PM Modi Meets “Brother” Mohammed Bin Salman In Saudi, Key Agreements Signed

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah on Tuesday, the place the 2 leaders held wide-ranging bilateral talks. 4 key agreements have been signed following the hours-long assembly between the 2 leaders. PM Modi, who was additionally purported to attend a state dinner and deal with the Indian group couldn’t accomplish that as he lower brief his go to over the phobia assault in Kashmir that left 26 individuals, lots of them vacationers, useless and several other others injured.

PM Modi’s go to to Saudi Arabia was a strategically important one. The 2 nations are working to raise their ties to an all new stage. New Delhi and Riyadh are already strategic companions within the area and are key defence companions too. In Tuesday’s assembly, the 2 sides created two new ministerial committees, together with one on defence, and agreed to collaborate on establishing two refineries in India.

Even earlier than PM Modi landed in Jeddah earlier on Monday, his plane – Air India One – was escorted by a number of Saudi Air Pressure F-15 fighter jets in a symbolic gesture of respect accorded to solely the closest strategic allies. The Royal Saudi Air Pressure’s gesture additionally highlights the ever-deepening defence cooperation between the 2 nations.

Upon his arrival, the Prime Minister was given a 21-gun salute as members of the Indian group sang “Saare Jahan Se Achha“. Later within the day, PM Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome on the Al Salam Palace (Palace of Peace), the place he was obtained by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Referring to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as “my brother”, Prime Minister Modi, who grew to become the the primary Indian PM in additional than 40 years to go to Jeddah, stated, “Landed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This go to will strengthen the friendship between India and Saudi Arabia.”

In an interview to Arab News, PM Modi referred to as Saudi Arabia “a trusted buddy, strategic ally, and one in every of India’s most valued companions”, including that the India-Saudi partnership has “limitless potential and prospects”.

“We contemplate Saudi Arabia a pressure of positivity and stability within the area. As maritime neighbours, India and Saudi Arabia share a pure curiosity in safeguarding peace and stability within the area,” he added.

PM Modi and the Saudi Crown Prince then co-chaired the second assembly of the Saudi-India Strategic Partnership Council, established throughout Prime Minister Modi’s 2019 go to, which was aimed to strengthen bilateral and strategic ties between the 2 nations.

“The Council reviewed the work of the assorted committees, subcommittees and dealing teams below the SPC, which embody political, defence, safety, commerce, funding, vitality, know-how, agriculture, tradition and people-to-people ties,” in keeping with an official assertion.

The 2 sides additionally signed 4 key agreements within the fields of defence and house, schooling, well being, and communications. Either side additionally agreed to collaborate on establishing two refineries in India.

“Constructing on the dedication of Saudi Arabia to speculate USD 100 billion in India in a number of areas together with vitality, petrochemicals, infrastructure, know-how, fintech, digital infrastructure, telecommunications, prescription drugs, manufacturing and well being, the joint Excessive-Stage Job Pressure on Funding got here to an understanding in a number of areas to quickly promote such funding flows,” the assertion stated.

The bilateral talks additionally explored funding alternatives in India and enhancing financial and enterprise ties between the 2 nations. PM Modi additionally reportedly mentioned the Hajj pilgrimage and sought a better quota for Indian pilgrims.

In the beginning of the assembly, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman expressed his anguish over the phobia assault in Kashmir, saying Saudi Arabia stands with India and shall prolong any assist that’s wanted on this time of grief.

Moreover the strategic council assembly and bilateral talks, PM Modi was to go to a manufacturing unit and work together with Indian staff, however that now stands cancelled together with the diaspora occasion that was scheduled for tomorrow. 

The prime minister left straight for the airport after his bilateral assembly with the Crown Prince and is predicted to achieve New Delhi early on Wednesday morning. Earlier within the day he had spoken with Dwelling Minister Amit Shah to take inventory of the scenario in Jammu and Kashmir. The Prime Minister has referred to as for a top-level assembly on the phobia assault upon his arrival.