New Delhi [India]: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on an official visit to Saudi Arabia next week at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with key engagements scheduled in Jeddah on April 22 and 23, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Saturday.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, during a special MEA briefing, emphasized the growing strategic depth of India-Saudi Arabia relations, noting that the visit would further elevate bilateral cooperation across political and economic domains.
“Saudi Arabia is a leading voice in the Islamic world and plays an increasingly important role in regional developments,” Misri said.
Key Highlights of the Visit:
- PM Modi will hold a one-on-one meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
- He will participate in formal engagements, including a ceremonial welcome and bilateral talks.
- The leaders will co-chair the second meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council, which is structured around political and economic pillars.
- Several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed during the visit.
This will be Modi’s first official visit to the Kingdom during his third term, following two earlier visits in 2016 and 2019. The upcoming trip follows Crown Prince Salman’s State Visit to India in September 2023 during the G20 Summit, where the first Strategic Partnership Council meeting was held.
“The relationship has gained from strategic guidance at the highest level. There’s significant momentum in ties,” Misri noted.
People-to-People Ties
Saudi Arabia is home to nearly 2.7 million Indian nationals, making it the second-largest overseas Indian community globally.
India and Saudi Arabia established diplomatic relations in 1947, with the partnership upgraded to a Strategic Partnership in 2010. The countries have witnessed frequent high-level exchanges, including 11 ministerial visits from India to Saudi Arabia since early 2024.