Opinion | PM Modi’s Saudi Visit: Act West Policy In Action
- May 17, 2025
- Posted by: Anil Trigunayat
- Categories: India, Saudi Arabia
Written By :Anil Trigunayat
From energy and defence to strategic connectivity and counter-terrorism, the visit underlined growing convergence between Vision 2030 and Viksit Bharat 2047
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on a state visit on 22 May, at the invitation of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), who had himself visited India for the second time during the G20 Summit in September 2023. That visit included an extended bilateral leg, during which the first meeting of the highest-level Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) was held to review the full spectrum of the strategic partnership.
In his departure statement, PM Modi tweeted: “Leaving for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where I will be attending various meetings and programmes. India values our historic relations with Saudi Arabia. Bilateral ties have gained significant momentum in the last decade. I look forward to participating in the 2nd Meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council. I will also be interacting with the Indian community there.”
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This is Prime Minister Modi’s third visit to the Kingdom, but the first by any Indian Prime Minister to Jeddah, which is the commercial capital of Saudi Arabia. PM Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman share a strong mutual respect and understanding—an important factor in the Arabian context for building comfort, trust, and sustained cooperation. This rapport has played a crucial role in deepening bilateral ties and overcoming traditional constraints.
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It is this growing mutual confidence that explains the meteoric rise in India’s relationship with the Kingdom—home to King Salman, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and a figure of significant stature in the Islamic world and beyond. Both nations also share deep-rooted historic and civilisational ties.
During his first visit, Prime Minister Modi was conferred with Saudi Arabia’s highest civilian honour—the King Abdulaziz Sash—a testament to the importance Riyadh places on India and its leadership.
The evolution of this comprehensive strategic partnership can be traced back over the last 15 to 20 years, beginning with consistent steps to transform what was once a largely transactional relationship into a robust, multi-dimensional engagement. This shift began with the Riyadh Declaration of 2010, and its progress has been particularly notable over the past decade—reflected in sustained high-level engagement across bilateral, regional, and global platforms including the GCC, G20, IMEEC, BRICS, and SCO.
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It may be recalled that during Prime Minister Modi’s first-ever visit to Israel, Saudi Arabia allowed his aircraft to fly through its airspace, despite the Kingdom’s longstanding ban and the absence of diplomatic relations with the Jewish state. This exception was not merely symbolic but substantively significant.
Even during this visit, the gesture was notable. As Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, tweeted: “As a special gesture for the State Visit of PM @narendramodi, his aircraft was escorted by the Royal Saudi Air Force as it entered the Saudi airspace.” This reflects the special status accorded to India and to Prime Minister Modi personally.
The warm welcome extended upon arrival—including a retinue of senior Saudi leaders and princes—further underscored this sentiment. The presence of a large Indian community in the Kingdom and the strong Hajj pilgrimage connection also add depth and context to the bilateral relationship.
In Jeddah, Sheikh Dr Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, called on Prime Minister Modi. He strongly condemned the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, expressing his deepest condolences for the innocent lives lost. Dr Al-Issa had previously visited India in 2023, where he had also met Prime Minister Modi.
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During that earlier meeting, the Prime Minister had appreciated the Muslim World League’s efforts in promoting tolerance, advocating moderation, and fostering social harmony. Recalling India’s ancient philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—“The world is one family”—Prime Minister Modi highlighted India’s character as a multi-cultural, multi-lingual, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious society that celebrates unity in diversity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a one-on-one meeting, followed by delegation-level talks and a session of the Strategic Partnership Council (SPC). The SPC meeting was preceded by deliberations among various working groups and a review by other high-level institutional mechanisms, which continue to conduct SWOT analyses of ongoing projects and commitments.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two leaders discussed cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including energy, defence, trade, investment, technology, culture, and people-to-people relations. Prime Minister Modi thanked His Royal Highness for the support and welfare measures extended to the Indian community in Saudi Arabia, and also expressed appreciation for the facilities and assistance provided to Indian Hajj pilgrims.
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While not confirmed, the recent controversy regarding a reduction in the Haj quota for some private operators this year—reportedly due to delays in submissions—may have been raised during the discussions. The Prime Minister also acknowledged the efforts of the Saudi government in supporting the 2.7 million-strong Indian diaspora, whose dedication, diligence, and discipline have contributed significantly to the Kingdom’s development, making them a preferred workforce.
Defence and comprehensive security cooperation, along with the enhancement of trade and investment, are two key pillars of the strategic partnership. Both leaders appreciated the report and efforts of the High-Level Task Force on Investment and welcomed the understandings reached in multiple areas. These build upon Saudi Arabia’s earlier commitment to invest USD 100 billion in India across sectors such as energy, petrochemicals, infrastructure, technology, fintech, digital infrastructure, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, health, and space.
Four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed during the visit also pertain to several of these focus areas. Two new Ministerial Committees have been established—one on Defence Cooperation and the other on Tourism and Culture—to specifically address security collaboration and people-to-people ties.
In this context, it is important to note that Saudi Arabia, under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has launched exceptional socio-economic reforms as per “Vision 20230’ in the Kingdom, where tolerance and exposure to other cultures is no longer an anathema. Ramayana, Mahabharata and Yoga have become the new currency of Indian civilisational heritage in Saudi Arabia.
The India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC), which was announced on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi in 2023, has come under strain due to the ongoing Israel–Hamas conflict. However, this has not prevented India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the United States, and European partners from continuing efforts to fulfil their respective infrastructure and institutional commitments to this strategic and mutually beneficial initiative.
Accordingly, both leaders held detailed discussions on bilateral and independent connectivity initiatives being undertaken by each side. They also deliberated upon the prevention of the ongoing wars and conflicts, the delicate regional situation and ways to mitigate it through dialogue and diplomacy.
Saudi Arabia is playing a critical role in Russia–US–Ukraine talks, and has also emerged as a key regional bulwark for the “two-state solution” in the Israel–Palestine conflict, while pursuing regional rapprochement and a modus vivendi with Iran. From India’s perspective, the West Asia region is our extended and existential neighbourhood, whose security and stability are of paramount importance. Moreover, India and Saudi Arabia both prefer to follow strategic autonomy and multi-alignment policies, in which their bilateral matrix is critical across the spectrum. The congruence and convergence of Vision 2030 and Viksit Bharat 2047 provide greater momentum and a plethora of opportunities for the bilateral relationship.
Counter-terrorism is a major pillar of the bilateral relationship, in which terrorism in all forms and shapes—and its perpetrators, promoters, and sponsors—are held in contempt, and both sides have shown commitment to root it out. India follows a ‘zero-tolerance’ policy against terrorism. This is one reason why Pakistan, a haven for terrorists, has been exposed and is no longer a factor in New Delhi’s relationship with Riyadh.
Ironically, one of the worst terror incidents was perpetrated by terrorists from across the border, murdering 26 innocent civilians in Pahalgam, J&K in cold blood on the day PM Modi reached Riyadh and US Vice President JD Vance was visiting India. This dastardly act was condemned in no uncertain terms by Crown Prince Salman and a large number of world leaders, who expressed condolences and solidarity with India.
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PM Modi, unfortunately, had to cut short his visit and return to Delhi immediately after the talks with MBS to deal with the terror challenge in a decisive manner. Whether another Balakot or Uri, in some form, will be the response remains to be seen. But terrorism—and its masters—should not be spared.
The author is the former Indian Ambassador to Jordan, Libya and Malta and is currently a Distinguished Fellow with Vivekananda International Foundation. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author.