PM Modi to Initiate Pivotal Visit to Saudi Arabia Today
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Synopsis
Prime Minister Modi is set to commence a pivotal two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia, emphasizing strategic ties in energy, trade, and security. This marks his third visit to the nation, reflecting India's commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.
Key Takeaways
- PM Modi begins a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia.
- Third visit to Saudi Arabia since 2016.
- Focus on energy, trade, and regional security.
- Strengthening of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership.
- Discussion on various regional and international issues.
New Delhi, April 22 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is poised to embark on a significant two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, following an invitation from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
This trip marks Prime Minister Modi's third journey to the Gulf country, having previously visited Riyadh in 2016 and 2019.
The visit highlights the strengthening strategic relationship between India and Saudi Arabia, especially in the realms of energy collaboration, trade, investment, and regional security.
This follows the State Visit of Prince Mohammed bin Salman to New Delhi in September 2023 for the G20 Summit and to co-chair the inaugural meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council.
In a pre-departure interview with Arab News, Prime Minister Modi underscored the significance of Saudi Arabia as a stabilizing entity in a region frequently affected by turmoil.
“We view Saudi Arabia as a beacon of positivity and stability in the area. As maritime neighbors, India and Saudi Arabia inherently share a vested interest in maintaining peace and stability,” the Prime Minister stated.
“India and Saudi Arabia enjoy strong and amicable relations, characterized by a long history of socio-cultural and trade interactions. As strategic allies, both nations maintain robust bilateral ties across numerous sectors including politics, defense, security, trade, investment, energy, technology, health, education, culture, and people-to-people connections,” as indicated in a statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
“Over the past decade, India's partnership with the Kingdom has transformed into a more resilient and enduring alliance, branching out into multiple strategic areas, with increasing investment commitments, enhanced defense collaborations, and active high-level exchanges across various sectors,” it further noted.
The MEA emphasized that Prime Minister Modi's visit underscores the importance India places on its bilateral relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, providing a platform to further enrich and solidify the multi-faceted partnership, alongside discussing various regional and international matters of shared interest.
With the 'Neighbourhood First' strategy continuing to guide the Modi government's foreign policy, the Prime Minister has reiterated that India's relations with Saudi Arabia rank among the most crucial bilateral connections within the broader neighborhood.
