Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for Saudi Arabia on a two-day diplomatic visit aimed at bolstering energy security, trade, and strategic ties between the two nations. This marks Modi’s third trip to the Gulf kingdom since 2016, underscoring its significance as a key partner in India’s West Asia policy. The visit is an attempt to ride on the success of the 2019 Strategic Partnership Council, especially cooperation in the energy field, since Saudi Arabia provides 18% of India's total annual crude oil imports, which stand at more than 40 million metric tons. The talks will aim at procurement of long-term supply agreements for oil and protection of prices from volatility in global markets.
Beyond hydrocarbons, the agenda includes advancing renewable energy collaboration under the 2023 India-Saudi Green Hydrogen Partnership, which aligns Saudi’s $8.4 billion NEOM green hydrogen project with India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission.
The two nations are also likely to expand counterterrorism intelligence-sharing and explore joint defense manufacturing initiatives, building on recent agreements to strengthen maritime security in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean regions.
Modi will meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and working to connect to the 2.7 million Indians in Saudi Arabia with labor market reform and capacity building initiatives under the e-Migrate portal.
Inauguration of a new Indian Cultural Centre in Riyadh will be an effort towards projecting soft power and people-to-people relations.
The trip is geopolitically significant as India is attempting to balance the growing Chinese role in the Gulf by positioning itself as a food-security ally of substance, exporting rice and wheat shipments, and technology-fueled smart-city plans.
With Saudi Arabia being India’s fourth-largest trading partner ($52 billion in bilateral trade in 2023-24), Modi’s trip is poised to unlock fresh investments in infrastructure, agriculture, and digital innovation, further cementing a relationship critical to India’s energy needs and economic ambitions.
