New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia starting Tuesday, April 22, at the invitation of Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman. This marks PM Modi’s third visit to the Kingdom, following his earlier visits in 2016 and 2019.
The upcoming visit comes in the wake of Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s state visit to New Delhi in September 2023, where he attended the G20 Summit and co-chaired the inaugural meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council.
Briefing the media in New Delhi on Friday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri highlighted the strategic importance of Saudi Arabia in India’s foreign policy. He noted the Kingdom’s growing regional influence and its role as a key voice in the Islamic world. Misri also emphasized the strong people-to-people ties, pointing out that Saudi Arabia hosts one of the largest Indian expatriate communities globally.
The Foreign Secretary underlined the warmth and mutual respect between Prime Minister Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, describing their relationship as one that has significantly contributed to strengthening bilateral ties at the highest level.
In an earlier statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the India-Saudi Arabia relationship as one of longstanding friendship, enriched by deep socio-cultural and commercial connections. As strategic partners, both nations enjoy robust cooperation across multiple sectors including politics, defence, security, trade, energy, investment, health, technology, education, and culture.
Over the past decade, bilateral relations have grown stronger, with significant progress in defence collaboration, increased investment, and frequent high-level interactions. The MEA noted that PM Modi’s visit aims to further bolster this comprehensive partnership and provide a platform for discussions on pressing regional and international issues of shared concern.
