Jeddah, Saudi Arabia:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah on Tuesday, where the two leaders held wide-ranging bilateral talks. Four key agreements were signed following the hours-long meeting between the two leaders. PM Modi, who was also supposed to attend a state dinner and address the Indian community could not do so as he cut short his visit over the terror attack in Kashmir that left 26 people, many of them tourists, dead and several others injured.
PM Modi’s visit to Saudi Arabia was a strategically significant one. The two nations are working to elevate their ties to an all new level. New Delhi and Riyadh are already strategic partners in the region and are key defence partners too. In Tuesday’s meeting, the two sides created two new ministerial committees, including one on defence, and agreed to collaborate on establishing two refineries in India.
Even before PM Modi landed in Jeddah earlier on Monday, his aircraft – Air India One – was escorted by several Saudi Air Force F-15 fighter jets in a symbolic gesture of respect accorded to only the closest strategic allies. The Royal Saudi Air Force’s gesture also highlights the ever-deepening defence cooperation between the two countries.
Upon his arrival, the Prime Minister was given a 21-gun salute as members of the Indian community sang “Saare Jahan Se Achha“. Later in the day, PM Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Al Salam Palace (Palace of Peace), where he was received by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Referring to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as “my brother”, Prime Minister Modi, who became the the first Indian PM in more than 40 years to visit Jeddah, said, “Landed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This visit will strengthen the friendship between India and Saudi Arabia.”
In an interview to Arab News, PM Modi called Saudi Arabia “a trusted friend, strategic ally, and one of India’s most valued partners”, adding that the India-Saudi partnership has “limitless potential and possibilities”.
“We consider Saudi Arabia a force of positivity and stability in the region. As maritime neighbours, India and Saudi Arabia share a natural interest in safeguarding peace and stability in the region,” he added.
PM Modi and the Saudi Crown Prince then co-chaired the second meeting of the Saudi-India Strategic Partnership Council, established during Prime Minister Modi’s 2019 visit, which was aimed to strengthen bilateral and strategic ties between the two nations.
“The Council reviewed the work of the various committees, subcommittees and working groups under the SPC, which encompass political, defence, security, trade, investment, energy, technology, agriculture, culture and people-to-people ties,” according to an official statement.
The two sides also signed four key agreements in the fields of defence and space, education, health, and communications. Both sides also agreed to collaborate on establishing two refineries in India.
“Building on the commitment of Saudi Arabia to invest USD 100 billion in India in multiple areas including energy, petrochemicals, infrastructure, technology, fintech, digital infrastructure, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and health, the joint High-Level Task Force on Investment came to an understanding in multiple areas to rapidly promote such investment flows,” the statement said.
The bilateral talks also explored investment opportunities in India and enhancing economic and business ties between the two nations. PM Modi also reportedly discussed the Hajj pilgrimage and sought a higher quota for Indian pilgrims.
At the start of the meeting, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman expressed his anguish over the terror attack in Kashmir, saying Saudi Arabia stands with India and shall extend any support that is needed in this time of grief.
Besides the strategic council meeting and bilateral talks, PM Modi was to visit a factory and interact with Indian workers, but that now stands cancelled along with the diaspora event that was scheduled for tomorrow.
The prime minister left straight for the airport after his bilateral meeting with the Crown Prince and is expected to reach New Delhi early on Wednesday morning. Earlier in the day he had spoken with Home Minister Amit Shah to take stock of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. The Prime Minister has called for a top-level meeting on the terror attack upon his arrival.
