NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the India–Saudi Arabia strategic partnership during a high-level meeting in Jeddah on April 22, where they co-chaired the second meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council (SPC), according to a PIB handout.
The meeting, held during Modi’s State Visit to Saudi Arabia, marked a significant expansion of bilateral ties, with both sides reviewing progress since the Council’s inaugural session in New Delhi in 2023. The leaders discussed a broad spectrum of cooperation, including energy, defence, trade, investment, technology, culture, and people-to-people engagement.
Expressing strong condemnation of the terror attack in Pahalgam, which left 26 civilians dead, the Saudi Crown Prince extended condolences to the victims’ families. Both leaders resolved to intensify efforts to combat terrorism “tooth and nail.”
A key outcome of the Council meeting was the expansion of its structure to include two new ministerial committees – one on Defence Cooperation and the other on Tourism and Cultural Cooperation. This reflects growing momentum in both defence engagements and cultural exchanges between the two nations.
The leaders welcomed the significant progress achieved by the High-Level Task Force on Investment (HLTF), especially in furthering Saudi Arabia’s commitment to invest USD 100 billion in India. This includes plans to establish two oil refineries, with ongoing collaboration on resolving taxation issues to facilitate investment.
In a notable gesture to enhance economic ties, Modi proposed linking payment gateways and encouraging trade settlements in local currencies, aiming to create a smoother, more sovereign financial flow between the two economies.
On regional cooperation, the two leaders discussed the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) and praised the ongoing bilateral connectivity initiatives as part of the larger regional integration project.
The visit also witnessed the signing of four bilateral agreements and MoUs in the fields of space cooperation, healthcare, anti-doping measures in sports, and postal services. These agreements underscore the deepening functional cooperation across sectors beyond traditional diplomacy.
During the talks, Modi thanked the Saudi leadership for its sustained support to the Indian diaspora and for the smooth facilitation of the Hajj pilgrimage.
Prime Minister Modi invited Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to visit India for the third meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council, signalling continued high-level engagement in the months ahead.
The SPC now comprises four committees: Political, Consular and Security Cooperation; Defence Cooperation; Economy, Energy, Investment and Technology; and Tourism and Cultural Cooperation. These institutional mechanisms are expected to further consolidate India-Saudi Arabia relations, especially in light of rapidly evolving regional and global dynamics.
