Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia on April 22–23 for a high-level bilateral meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The visit is expected to focus on enhancing defence cooperation, energy partnerships, and regional stability, marking a significant step in Indo-Saudi relations.
This will be Prime Minister Modi’s third visit to Saudi Arabia since assuming office in 2014 and comes at a time when both nations are seeking to deepen strategic engagement amid shifting geopolitical currents. The visit follows up on previous high-level interactions, including the Crown Prince’s trip to India in 2019 and the establishment of the Strategic Partnership Council (SPC), a framework aimed at institutionalizing regular dialogue across sectors.
A central part of the agenda will be defence collaboration, a relatively new but growing dimension in India-Saudi ties. Both countries have already conducted joint military exercises, and discussions are likely to include increased training exchanges, technology transfer, and maritime cooperation. With the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean emerging as crucial waterways, strategic convergence between the two nations is becoming more significant.
Officials from India’s Ministry of External Affairs have indicated that a number of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed during the visit, particularly in defence manufacturing, cybersecurity, and space technology. The growing emphasis on defence is in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 programme, which aims to diversify the kingdom’s economy and reduce its reliance on foreign defence imports.
Prime Minister Modi is also expected to engage in discussions on regional security, including developments in West Asia, the Red Sea corridor, and the security implications of ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. As both countries face the challenge of maintaining stability in a volatile region, their cooperation on counterterrorism and intelligence sharing has steadily expanded over the past few years.
Another major pillar of the visit will be energy security and trade diversification. India is one of the largest consumers of Saudi oil, and energy cooperation remains a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship. However, New Delhi is now looking beyond hydrocarbons to explore joint ventures in renewable energy, especially green hydrogen—a field where Saudi Arabia is investing heavily.
Prime Minister Modi is expected to pitch Indian companies as partners in the Saudi green energy transition and invite investment in India’s expanding renewable sector. Bilateral trade between the two countries has steadily grown, crossing the $40 billion mark last year, and there are expectations of announcing fresh initiatives in infrastructure, petrochemicals, and technology during the visit.
The Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia—estimated at over 2.2 million—is another key element of the relationship. PM Modi is likely to hold an outreach event or interaction with the Indian community in Riyadh, acknowledging their contribution to both nations’ economies and emphasizing the government’s commitment to safeguarding their interests.
Foreign policy experts suggest that the visit is also a balancing act amid global strategic shifts, especially as Saudi Arabia moves closer to China and diversifies its partnerships beyond traditional allies. For India, engaging Saudi Arabia more deeply is vital—not only for economic reasons but also for strategic leverage in the broader Indo-Pacific and Gulf regions.
As India takes a more active role in shaping regional diplomacy, PM Modi’s visit is expected to reinforce India’s position as a dependable partner in a rapidly evolving global order. This trip will likely lay the foundation for expanded collaboration in both traditional sectors and emerging areas such as AI, fintech, and defence technology.
The outcomes of the visit could redefine the contours of India-Saudi Arabia relations and serve as a key milestone in India’s diplomatic calendar for 2025. All eyes will be on Riyadh next week as the two nations engage in what is expected to be a landmark dialogue between two rising global players.