India and Saudi Arabia Naval Drill: India and Saudi Arabia are working closely together to strengthen their defence ties. The two countries held their first joint naval exercise, called Al-Mohed Al-Hindi, in August 2021. They held the second exercise in May 2023, and now they are preparing for the third one, which will happen soon. People familiar with the matter said this shows how their defence relationship is growing steadily. They shared this information on the condition of not being named.
In February 2024, India signed its first defence contract with Saudi Arabia. A government-run company in India, called Munitions India Limited (MIL), agreed to supply artillery ammunition worth $225 million to Saudi Arabia.
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Another deal worth $80 million for artillery ammunition was also signed in 2024. One person involved in the talks said, “The amounts may seem small, but this is a big step for India. It shows that India is now entering one of the world’s biggest markets for military equipment. These deals and the joint exercises also show that other countries are starting to see India as an important defence partner.”
The person also talked about how India’s ‘Make in India’ program and Saudi Arabia’s ‘Vision 2030’ plan can work well together. Saudi Arabia wants to produce 50% of its defence equipment locally by 2030. The person said, “Saudi Arabia is trying to find new sources for its defence supplies. India is a good choice because we have good relations with Western countries and we have strong technical skills.”
The joint naval exercises have also helped the Indian Navy become stronger. The Indian Navy is interested in protecting waterways from the Strait of Hormuz to the Strait of Malacca. During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Saudi Arabia in 2019, both countries agreed to work together to keep the Indian Ocean and the Gulf safe from any threats that could harm their interests.
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India’s defence relationship with Saudi Arabia got a big boost in December 2020 when General MM Naravane, the former chief of the Indian Army, visited Riyadh. This was the first time an Indian military chief had visited Saudi Arabia. Since then, officers and cadets from both countries have been regularly visiting each other for training. For example, over the past two years, around 80 Saudi naval cadets have trained at the Indian Navy’s training centers in Kochi.
Last year, the former chief of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, Lt Gen Fahd bin Abdullah Al-Ghufaili, visited India. This was the first time a Saudi naval chief had come to India. A month later, in February 2024, the two countries held their first joint land force exercise, called Ex-Sada Tanseeq I, in Rajasthan. These activities show that India and Saudi Arabia are building a strong and lasting defence partnership.
