India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership: Strengthening Bilateral Ties through PM Modi's Visit

Prime Minister Modi will travel to Saudi Arabia in 2025 to strengthen India's previous relationships with the Kingdom while addressing modern-day issues affecting energy supplies, security, and market and investment cooperation. In an era of changing international dynamics, both India and Saudi Arabia seek to develop their strategic missions through this visit. The agreements hold promise to enhance the already strong economic bond as well as cultural and security relations between both nations.

Context:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi's concern for Saudi Arabia signaled an important watershed in advancing the strategic relationship of India-Saudi Arabia. 

• This visit focuses on enhancing collaborations across trade, defense, energy, and investment territories between the two parties. 

• Many years of India-Saudi Arabia relations reveal that both nations will sign new agreements through their Strategic Partnership Council framework. 

Key Points:

Historical Background:

• Both countries built their diplomatic relationship starting from 1947 and have continuously strengthened their many-sided partnership.

Key Milestones:

• The Delhi Declaration (2006) set the basis for establishing a strategic relationship between the two nations.

• The Riyadh Declaration (2010) served to strengthen diplomatic connections so that both nations raised their strategic alliance to its highest level.

• PM Modi has made three visits between 2016 and 2025, which broadened bilateral cooperation across energy, defence, space, and cultural domains.

• During Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visits to India in 2019 and 2023, proved instrumental in strengthening the strategic cooperation between the nations.

Economic Cooperation:

• The trade relationship between Saudi Arabia and India has positioned Saudi Arabia as the 5th largest partner for Indian trade activities, reaching USD 42.98 billion in FY 2023-24.

• Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has demonstrated its investment potential by dedicating USD 10 billion to the retail sector, and technology industry, and the agriculture market.

• The International Solar Alliance (ISA) provides a platform for developing cooperative efforts in the renewable energy sector.

Energy Ties:

• Energy relations between Saudi Arabia and India continue to be strong because Saudi petroleum supplies 14.3% of India's total imported crude oil.

• The nations function jointly to increase their access to different energy resources and strengthen their mutual renewable energy initiatives.

Defence and Security Cooperation:

• The defense cooperation has expanded to include joint naval exercises Al Mohed Al Hindi, together with a joint land forces exercise Ex-Sada Tanseeq-I (2024).

• Security partners between India and Saudi Arabia continue to strengthen their joint activities throughout counter-terrorism investigations alongside cybersecurity and defence manufacturing fields.

Cultural and People-to-People Linkages:

• Approximately 7 million members of the Indian diaspora operating in Saudi Arabia function as a primary bridge to develop financial and social connections between the two nations.

• Cultural collaboration, together with yoga programs as well as tourism plans, has successfully deepened the relations between people from both nations.

Challenges:

• The ongoing Yemen War, together with Iran tensions in the region, pose threats to the diplomatic partnership between Saudi Arabia and India.

• India could face strategic difficulties for bilateral balance because Saudi Arabia chooses to collaborate with China through the BRICS+ discussions.

• The protection of Indian workers in Saudi Arabia demands constant diplomatic attention to address their welfare issues.

• The peaceful expansion of bilateral relations depends heavily on respecting cultural norms that include religious rituals and female rights perspectives.

Future Prospects:

• The business landscape extends beyond petroleum as Saudi Arabia can cooperate with India to develop fintech and renewable energy sectors and increase food security while advancing the digital economy paradigm.

• The countries should deepen cooperation between their defence forces through enhanced production initiatives while strengthening counter-terrorism efforts and cybersecurity programs.

• Cultural diplomacy through educational programs, along with tourist events and cultural events, will build diplomatic ties among people.

• India should support Vision 2030 by investing its resources into the Saudi Arabian sectors, including entertainment and tourism, while joining the development of the NEOM city.

• The two nations must cooperate through the G20 and BRICS+ and ISA multilateral bodies to build a rule-based multipolar global order.

Conclusion:

The diplomatic ties between India and Saudi Arabia have transformed into an extensive strategic alliance. The strategic importance of the bilateral relationship has grown stronger, according to Prime Minister Modi, as he seeks to expand partnerships through emerging industries in 2025. The augmentation of diverse economic relations, together with improved military collaborations and expanded social connections between the nations, will enhance their worldwide impact. The shared alignment of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 with India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 creates substantial possibilities for prosperous mutual development throughout the upcoming period.