Prime Minister Narendra Modi has begun a two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This marks PM Modi’s third visit to the Kingdom and comes at a time when bilateral relations are witnessing unprecedented momentum.
In interviews with the media, PM Modi called the India-Saudi partnership a “pillar of stability” in an increasingly uncertain world, lauded Crown Prince Salman as a visionary leader, and emphasized the immense untapped potential across sectors from energy and defence to culture and digital infrastructure.
But beyond warm statements and ceremonial engagements, this visit carries greater significance: it is a signal of a larger shift in global power equations. With the US becoming more closed and self-focused, the Middle East is recalibrating. And in this emerging vacuum, India is stepping in with quiet confidence.
From Energy to Everything
For years, India-Saudi ties revolved around oil and remittances. That relationship is evolving. With the world slowly transitioning away from fossil fuels, Saudi Arabia needs new engines of growth. India, with its vast market, young workforce, and rising technological might, fits the bill.
PM Modi rightly highlighted how the partnership is no longer just about barrels and bank transfers. Indian companies are now embedded in Saudi Arabia’s mega-projects. From construction to digital infrastructure, they’re helping build Saudi Vision 2030. In return, Saudi investment is flowing into India’s high-growth sectors. This isn’t generosity—it’s strategy.
IMEC: The New Silk Route
The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) is more than an infrastructure idea. It is a statement of ambition. For Riyadh, it means global relevance beyond oil. For Delhi, it means trade routes that don’t pass through geopolitical minefields.
IMEEC can reshape global commerce for decades to come—and India and Saudi Arabia are at its heart. It’s not just about containers and cables. It’s about economic sovereignty and regional influence.
A Civilizational Shift: From Exporting Extremism to Fighting It
Once known as the ideological hub of Wahhabism, Saudi Arabia is now trying to move past that legacy. The reforms under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, including a visible push against religious extremism, are being watched closely.
India, which has long suffered from externally funded radicalism, has a vested interest in Saudi Arabia’s pivot. If Riyadh truly cuts off the flow of extremist funding and messaging, it hits terrorism at its ideological source. That shift, if sustained, could be one of the most consequential developments for regional security.
And importantly, when a powerful Islamic nation like Saudi Arabia supports India on the world stage, it weakens the tired global narrative that frames India’s anti-terror measures as anti-minority. The victim card, so often played by radical groups, won’t work as well when Mecca endorse your cause.
Defence Ties: Beyond Buyer-Seller
India is no longer just an importer of arms. It is slowly emerging as a defence exporter. Saudi Arabia’s growing defence cooperation with India, including joint exercises and procurement of Indian-made equipment, is a powerful indicator of mutual trust.
PM Modi also invited Saudi investment into India’s private defence manufacturing sector—a bold ask, and one that reflects growing confidence in India’s industrial base.
Diaspora Diplomacy
PM Modi’s consistent outreach to the Indian diaspora has often been criticized as mere optics. But in Saudi Arabia, the 2.7 million Indians aren’t just workers—they are respected professionals, essential to the Kingdom’s growth story.
Calling them “rashtradoots” or national ambassadors, PM Modi underscored their importance not just as remittance senders, but as cultural and economic bridges. Their goodwill is now a soft power asset.
A Partnership of Pragmatism
Saudi Arabia needs to diversify its economy, maintain regional relevance, and curb extremism. India needs capital, energy security, and geopolitical leverage.
Their paths cross out of necessity, not nostalgia.
This visit may not generate dramatic headlines or flashy MoUs, but it quietly sets the stage for a recalibrated world order. One where India and Saudi Arabia grow not just as partners of convenience, but as co-authors of a new chapter in regional diplomacy.
The message is simple: the future of West Asia may no longer be written in Washington or Beijing. Riyadh and New Delhi are now part of that script—and they’re writing it in their own language.