PM Modi welcomed Saudi Arabian Prince Mohammed Bin Salman at the airport of New Delhi
PM Modi welcomed Saudi Arabian Prince Mohammed Bin Salman at the airport of New Delhi
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in New Delhi Airport on Tuesday evening on a two-day visit and received and Welcome By PM Modi. The two countries will also look at further enhancing defence ties, including having a joint naval exercise.
The Crown Prince who arrived in Islamabad on Sunday at the start of his tour of South Asia has returned to Saudi Arabia on Monday, official sources said. New Delhi had reservations over his coming to India from Pakistan.
Ahead of the visit by the Crown Prince, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir said in Islamabad on Monday that Riyadh will try to “de-escalate” tensions between India and Pakistan in the wake of the deadly terror attack in Pulwama by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned and denounced the terrorist attack on Indian security forces in Pulwama on February 14. We appreciate Saudi’s cooperation in security and counter terrorism areas over the years. During PM Modi’s visit to Saudi Arabia in 2016, an MoU on cooperation in exchange of intelligence related to money laundering and terrorism financing was signed. Saudi has shown understanding of our terrorism-related concerns and also agreed to work with India in countering this global menace,” Tirumurti said on Monday.
The cooperation in defence will continue to be an important area of bilateral ties. “MoU on Defence Cooperation was signed in 2014 during the visit of the then Crown Prince Salman, the present King. Both sides are exploring the possibility of elevating this engagement with Joint Production and Joint Exercises, particularly Joint Naval exercises,” Tirumurti said.
India has been identified as one of the eight strategic partners with whom Saudi Arabia intends to deepen partnership in areas of political, security, trade, investment and culture. After the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Crown Prince on Wednesday, the two sides are also expected to sign pacts in areas of investment, tourism, housing and information & broadcasting.