India–Saudi Arabia Military Collaboration (2025)

Main Results of the Meeting

Enhancement of Defence Collaboration: Training, industrial alliances, maritime safety, and collective military drills.

India provided training opportunities for Saudi staff in Indian institutions.

Emerging Collaborative Fields: Cybersecurity, Tactical communication, Information technology, Disaster management, etc.

Military Engagements: India displayed defense equipment from the 'Make in India' initiative.

Both parties investigated collaborative production and industrial alliances.

Importance of India–Saudi Defence Cooperation

Strategic: Strengthens India's security presence in the West Asian area.

Enhances the maritime security priorities of both nations in the Indo-Pacific and Gulf regions.

Economic/Industrial: Creates opportunities for India’s expanding defense manufacturing industry.

Opportunities for collaborations in accordance with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 diversification plan.

Security: Collaboration at sea is vital for stability in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and the protection of energy trade routes.

Defense cooperation enhances counter-terrorism efforts and intelligence exchange.

Diplomatic: Enhances the India–Saudi Strategic Partnership Council (2019, elevated in 2025).

Manages India's West Asia diplomacy while maintaining relationships with the UAE, Iran, and Israel.

Overview of India and Saudi Arabia Relations

• Historical Connections: King Abdullah's visit to India in 2006 resulted in the Delhi Declaration, signifying strengthened bilateral collaboration.
• In 2010, the Riyadh Declaration advanced the relationship to a Strategic Partnership during Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s trip to Saudi Arabia.
• Economic Collaboration: India is the second biggest trade partner of Saudi Arabia, while Saudi Arabia holds the position of India’s fifth largest trading partner.
• Bilateral trade amounted to around USD 42.98 billion in FY 2023-24, with Indian exports totaling USD 11.56 billion and imports from Saudi Arabia at USD 31.42 billion.
• Energy Partnership: India’s third largest supplier of crude oil and LPG is Saudi Arabia.
• Defence Partnership: The defence ties have been reinforced through significant naval collaboration, two instances of the bilateral naval exercise Al Mohed Al Hindi, and the inaugural India-Saudi joint land force exercise EX-SADA TANSEEQ-I conducted in India.