Energy, Defence, And Investment Top Agenda For PM Modi’s Saudi Arabia Visit

On April 22-23, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that the visit, which is taking place in Jeddah, will concentrate on enhancing bilateral ties in sectors such as trade, energy, defense, and regional security.

The second meeting of the India-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council, which Modi and the Crown Prince will co-chair, will be a major feature of the trip. It is anticipated that a number of agreements will be reached that will increase collaboration among strategic sectors. During the tour, PM Modi will also stop by a nearby factory to talk to Indian workers. After Mohammed bin Salman visited India for the G20 Summit in September 2023, this is his third trip to Saudi Arabia.

Misri characterized Saudi Arabia as an important voice in the Islamic world and a crucial partner, especially for India's energy security. With 2.7 million Indian expats living there, the monarchy is a major player in resolving international disputes like the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict.

In 2023-2024, India and Saudi Arabia traded $25.7 billion worth of energy. India's third-largest supplier of LPG (18%) and crude oil (14.3%) was Saudi Arabia. First announced in 2019, Saudi investments in India currently total $10 billion, with intentions to increase to $100 billion. Misri pointed out that in order to encourage more Saudi inflows, the two nations have addressed a number of issues pertaining to investment, including taxes.

The defense industry is seeing an increase in bilateral collaboration. India is getting ready for the third iteration of its naval exercise, Al Mohed Al Hindi, and has provided artillery ammunition valued at over $300 million. It also conducted its first combined land forces exercise in 2024.

Freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), and a new feasibility assessment to link the two countries' electrical grids under energy connectivity initiatives will also be discussed.

India's exports increased by 7.8% to around $12 billion in 2023-2024, while two-way commerce between Saudi Arabia and India totaled $43.3 billion. Currently, India is the second-largest trading partner of Saudi Arabia, and Saudi Arabia is the fifth-largest.