\n<\/p>\n
India’s Growing Ties with Saudi Arabia Amid Regional Tensions<\/strong><\/p>\n RIYADH:<\/strong> The ongoing conflict involving the US and Israel against Iran has significant implications for India, which relies heavily on energy supplies from the Middle East, has a stake in maritime trade, and hosts millions of its citizens in Gulf countries. This situation has prompted New Delhi to closely monitor developments in the region.<\/p>\n The current crisis has emphasized the strengthening relationship between India and Saudi Arabia, which has evolved over the past ten years. Initially focused on oil, the partnership now encompasses security, investment, culture, and diplomatic efforts.<\/p>\n In a recent interview on the Arab News program “Frankly Speaking,” Suhel Ajaz Khan, India\u2019s outgoing ambassador to Saudi Arabia, highlighted how the conflict has spurred discussions between New Delhi and Riyadh.<\/p>\n Khan remarked that the ongoing turmoil makes the security in the Gulf a matter of urgent concern for India. With approximately 10 million Indians living across the Middle East, including nearly 2.7 million in Saudi Arabia, the safety of this region is closely linked to India\u2019s national interests.<\/p>\n \u201cSaudi Arabia is a key trading partner as well as a major source of energy and fertilizers for us,\u201d he mentioned. \u201cThus, any event in the Gulf region is crucial for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Khan noted that communication between leaders from both nations has intensified amid the crisis. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have held discussions, while ministers and officials frequently exchange views.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have been in regular touch at the leadership level,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n India has condemned Iranian attacks on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations and continues to advocate for constructive dialogue. \u201cWe have a clear stance on the conflict,\u201d he stated, adding that New Delhi is particularly vigilant about the safety of shipping routes in one of the world\u2019s most crucial waterways.<\/p>\n \u201cWe believe the Strait of Hormuz must remain open for navigation and free trade,\u201d he emphasized, noting the increasing urgency due to recent attacks on merchant vessels, including incidents that resulted in the loss of Indian sailors\u2019 lives.<\/p>\n Khan explained that this led India to summon the US Deputy Chief of Mission twice in two days, following American strikes that impacted Indian-crewed vessels.<\/p>\n \u201cThe ongoing attacks on civilian infrastructure, including shipping lines, are very troubling,\u201d he said. He reiterated that diplomacy is the best way to move forward, calling for all parties to respect ceasefires and avoid targeting civilian infrastructures.<\/p>\n In talks earlier this year, Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval discussed security and economic concerns during his visit to Riyadh, where he met with senior Saudi leaders.<\/p>\n Khan shared that these talks underscored the shared interest of both nations in maintaining open maritime trade routes.<\/p>\n Saudi Arabia has played a significant role in assuring India of reliable energy supplies, including crude oil. The ambassador noted recent efforts to divert oil shipments through the Yanbu port, reducing reliance on routes through Hormuz.<\/p>\n While there are still challenges due to ongoing regional tensions, Khan affirmed that India and Saudi Arabia are committed to keeping trade routes available. <\/p>\n The conflict has also affected expatriate communities, but Khan praised Saudi Arabia for facilitating the return of Indian citizens seeking to leave conflict zones. He acknowledged the issuance of nearly 15,000 transit visas to stranded Indians.<\/p>\n As he concludes his tenure, Khan reflected positively on the growing friendship between India and Saudi Arabia. He cited the personal rapport between Modi and bin Salman as a key driver in deepening ties over the past decade.<\/p>\n \u201cThis friendship is built on mutual respect,\u201d he added, noting the significant growth in economic ties, with bilateral trade exceeding $42 billion.<\/p>\n Khan pointed out that Indian companies have increased their presence in Saudi Arabia, growing from about 490 in 2019 to over 5,000 today. He believes that future investments and collaborations, especially in technology and artificial intelligence, hold great promise.<\/p>\n Despite the focus on economic and technological growth, Khan emphasized that the people-to-people connection remains vital. The Indian community in Saudi Arabia continues to flourish, contributing to cultural exchange and mutual respect.<\/p>\n In his final remarks, he expressed his satisfaction with serving the Indian community during significant events like Hajj, emphasizing both personal and professional fulfillment.<\/p>\n As Khan leaves his post, he sees a bright future for India-Saudi relations, summarizing the partnership with the words: \u201cPeace, progress, and prosperity.\u201d In a time of regional instability, these ideals are more crucial than ever.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" India’s Growing Ties with Saudi Arabia Amid Regional Tensions RIYADH: The ongoing conflict involving the US and Israel against Iran has significant implications for India, which relies heavily on energy supplies from the Middle East, has a stake in maritime trade, and hosts millions of its citizens in Gulf countries. This situation has prompted New<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":34646,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34645","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-india-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34645","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34645"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34645\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34646"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34645"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34645"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34645"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}