8. Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is emerging as an important strategic partner of India in the Persian Gulf. Its significance rests in its vast oil reserves and exports and its global influence as a leading Islamic country that houses the two holy mosques revered by Muslims all over and home to nearly three million Indians who live and work there. With growing political contacts and business ties, Saudi Arabia has emerged as a vital pillar of New Delhi’s outreach to the Gulf. Despite increasing western criticisms of Riyadh’s foreign policy choices and concerns over human rights records under the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS), India has chosen to elevate and intensify its ties with the Kingdom. This manifested in some interesting bilateral developments, including a multifold increase in a two-way flow of investments, growing security and defence ties and a better appreciation of each other’s security and foreign policy interests. Several developments in 2018 underline the burgeoning ties, including India’s participation in Janadriyah Festival, the national cultural and heritage celebrations organized by the Saudi government as the honoured guest and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with MbS during the G20 summit.