Frankly Speaking: Key Opportunities Shaping the Saudi-India Partnership
RIYADH — As the US-Israeli war with Iran shakes the Middle East, few countries have more at stake than India. Dependent on regional energy, invested in Gulf shipping routes, and home to nearly 10 million citizens living across the Middle East, New Delhi has watched the conflict closely. Yet the crisis has also highlighted the strength of India’s expanding relationship with Saudi Arabia a partnership that has grown from oil-centered ties into a broad strategic bond covering security, investment, culture, and diplomacy.
In an interview on Arab News’ current affairs program “Frankly Speaking,” India’s outgoing ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Suhel Ajaz Khan, described how the conflict has intensified dialogue between New Delhi and Riyadh.
Energy Security and Maritime Safety
Khan said the region is India’s “extended neighborhood.” With 2.7 million Indians in Saudi Arabia alone, the Kingdom’s stability is directly linked to India’s national interests. Saudi Arabia supplies about 15 percent of India’s crude oil. The activation of the Yanbu port on the Red Sea has helped mitigate disruptions caused by Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Recent US strikes on commercial vessels have killed Indian sailors, prompting New Delhi to summon US diplomats twice. Khan called the attacks “deeply troubling” and reiterated India’s demand for restraint: “We call upon all parties to respect the ceasefire, not attack civilian infrastructure, and conclude diplomatic negotiations.”
High-Level Engagement and Strategic Council
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have spoken twice during the conflict, and national security advisers stay in frequent contact. The Strategic Partnership Council, established in 2019, now covers political, economic, defense, cultural, and tourism cooperation. During Khan’s three-year tenure, roughly 30 ministerial visits occurred in each direction.
Economic and Technological Opportunities
Bilateral trade exceeds $42 billion. Indian companies registered in Saudi Arabia have grown from 490 in 2019 to more than 5,000 today. Plans for two joint-venture oil refineries with Aramco are under discussion. Both countries are also exploring cooperation in artificial intelligence and new technologies, with Indian firms working alongside Saudi AI initiatives like HUMAIN and ALLAM.
People-to-People Ties
The Indian community, which Khan called “the living bridge” between the two countries, has grown steadily. Saudi Arabia issued nearly 15,000 transit visas to stranded Indians during the conflict and kept its airspace open, helping thousands return home.
Reflecting on his tenure, Khan described the relationship in three words: “Peace, progress and prosperity.” He added that the future holds vast opportunities, especially in investment and technology, as both nations continue to build a partnership that has become a cornerstone of regional stability.
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