India and Saudi Arabia: A defining partnership for a new global era

When India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) during his visit, it will mark not just another diplomatic handshake, but a powerful reaffirmation of a strategic partnership that is reshaping the contours of West Asia and the broader Global South.

The India-Saudi Arabia relationship has undergone a profound transformation over the past decade, evolving from a transactional, energy-centered engagement to a comprehensive strategic partnership encompassing investment, technology, security, and geopolitics. Prime Minister Modi’s visit, coming at a time when the world is witnessing significant geopolitical churn, will likely elevate this relationship to new heights.

The strategic congruence between New Delhi and Riyadh today is driven by both necessity and opportunity. For India, Saudi Arabia is not just one of its most important energy suppliers but a critical economic and political partner in the Gulf—a region that hosts over 8 million Indian expatriates who send home billions of dollars in remittances annually. For Saudi Arabia, India represents a burgeoning economic powerhouse, a stable and secular nation with immense potential as a trade, investment, and technology partner.

Both nations have moved swiftly to institutionalize this convergence. The establishment of the Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) in 2019, co-chaired by Modi and MBS, was a landmark move. It created a formal mechanism to drive cooperation across key sectors like energy, security, infrastructure, and technology. Modi’s visit is expected to further operationalize many of these initiatives, turning vision into actionable outcomes.

Energy and Beyond

While energy cooperation remains a foundation stone—Saudi Aramco is a major investor in India’s energy infrastructure—the relationship is now multi-dimensional. Riyadh is looking to India not just as a buyer of oil but as a partner in its broader Vision 2030 modernization plan. This ambitious Saudi agenda seeks to diversify its economy away from oil, and India’s expertise in IT, infrastructure, fintech, healthcare, and renewable energy makes it a natural collaborator.

Several joint initiatives, including discussions around establishing strategic petroleum reserves, investing in India’s expanding renewable energy sector, and collaborating on hydrogen energy projects, are already underway. Modi’s visit is expected to further solidify these plans, with new announcements in the energy transition space highly likely.

Economic Corridors and Connectivity

One of the most exciting developments likely to be on the table is the advancement of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC). Announced at the G20 Summit in New Delhi last year, IMEEC is envisioned as a transformational initiative that connects India to Europe via the Middle East through railways, ports, and energy corridors. Saudi Arabia is a linchpin in this project, and New Delhi is keen to ensure Riyadh’s deep commitment.

This corridor could become a powerful counterweight to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), offering a more transparent and sustainable model of economic connectivity. Modi’s discussions with MBS will almost certainly focus on fast-tracking the corridor’s implementation, addressing regulatory, infrastructural, and investment bottlenecks.

Strategic and Security Convergence

Another critical pillar of the relationship is security cooperation. India and Saudi Arabia have enhanced their counterterrorism collaboration, intelligence sharing, and defense ties significantly over the past few years. Riyadh recognizes India’s pivotal role in ensuring stability in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and beyond.

Given the volatility in West Asia—with tensions persisting in Yemen, instability brewing in the Red Sea, and the broader Middle East in flux—India and Saudi Arabia’s security cooperation has broader regional implications. Modi’s meeting with MBS is expected to reinforce these ties, with possibilities of new defense cooperation agreements, joint exercises, and cybersecurity pacts.

Shared Vision for a Multipolar World

What binds India and Saudi Arabia closer today is also a shared vision of a more balanced, multipolar world order. Both nations seek to reduce their overdependence on any one global power. India’s rise as a global economic and political player aligns with Saudi Arabia’s desire to assert its strategic autonomy.

Saudi Arabia’s increasing engagements with BRICS and its deeper ties with Asian economies are reflective of this outlook. Meanwhile, India’s independent foreign policy—seen in its balancing act between the US, Russia, and West Asian powers—resonates with Riyadh’s own diversification of alliances.

The Modi-MBS Chemistry

At the heart of this growing relationship is the personal chemistry between Prime Minister Modi and Crown Prince MBS. Both leaders are bold reformers with a vision to transform their respective nations. Their pragmatic and forward-looking leadership styles have helped break old stereotypes and create a partnership based on mutual respect and shared aspirations.

During MBS’ 2019 visit to India, he called himself “India’s ambassador in Saudi Arabia,” a rare gesture of goodwill. Modi’s outreach, including India’s strong response during the recent Red Sea shipping disruptions where it coordinated with Saudi authorities, has helped build deep trust.

Looking Ahead

Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Saudi Arabia will be closely watched globally. It is not just a bilateral affair but a message: that India and Saudi Arabia are central players in defining the emerging world order. As both nations look to an era marked by innovation, infrastructure, security, and sustainability, their partnership stands as a model of how pragmatic diplomacy and strategic foresight can chart new futures.

In a time of global uncertainty, the India-Saudi Arabia relationship is a story of ambition, mutual interest, and rising global stature. Modi and MBS are poised to take this story to the next chapter—and the world would do well to pay close attention.