India - Saudi Relations Reach New Heights: In A First, Armed Forces To Undertake Joint Bilateral Exercise

In a first such exercise between India and Saudi Arabia, armies of both the countries are going to undertake joint bilateral exercises, reports WION.

The Indian forces contingent will be travelling to Saudi Arabia for the exercises which will reportedly take place in the next financial year.

In another first between both the countries, Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane had visited Saudi Arabia in December 2020.

During the visit, Army Chief had visited Headquarters of Royal Saudi Land Force, the Joint Force Command Headquarters and King Abdul Aziz Military Academy.

India and Saudi Arabia enjoy cordial and friendly relations. The establishment of diplomatic relations in 1947 was followed by high-level visits from both sides. King Saud visited India in 1955 and the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru visited the Kingdom in 1956.

Saudi Arabia is India’s fourth largest trade partner and India imports around 18 per cent of its crude oil requirement from the Kingdom.

The 2.6 million strong Indian community in Saudi Arabia is the largest expatriate community in the kingdom.

Further, the ‘State Visit’ honour accorded to the visit of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to India in February, 2019 cemented the ties in diversified fields.

The announcement on Saudi investments worth US $ 100 billion in India and identifying India as one of the Kingdom’s 8 Strategic Partner Countries under ‘Vision 2030’ clearly earmarks the growing bilateral ties in an upward trajectory.