercises. The first of these, 'Al Mohed Al Hindi', was conducted in August 2021 with the aim of enhancing maritime security operations and naval manoeuvres. In addition to naval collaboration, the two nations held their first joint land forces exercise, 'Ex-Sada Tanseeq-I', in 2024. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A significant milestone in defence relations was marked by the visit of Hon'ble Minister of State for Defence, Shri Ajay Bhatt to Riyadh for the World Defence Show in February 2024. During this visit, an MoU was signed between Munitions India Limited and a local Saudi partner, facilitating the supply of artillery ammunition worth USD 225 million, highlighting the growing cooperation in defence production and exports. 5. Strategic Investments Indian investments in Saudi Arabia have surged in recent years, reaching a total of approximately USD 3 billion in August 2023. These investments span over various sectors, including construction, IT, energy, and pharmaceuticals. Notable companies such as L&T, TATA Motots, and Wipro have established a significant presence in the Kingdom. On the other hand, Saudi investments in India, including those from the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and other Saudi-backed entities, have amounted to around USD 10 billion. 'India's 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' and Saudi Arabia's 'Vision 2030' are national programmes that can be mutually beneficial to both sides.' Shri Ajay Bhatt stated in a press relase after his visit to Saudi Arabia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Leaders
19-04-2025
- Business
- Leaders
Saudi Arabia to Welcome India's PM Modi from 22 April
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Saudi Arabia on 22–23 April, marking his first trip to the Kingdom during his third term. The visit, at Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's invitation, aims to deepen a strategic partnership spanning trade, defense, and regional stability. Deepening Bilateral Relations Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia builds on a series of high-level exchanges. These include the Crown Prince's participation in the G20 Summit in New Delhi last September. This summit also saw the first meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council. The two countries share a long history of cooperation. This cooperation spans defense, trade, and cultural sectors. India and Saudi Arabia established diplomatic relations in 1947. In 2010, they elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership. Economic and Trade Ties The visit will focus on enhancing economic cooperation and trade relations. India is Saudi Arabia's second-largest trade partner. In the fiscal year 2023-24, bilateral trade reached USD 42.98 billion. India's exports to Saudi Arabia included engineering goods, rice, and petroleum products. Meanwhile, India imported crude oil, LPG, and fertilizers from Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is India's third-largest source of crude oil and LPG. In 2023-24, India imported 33.35 MMT of crude oil from Saudi Arabia. This accounted for 14.3% of India's total crude oil imports. Defense ties between India and Saudi Arabia have strengthened in recent years, with both countries having conducted two editions of the bilateral naval exercise 'Al Mohed Al Hindi.' They also cooperate in defense industries and capacity building. Modi's visit comes amid regional turmoil as US-Iran nuclear discussions and the ongoing Hamas-Israeli conflict are intensifying the geopolitical landscape. Additionally, US President Donald Trump is expected to visit Saudi Arabia next month, highlighting Riyadh's critical role in global diplomacy. Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia is expected to further deepen the strategic partnership between the two nations. It will also provide an opportunity to discuss various regional and international issues of mutual interest. In conclusion, Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia is a significant diplomatic mission with the aim to strengthen strategic ties amid a complex geopolitical landscape. The visit will focus on economic cooperation, defense ties, and cultural engagement. Short link : Post Views: 32
