Latest news with #SadaTanseeq
Arab News
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Saudi, Indian militaries complete first army-to-army talks
NEW DELHI: The first army-to-army talks between the Indian Army and the Royal Saudi Land Forces have resulted in an annual defense cooperation plan that includes joint drills, expert exchanges, and operational logistics, India's military said on Friday. The talks took place in New Delhi on April 23-24. 'Discussions focused on the annual defense cooperation plan, covering joint exercise Sada Tanseeq, training, military education, domain expert exchanges and engagements in areas of mutual interest,' the public information arm of the Indian Ministry of Defense said on X. 'Both sides also explored avenues of collaboration in operational logistics, battlefield management systems & niche technologies to enhance interoperability and capability development,' it said. The Sada Tanseeq exercise, the first edition of which took place in Rajasthan in January and February, aims to enhance interoperability and joint operational capabilities between the two nations' land forces, particularly in semi-desert terrain. The exercise involved 90 troops from both sides focusing on training for operations under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which pertains to actions regarding threats to peace, breaches of peace and acts of aggression. The talks in Delhi followed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia and meetings with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman earlier this week. During the visit the two sides expanded the Saudi-Indian Strategic Partnership Council to include a ministerial committee for defense cooperation and agreed to enhance defense industry collaboration. 'It is significant that the first army-to army staff level talks were held immediately after the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the crown prince, who decided to form a ministerial-level defense cooperation committee to give a push to already deepening defense and strategic relations between India and Saudi Arabia,' defense and strategic affairs expert Ranjit Kumar told Arab News. 'The two countries have already conducted joint army exercises in 2021 and 2023. Later, the navies of the two nations have also organized two rounds of joint naval exercises. These are indicative of growing proximity between the Indian and Saudi defense forces, which may lead to new strategic equations in the region.'
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.
Indian Express
22-04-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Opinion PM Modi's crucial visit to Saudi Arabia highlights India's vision to act as a reliable regional power
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is embarking on another path-breaking visit to Saudi Arabia on April 22. This marks his third visit to the country, the most by any Indian premier, and follows the 2023 visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to India during its G20 Presidency. The trip aims to reinforce the strategic, economic, and cultural partnership between India and Saudi Arabia, building upon the progress made during Modi's previous visits in 2016 and 2019. Modi's visit takes place against a complex regional backdrop in West Asia, which is grappling with ongoing conflicts, such as those in Gaza and Yemen and the resurgence of extremist groups, posing regional and global security threats. The visit is significant not only for its timing — coming just weeks before US President Donald Trump 's planned trip to the country — but also for the expectations within the region for India to play a more active role in promoting stability and securing vital maritime trade routes, including the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb. Steered by PM Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, whose personal rapport has been the key, India-Saudi bilateral relations have significantly advanced over the past decade. Together, they have transformed the relationship from a traditional, transactional focus on energy and trade into a multi-faceted strategic partnership centred around economic ties, security, and defence cooperation. Establishment of the Strategic Partnership Council in 2019 formalised and deepened this cooperation across various sectors. Tangible outcomes include bilateral trade reaching $43 billion in 2023-24 and an upsurge in investments, with Indian investments in Saudi Arabia surpassing $3 billion, matching the Kingdom's cumulative FDI in India. Discussions during the forthcoming visit are expected to cover a broad range of issues, including regional stability, connectivity, energy and food security, trade, investment, and people-to-people contacts. Security and defence cooperation will remain a central pillar of these talks. Bilateral defence collaboration exemplifies the transformation of ties, evolving from limited engagement to a robust partnership featuring joint military exercises – like 'Sada Tanseeq' and 'Al Mohed Al Hindi' — high-level strategic dialogues, and growing defence industry collaboration. This shift is driven by converging security interests in the Gulf and Indian Ocean regions and Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goal to localise defence procurement, leading to the exploration of joint defence technology for development and production. Security cooperation between the two countries has also intensified, with deepened intelligence sharing, coordinated efforts against terror financing and radicalisation, and enhanced collaboration on transnational crime. This partnership encompasses institutionalised dialogues, joint training, and work within multilateral forums to counter threats from groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS. Furthermore, Saudi authorities have actively monitored potential terrorist financing networks and supported India's efforts to bring fugitives to justice. Saudi Arabia remains crucial to India's energy security, serving as its third-largest supplier and providing approximately 14.3 per cent of India's crude oil and 18.2 per cent of its LPG imports. Building on this foundational energy relationship, discussions during the upcoming visit may include India seeking more favourable crude import