Building a corridor of peace and innovation – Firstpost

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Jeddah in over four decades. While his previous visits to Saudi Arabia in 2016 and 2019 took him to the capital Riyadh, this 2025 visit to Jeddah carries deeper symbolism and strategic significance.

The last Indian premier to visit Jeddah was Indira Gandhi in 1982. Notably, as Modi’s aircraft entered Saudi airspace, it was escorted by Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 fighter jets—a grand gesture reserved for dignitaries of the highest honour.

This ceremonial welcome isn’t just about optics. It reflects how far India-Saudi relations have evolved—from being transactional and oil-dependent to becoming a strategic, multi-dimensional partnership that could define regional and even global geopolitics.

An ancient tapestry of ties

India’s relationship with the Arab world stretches back over 5,000 years. Trade flourished between the ancient Indus Valley civilisation and the Dilmun civilisation of the Arabian Peninsula.

For centuries, Arab merchants and scholars braved the monsoon winds and the Arabian Sea to reach Indian ports, particularly on the western coast, including the historic port of Ghogha in Gujarat. It is here, in the early 7th century, that companions of Prophet Muhammad landed and built the Barwada mosque, whose Qibla points toward Jerusalem, reflecting the early Islamic history before the Qibla was shifted to Mecca.

Even during British colonial rule, India remained deeply connected to the Gulf. The Gulf’s political affairs were administered by the Bombay Presidency, and until the 1960s, the Indian rupee served as legal tender in several Gulf states including Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain. These ties have long been cultural, spiritual, and economic.

Emotional diplomacy and strategic realignment

Modi recognised the value of this historical foundation and from the beginning of his premiership in 2014, focused extensively on building bridges with Gulf nations. Between 2015 and 2016, he visited every Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) capital, laying the groundwork for deeper partnerships. He encouraged reciprocal visits, and in 2019, broke protocol to personally receive Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), who warmly referred to Modi as his “elder brother”.

The relationship has since flourished. International affairs experts like Rishi Suri rightly call Modi’s latest visit a reaffirmation of a “strategic partnership reshaping West Asia and the Global South.” From energy to fintech, and from counter-terrorism to clean energy, this partnership has matured beyond conventional diplomacy.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri summarised the stakes during a recent press briefing: “Insofar as discussions between regional partners and Saudi Arabia are concerned, and discussions between India and some of its other strategic partners, I am sure that the upcoming visit will give the opportunity to the leaders to exchange perspectives on these issues and see where we are headed on this particular front.”

Suhel Aejaz Khan, India’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, poignantly observed, “Jeddah has always been the port for our pilgrims who come for Umrah and Hajj. The spiritual and cultural connection runs deep.” The sentiment was visibly echoed in the warm reception accorded to Modi on Saudi soil.

From energy to economic corridors

India continues to rely on Saudi Arabia as one of its most vital energy suppliers. But today, the relationship is about much more. The 2019 establishment of the Strategic Partnership Council (SPC), co-chaired by Modi and MBS, institutionalised this broader collaboration. It created dedicated mechanisms to advance cooperation in areas like security, infrastructure, technology, and clean energy.

Saudi Aramco’s heavy investments in Indian energy infrastructure underscore the deep synergy. But the horizon is widening. Discussions on strategic petroleum reserves, renewable energy, and hydrogen collaborations are progressing rapidly. Modi’s 2025 visit is likely to yield actionable outcomes in these sectors.

One of the most ambitious projects on the table is the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). First unveiled at the 2023 G20 Summit in New Delhi, IMEC envisions a robust trade route connecting India to Europe via the Gulf and Middle East. With Saudi Arabia as a central node, this corridor could rival China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), offering a transparent, rules-based, and sustainable alternative.

West Asian churn

Modi’s timing is crucial. The West Asia region is witnessing a dangerous churn, particularly with the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. Saudi Arabia’s role in stabilizing the region—particularly its recent diplomatic outreach to Iran and its relations with the United States—places it in a unique position.

Former Ambassador Anil Trigunayat opined that the Riyadh-Tehran détente, if sustained, could stabilise West Asia in ways that directly benefit India.

“The collaboration or at least modus vivendi between Riyadh and Tehran is critical to regional stability. Hence, the high-level interactions, including the visit of Khalid bin Salman as a special emissary of King Salman, are important as the US-Iran nuclear deal talks are underway and Israel is on a bit of a leash”, he emphasised.

According to him, “Trump will soon be in Riyadh, hence there are efforts to seal the deal, in which the Russians, Emiratis and Saudis are all helping.”

With the US, Russia, and China actively courting Gulf partnerships, India’s steady and non-interventionist approach gives it a unique advantage.

Prof Muddassir Quamar of Jawaharlal Nehru University noted, “From an Indian point of view, peace and stability in the region are of utmost interest given the Gulf’s significance for India’s energy and maritime security.”

Indeed, Saudi Arabia’s recent signalling toward a two-state solution and regional de-escalation offers a diplomatic opportunity. India’s voice, seen as pragmatic and balanced, could complement Saudi Arabia’s efforts to create a sustainable peace framework.

India, historically a strong supporter of Palestinian rights while also maintaining robust ties with Israel, finds itself navigating a tightrope. Discussions during Modi’s visit are expected to address the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the resumption of peace talks, and the broader security implications for the region.

Modi’s visit, therefore, isn’t just about bilateral progress—it is a signal to the world that India and Saudi Arabia are ready to co-create the future.

A partnership built on people and progress

The bilateral trade between India and Saudi Arabia currently stands at USD 42.98 billion, according to Indian Embassy Riyadh. But this is only the economic side of a much more emotional equation.

More than 8 million Indians live and work across Gulf nations, with the largest diaspora in Saudi Arabia. Their remittances contribute billions to the Indian economy and their well-being remains a cornerstone of bilateral ties.

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is an ambitious national transformation plan aimed at economic diversification, digitisation, and modernisation. India, with its expertise in Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, IT, renewable energy, urban development, and space tech, is a natural partner in this journey.

India and the Gulf have always been bound by more than trade routes and treaties. They share a historical consciousness, a spiritual corridor, and an emotional continuity. Modi’s visit to Jeddah, after a 40-year gap, reawakens these ties and projects a vision of mutual prosperity.

The world should take notice: PM Modi and Mohammed bin Salman are not merely allies; they are architects of a new global order.

Zahack Tanvir is an Indian-origin analyst and founder of The Milli Chronicle, a UK-based publication. With expertise in geopolitics and counter-extremism, he provides insights into global affairs. He holds certifications in Counterterrorism from the University of Leiden of the Netherlands, and Georgetown University of Washington DC. He tweets under @ZahackTanvir. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.