Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to travel to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for a two-day official visit, aimed at strengthening the India-Saudi strategic partnership, particularly in the critical energy sector. This marks Modi’s third visit to the Kingdom as Prime Minister and comes at a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty and regional flux.
During his visit, Modi will meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, where they will hold bilateral talks and jointly chair the second meeting of the Saudi-India Strategic Partnership Council. The visit follows the Crown Prince’s 2023 trip to India, during which both nations signed nearly 50 initial pacts and agreed on a joint task force to facilitate $100 billion in Saudi investments in India.
Highlighting the visit’s significance, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated, “Saudi Arabia is a leading voice in the Islamic world and a strategic partner for India, especially in the energy sector.” Bilateral energy trade alone was valued at $25.7 billion in 2023-24, with the Kingdom being India’s third-largest source of LPG, crude, and petroleum imports.
Total India-Saudi trade reached nearly $43 billion, making India the Kingdom’s second-largest trading partner, while Saudi Arabia ranks as India’s fifth-largest.
Key focus areas during the visit will include the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor Agreement, energy security, food security, defense cooperation, and increased two-way investments. The visit also aligns with the two countries’ long-term development visions — Saudi Vision 2030 and Viksit Bharat 2047 — creating new avenues for private-sector collaboration in logistics, infrastructure, and energy.
Experts view the trip as a significant step in elevating India’s role in West Asian geopolitics. “The visit positions India as a key player in the region, securing vital energy supplies and strengthening its voice on global platforms,” said Mohammed Soliman, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington D.C.
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