terms, potentially addressing pricing or the 'Asian Premium' while emphasising the long-term value of the partnership. Another potential agenda item is India's standing invitation for Saudi Aramco to participate in Phase II of the Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) program, involving new reserves with a capacity of 6.5 million metric tons (MMT). Despite several rounds of discussion, Saudi Arabia's response has been cautiously positive but not definitive. Efforts to revive the stalled West Coast Refinery project, for which the Kingdom had pledged a massive $50 billion investment, are also anticipated. Both countries have converged on a revised strategy to develop three smaller refineries, each with a capacity of 20 million metric tonnes per annum (mmtpa), instead of a single large refinery with a capacity of 60 mmtpa. While specific sites are still under consideration, potential regions include Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, alongside a reconfigured plan for Maharashtra's Ratnagiri area. Beyond traditional energy, leaders are expected to advance collaboration in renewables, focusing on solar energy, green hydrogen, and green ammonia. This aligns with ambitious 2030 targets for both nations (India: 500 GW renewable capacity; Saudi Arabia: 50 per cent energy from renewables). Talks will likely concentrate on joint research and development, pilot projects, and technology sharing to enhance green hydrogen production, storage, and export, potentially establishing India and Saudi Arabia as leaders in the global green hydrogen market by leveraging mutual strengths. India and Saudi Arabia are focused on identifying specific projects to leverage Saudi Arabia's plan to invest over $100 billion in India across multiple sectors. A joint task force under the Strategic Partnership Council provides a structured approach to facilitate this. Furthermore, the anticipated opening of an office by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) in Gujarat's GIFT City is expected to accelerate these investments significantly. Advancing the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), a major connectivity initiative positioning Saudi Arabia as a key hub linking India to Europe via the Middle East, is also expected to be a priority. Progress on IMEC varies: the Eastern Corridor section (linking India and the UAE) is moving forward more rapidly due to strong ties and existing infrastructure. However, the Western segment, particularly the rail link planned from the UAE to Israel via Saudi Arabia and Jordan, faces significant delays stemming from regional conflicts and instability. Prime Minister Modi's crucial visit to Saudi Arabia highlights India's broader vision to act as a reliable regional power contributing to maritime security and regional stability, especially given current regional tensions involving Iran, Israel, and other Gulf countries. Amidst complex geopolitical shifts, India's proactive engagement with Saudi Arabia represents a key step towards securing its energy needs, expanding its strategic influence, and fostering a resilient, multipolar regional order.
Times of Oman
20-04-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
India to deepen defence and trade partnership with Saudi Arabia during PM Modi's upcoming visit
New Delhi: India and Saudi Arabia are expected to strengthen their defence cooperation and expand their economic partnership, currently valued at nearly USD 43 billion during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Kingdom on April 22 and 23, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Saturday. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that defence cooperation has grown rapidly in recent years, with joint exercises, training, and defence trade gaining momentum. "The Defence Partnership has witnessed several firsts in the past few years. We had the first ever joint land forces exercise between the two countries in 2024. I think it's called the 'Sada Tanseeq'. Two editions have been held of joint naval exercises. We've had regular exchanges on training and capacity building and staff talks are taking place across all the three services," he said. According to the MEA, India is also emerging as a key defence supplier to Saudi Arabia. "Our cooperation has also expanded on the defence industry front. And India is gaining space as an important supplier of defence stores to Saudi Arabia. And a special agreement on the export of munitions to the Kingdom worth about USD 225 million was signed last year," he added. The two countries will also discuss deepening economic engagement during the visit. The value of bilateral trade in FY 2023-24 was close to USD 43 billion. "The value of total trade between the two countries in FY 23-24 was nearly USD 43 billion. Saudi Arabia is India's fifth-largest trading partner overall, and India is the Kingdom's second-largest trading partner overall," Misri said. India's imports from Saudi Arabia stood at USD 31.42 billion, while exports were valued at USD 11.56 billion. "Apart from trade, investment also continues to do well. And there are investments across different sectors such as energy, steel, chemicals, food sector, telecommunications and startups," he added. Energy will also be a key topic during the talks. "The value of the energy trade in FY 23- 24 was USD 25.7 billion. The Kingdom remains India's third largest crude and petroleum sourcing destination... and also the third largest source of LPG for India, accounting for almost 18 per cent of the total LPG imports of India," Misri said. The visit will include the second summit-level meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council, which was established during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to India in 2019. The council has two subcommittees, one focused on security and cultural relations, and the other on trade and investment. "This is a visit at the invitation of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," Misri said, adding that the two leaders share "a very close personal relationship with a lot of warmth and respect for each other." This will be PM Modi's third visit to Saudi Arabia. He was earlier conferred with the Kingdom's highest civilian honour, the "King Abdulaziz Sash", during his 2016 visit.
