JEDDAH: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was escorted by Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 fighter jets ahead of his touchdown in Jeddah on Tuesday, where he was greeted by a 21-gun salute in a ceremonial welcome that highlighted the growing defense ties between the two countries.

The visit marked Modi’s first to the Red Sea port city and the first by an Indian premier in more than 40 years. It was also his third visit to Saudi Arabia in a decade, highlighting deepening diplomatic, economic, and military cooperation between Riyadh and New Delhi.

“This visit will strengthen the friendship between India and Saudi Arabia,” Modi posted on the social media platform X ahead of his arrival, expressing his eagerness to advance bilateral agreements and programs.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, wrote on X that the visit would “give further momentum” to “longstanding and historic ties” between Saudi Arabia and India.

Referring to the Royal Saudi Air Force escort, Jaiswal posted: “India-Saudi Arabia friendship flying high!”

Modi’s arrival was met with vibrant celebrations among the Indian diaspora — the Kingdom’s largest expatriate group. Traditional dances were performed in his honor, and Saudi singer Hashim Abbas paid tribute by singing the Hindi patriotic anthem “Ae Watan.”

Members of the Indian diaspora gathered at a hotel in Jeddah and sang “Saare Jahan Se Achha” as they awaited Modi’s arrival. One of the members of the Indian diaspora told ANI: “I am very excited to see PM Modi here. We are so grateful that we got this opportunity.”

A key part of the visit was the second meeting of the India-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council, co-chaired by Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Established in 2019, the SPC has become a vital platform for cooperation in politics, security, trade and culture.

In an interview ahead of the visit with Noor Nugali, deputy editor-in-chief of Arab News, Modi emphasized that the bond between India and Saudi Arabia “is not new.” Rather, “it is rooted in civilizational exchanges that go back to centuries.

“From ideas to trade, there has been a constant flow between our two great nations,” he said. “Our relations have been on an upward trajectory since 2014.”

One of the most significant areas of growing cooperation has been defense. In recent years, India and Saudi Arabia have held joint military exercises, finalized India’s first artillery shell exports to the Kingdom and signed advanced weapons systems deals.

Officials said this week’s discussions would include expanding naval exercises and strengthening security partnerships — particularly in maritime and cybersecurity domains.

The visit came at a time when both countries are pursuing bold domestic agendas. As Saudi Arabia advances its Vision 2030 plan to diversify its economy and India rises as a global economic force, the leaders are keen to transform longstanding cultural and economic ties into a comprehensive 21st-century partnership.

“There is much to celebrate in the remarkable transformation of bilateral ties,” journalist and foreign policy analyst C. Raja Mohan said in a recent op-ed for The Indian Express.

“The PM’s visit to Jeddah is not only about expanding bilateral relations; it also reflects Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a significant geopolitical actor under its crown prince and prime minister, Mohammed bin Salman.”

He added: “(Riyadh’s) interest-driven, rather than ideologically rigid, approach marks a fundamental shift in the evolution of the Saudi Kingdom — one that echoes the pragmatism of India’s own Middle East policy under Modi.”

Bilateral trade has continued to grow despite global economic turbulence, with energy, agriculture and fertilizers remaining key pillars. Both sides are now eying new areas of cooperation, including green hydrogen, emerging technologies and infrastructure.

Indeed, trade between the two countries surged to $52 billion in 2023-24, and officials said several memorandums of understanding would be signed during the visit to bolster both economic and political collaboration.

India’s economy is seen as being relatively less vulnerable to global headwinds, and calibrated policy support could help the country turn current volatility into an opportunity, the Reserve Bank of India said in its April bulletin released on Tuesday.

“Although the dampening global economic outlook could impact India’s economic growth through weaker external demand, the domestic growth engines ... consumption and investment, are relatively less susceptible to external headwinds,” the RBI said in its article, titled “State of the Economy.”

Saudi Arabia has long been a key energy supplier to India, with the Kingdom ranked as the country’s third largest source of petroleum, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs. As one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, India relies heavily on crude and refined oil imports to meet its expanding energy demands.

That partnership is also evolving in response to global energy transitions, as both countries recognize the urgency of moving toward cleaner, more sustainable sources of energy.

India announced its aim of achieving 500 GW renewable energy by 2030 at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, outlining its intention to meet half of its energy requirements from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. The target marked a significant step beyond the country’s earlier Paris Agreement commitments and highlighted its growing role in global climate leadership.

Modi’s itinerary had included a visit to a facility employing Indian workers and a meeting with members of the Indian community. Saudi Arabia is home to 2.7 million Indian residents and workers.

The Indian leader, who in 2016 was awarded the King Abdulaziz Sash, Saudi Arabia’s highest civilian honor, has made Gulf partnerships a cornerstone of his foreign policy.

Analysts said the visit reflected India’s broader strategy to cement alliances across West Asia, a region vital to its energy security and home to more than 9 million Indian expatriates.