Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third state visit to Saudi Arabia cements a growing alliance rooted in trust, trade, energy, and innovation.
At the gracious invitation of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a historic state visit to the Kingdom on April 22, 2025. This third visit by Prime Minister Modi deepened the evolving strategic ties between the two nations and marked another milestone in a relationship that continues to gain momentum across sectors.
The leaders convened at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah, reaffirming the historically warm and robust relations between India and Saudi Arabia, bound by mutual respect and thriving people-to-people ties. Discussions during this high-level meeting spanned critical areas including defense, energy, investment, trade, technology, education, culture, and climate action.
A major highlight of the visit was the second meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council (SPC), co-chaired by the two leaders. The Council, initially comprising two ministerial committees, has now expanded to four with the inclusion of Defence Cooperation and Tourism & Cultural Cooperation—signifying a broadened scope of engagement. The signing of the meeting’s minutes underlined the commitment of both nations to strategic cooperation and sustained dialogue.
Acknowledging the presence of over 2.7 million Indian nationals in the Kingdom, PM Modi expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s continued support for their welfare. He also commended Saudi Arabia’s successful hosting of the 2024 Haj pilgrimage, which witnessed seamless coordination with Indian authorities.
Economic collaboration took center stage during the visit. The two leaders reviewed the progress of the High-Level Task Force (HLTF), which is spearheading investment initiatives across diverse sectors like petrochemicals, infrastructure, fintech, pharmaceuticals, and digital technology. They also discussed the establishment of two new refineries, tax cooperation breakthroughs, and the India Desk at Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), designed to streamline bilateral investments.
On the energy front, both nations reaffirmed their intent to ensure global energy security. They agreed to bolster cooperation in crude oil supply, renewable energy, electrical interconnection, and clean hydrogen. India and Saudi Arabia also committed to joint ventures in energy storage, petrochemicals, and grid automation, while endorsing sustainable practices to manage consumption.
In tackling climate change, both sides echoed the importance of adhering to the Paris Agreement and supporting innovative frameworks like the circular carbon economy. India lauded Saudi initiatives such as the “Saudi Green Initiative” and reaffirmed its own contributions through platforms like the International Solar Alliance and the Mission LiFE.
Defence emerged as a strategic pillar with the formation of a new Ministerial Committee under the SPC. The two sides reviewed the progress of joint exercises, naval collaborations, and staff-level talks, indicating a future of closer military-industrial cooperation.
In a strong joint stance against terrorism, both nations unequivocally condemned the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. They stressed that terrorism in any form is unacceptable and urged global unity in countering the menace, dismantling infrastructure, and denying state sponsorship.
The visit also paved the way for stronger collaboration in digital governance, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and semiconductors. A new MoU between regulatory authorities and a space cooperation agreement further expand the horizon for joint innovation and scientific growth.
Cultural exchange received a boost with the creation of a dedicated committee under the SPC, while the tourism sector is poised to benefit from mutual initiatives in sustainable practices and heritage promotion. Cooperation in education, labour, and food security also featured prominently in the deliberations, with long-term partnerships planned in agriculture and fertilizer trade.
The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, a transformative connectivity project announced in 2023, and welcomed progress in port linkages, data flow, and clean hydrogen initiatives. Enhanced shipping lines and logistics frameworks underscore this effort.
Finally, both sides underscored their intent to amplify cooperation in global forums such as the G20, IMF, and World Bank, aligning their developmental visions and joint actions for a resilient and inclusive global economy.
The visit stands as a powerful testament to a maturing partnership that blends ambition with action, with India and Saudi Arabia poised to shape a collaborative and prosperous future.
