For the past few years bilateral relationship between India and Saudi Arabia has been improving in a rapid manner. Both countries are now fully focusing on improving their relationship in the defense sector as well as many other sectors.
Saudi Arabia is India’s fourth largest trade partner in the world.
To enhance the relationship in the defense sector, recently Saudi Arabia’s Land Forces Commander Lieutenant General Fahd Bin Abdullah Mohammed Al-Mutair paid a visit to India and carried out an extensive discussion with Indian Army chief General M.M. Naravane and other Indian leaders.
This is the first time a serving Royal Saudi Land Forces Commander visited to India in the intention of deepening bilateral defence cooperation between India and Saudi Arabia.
During the discussion visiting Saudi Commander and the Indian leaders various matters of common interests including Economic prosperity, Eliminating of the terrorism, Reducing the effects of climate change and the Defence diplomacy, etc.
He also discussed about of manufacturing various of defence equipment jointly with India under the newly-formed Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation (JCDC).
To enhance Indo Saudi Arabia relationship in the defense sector, Saudi Arabia plans to procure various military armaments such as small arms, military vehicles, radars, Air Defense system, Brahmos Supersonic Cruise missiles, etc from India.
In 2020, India and Saudi Arabia jointly conducted Naval Exercises in the Gulf Region that was a major boost for Indo Saudi Arabia defence relationship.
Please find below details of the items India importing from Saudi Arabia:-
- India imports around 18% of its crude oil requirement and 30 % of its LPG requirement from the Saudi Arabia.
- India is also importing Fertilizers ,Chemicals, Plastics, Leather items, Aluminum and its articles, Iron and steel and Copper and its articles from Saudi Arabia.
Whereas, Saudi Arabia importing Rice, Meat times, Electrical machinery and equipment, Vehicles, Mineral Oils, Organic chemicals, Ceramic tiles and Apparels from India.
Around 25 Lakhs Indian people are working in Saudi Arabia and the Indian expatriates are remitting major chunk of foreign exchange for India.
In 2019, during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit in India, he has declared that the Saudi Arabia would be investing about 100 billion dollars in India in various sectors such as energy, refining, petrochemicals, infrastructure, agriculture, minerals and mining, manufacturing, education and health in future.
He also highlighted the importance of maintaining frequent bilateral engagement to find the ways to thwart the threat and dangers facing India & Saudi Arabia and to ensure the security and safety of waterways in the Indian Ocean region as well as Gulf region.
Earlier Saudi Arabia was keeping cordial relationship with Pakistan and Saudi regime was dancing as per the diplomatic direction of Pakistan.
But for the past few years diplomatic relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia severely affected and Saudi Arabia started focusing on improving the bilateral relationship with India.
That was the main reason Saudi Arabian regime accepted India’s historical position about Jammu and Kashmir and they did not utter any single word against India when Indian government scrapped Article 370 in the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir.