Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Visit Saudi Arabia Amid Global and Regional Turmoil

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Visit Saudi Arabia Amid Global and Regional Turmoil
New Delhi, April 20, 2025 —

Against the backdrop of ongoing tensions in the Middle East—including the Gaza war, U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, and Israeli military operations in Lebanon and Syria—Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Saudi Arabia on April 22–23. Analysts believe this visit is not just about strengthening bilateral ties but also a strategic move to enhance India’s geopolitical influence in West Asia.

Third Visit, Strengthening Strategic Partnership

This will be Modi’s third bilateral visit to Saudi Arabia. During his previous trips in 2016 and 2019, India and Saudi Arabia elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Since then, Saudi Arabia has become one of India’s most important economic partners.

Key Geopolitical Context

The visit comes at a time when West Asia has been volatile for nearly two years due to the ongoing Gaza conflict. As a major regional power, Saudi Arabia is under pressure to balance support for Palestinians with maintaining its ties with the United States and Israel.

Significant Progress in Trade and Investment

Saudi Arabia is now India’s fifth-largest trading partner and second-largest crude oil supplier. In FY 2023–24, bilateral trade reached USD 42.98 billion.
Saudi oil giant Aramco has opened an office in Gurugram, India, and is involved in a $44 billion greenfield refinery joint venture.
Additionally, Saudi investment institutions have injected around $10 billion into Indian markets.

Defense and Security Cooperation

Defense ties are growing stronger, with potential discussions on joint military exercises, intelligence sharing, cyber security, and arms sales.
Under the “Make in India” initiative, Saudi Arabia has shown interest in purchasing India-manufactured defense equipment.

Progress on the IMEC Project

The India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC), announced during the G20 Summit, is expected to be a key agenda item. Though Saudi Arabia pledged $20 billion, implementation is still pending. Modi’s visit may push forward this critical supply chain corridor linking India to Europe via West Asia.

Fintech, Education, Healthcare, and Cultural Cooperation

India may push for the launch of UPI and RuPay card systems in Saudi Arabia.
Future cooperation may include the entry of Indian hospital chains and institutions like IITs and IIMs in Saudi Arabia.

Energy Security and Green Energy Collaboration

Saudi Arabia is likely to propose storing part of its strategic oil reserves in India to support India’s energy security.
It has already joined the International Solar Alliance and signed several agreements with India on green hydrogen and renewable energy cooperation.

Conclusion

This visit is expected to not only elevate India-Saudi Arabia relations but also serve as a turning point in the geopolitical and economic landscape of West Asia.
It reflects India’s aspiration to play a responsible and stabilizing role in the region, promoting peace, economic integration, and strategic cooperation.