Signifying close ties between the two countries, in a special gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s aircraft was escorted by F-15 jets of Saudi Arabia when his special flight entered the airspace of the Gulf nation on Tuesday, officials said. Modi is paying a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also released a video of the Saudi jets escorting Modi’s aircraft. The gesture is being seen as deepening of Defence cooperation between the two countries.
The Prime Minister on Tuesday said India deeply values its long and historic ties with Saudi Arabia, asserting that their relations have acquired a strategic depth and momentum in recent years.
In his departure statement ahead of his two-day visit to the kingdom on the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he said both countries have developed a mutually beneficial and substantive partnership, including in the domains of defence, trade, investment, energy and people-to-people ties.
“We have shared interest and
commitment to promote regional peace, prosperity, security and stability,” Modi said, noting that it will be his third visit to the country and the first one to the historic city of Jeddah.
He said he looked forward to participating in the second meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council and building
upon the highly successful state visit of Mohammed bin Salman to India in 2023. Modi described the crown prince as
“my brother”.
He said he is also eager to connect with the “vibrant” Indian community in Saudi Arabia that continues to serve as the living bridge between the two nations and makes an immense contribution to strengthening the cultural and human ties.
Officials noted that all prime ministers before Modi together visited Saudi Arabia three times in close to seven decades. This is also Modi’s 15th visit to a country in the Gulf region, they added.
In an interview with Arab News, ahead of his visit Modi said India and Saudi Arabia have a natural interest in safeguarding peace and stability in the region and the growing defence and security collaboration between the two countries is a reflection of deep mutual trust.
Modi described Saudi Arabia as “one of India’s most valued partners, a maritime neighbour, a trusted friend and a
strategic ally”.
“We consider Saudi Arabia as a force of positivity and stability in the region. As maritime neighbours, India and Saudi Arabia share a natural interest in safeguarding peace and stability in the region,” he said.
“The growing defence and security engagement and collaboration between the two countries is a reflection of deep mutual trust,” he said.
“It is also a testament to our shared commitment to regional stability, and our mutual resolve to address the evolving challenges in our extended neighbourhood,” Modi added.
In their talks on Tuesday evening, Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are expected to focus on boosting defence ties apart from enhancing engagement in many other
crucial sectors.