In global pulls and pressures, economy matters most. So too with Saudi Arabia, India’s fourth largest trading partner and second largest supplier of crude oil. Saudi Arabia leads the Islamic nations. At the same time, it remains a good friend of India though there are complaints going to it in relation to New Delhi’s actions in Jammu and Kashmir in the wider context of militancy and acts of terrorism. Thus, the visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Riyadh to participate in a global financial conference hosted by Saudi Arabia and hold discussions with the rulers of the Gulf kingdom has special significance.
The abrogation of Article 370, divesting Jammu and Kashmir of its autonomy, was a contentious matter. But, the accommodative stand taken by Saudi Arabia towards such steps by India also helped the other Gulf states and most Islamic nations elsewhere to adopt a neutral stand. A collective cacophony against India was the worst possibility. This is the second visit by Prime Minister Modi to Saudi Arabia, the first in 2016, and the Saudi Crown Prince visited India earlier this year. The Prime Minister took this closeness forward with his present visit, which will see about 12 agreements being signed between the two nations on bilateral trade, cooperation and investment in India
A recent Saudi promise was to invest as high as $100 billion here in areas as diverse as energy, infrastructure, minerals-mining, agriculture etc. Saudi’s state-run oil giant, Aramco, has come up with major investment plans in a $60billion refinery and petrochemicals project in Maharashtra. As PM Modi noted, the relationship between the two countries is rising from a buyer-seller level to a strategic partnership. For India, such investments would mean a major fillip to its growth process and fresh opportunities for job creation.
Hosting Macca, the holiest of Islamic religious sites, Saudi Arabia is guiding the Islamic world from a vantage point. Despite the fights between Pakistan and India on several matters at regional level and global fora, India has been able to maintain strong fraternal ties with the Islamic world and the Gulf region in specific due principally to the good ties Saudi Arabia and India maintain. They are one in fighting the scourge of terror, the sway of which pro-Sunni Saudi Arabia too denounces. So with matters relating to Kashmir, which would continue to require global support as also support from the Islamic world. By all indications, Saudi Arabia would continue to stand by India in such endeavours while packing a punch to the bilateral relationships with heavy investments here as is already planned.