7 pm | India Saudi Arabia relation | 14 February, 2019

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Context

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman scheduled to visits India on February 19-20

Background of relation

• India- Saudi Arabia established diplomatic relations in 1947 which was followed by high-level visits from both sides. King Saud visited India in 1955 and the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru visited the Kingdom in 1956.
• During the Cold War, Saudi Arabia put itself in the American camp which slowed initial warm as India stood against all alliances.
• The defeat of Pakistan in 1971 followed by the oil crisis of 1973 and soviet intervention in Afghanistan further deteriorate the relation.
• In January 2006, King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz visited India — the first visit by a Saudi monarch in 51 years and the first top level bilateral visit since Indira Gandhi’s trip to Saudi Arabia in 1982.
• The Delhi Declaration signed in 2006 aimed to strengthen ties in areas of energy, trade, science and technology, education, health, and political cooperation on regional and international issues.
• The 2010 Riyadh Declaration furthered on this agreement and focuses on enhancing cooperation on counterterrorism, money laundering, narcotics, arms and human trafficking, and defence and economic cooperation.
• Prime minister Modi visited Riyadh in 2016 and in 2018 met MBS in Argentina on the side-line of the G-20 summit.

Advantage of strategic ties with Saudi Arabia

• Saudi Arabia’s growing regional profile: Saudi Arabia has substantial influence on the regional politics, especially on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, and has cultivated ties with major powers such as the US, Russia, China and the EU. This increasing profile of the country is a call for India to engage further with Saudi Arabia in areas beyond bilateral trade an energy supply.
• Defence cooperation: Although India and Saudi Arabia have not signed a defence cooperation agreement, both countries have conducted joint military exercises and are exploring enhanced military cooperation on tackling terrorism in the mountainous areas bordering Yemen.
• Cooperation against terrorism: Strengthening India’s relations with Saudi Arabia will allow new avenues for India to manage relations within its own neighbourhood and also contribute to the security of the Gulf region.
• Fighting piracy: Piracy in the Gulf of Aden and surrounding regions remains a threat to Sea Lines of Communication. Deepening the Indian Navy’s cooperation with its Saudi counterpart will contribute significantly to the fight against piracy.
• To bring peace in Afghanistan: India and Saudi Arabia share a common interest is Afghanistan. Saudi Arabia recently played a major role in bringing some sections of the Taliban to the conference table, and facilitated the dialogue between them and the US.
• Energy security: Saudi Arabia is currently the largest supplier of crude oil to India. With particular reference to the ‘Strategic Petroleum Reserve’, India needs to move beyond mere commodity trade and engage with Saudi Arabia through energy interdependence.
• Indian Community in Saudi Arabia: The 2.7 million strong Indian community in Saudi Arabia is the ‘most preferred community’ act as an agent of soft power diplomacy
• Investment: MBS is expected to announce Saudi investments in both India and Pakistan. Recently, Saudi oil giant Aramco and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company have acquired 50% stake in the $44 billion project in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra
• Development of service sector: India can do a lot when it comes to the development of the services sector in Saudi Arabia, as well as in honing the skills of young Saudis. India can contribute to the Vision 2030 programme that the Crown Prince has developed and projected to the international community.

Areas of concern

• The Pakistan factor has also been an important element of the India-Saudi Arabia relationship. Pakistan’s influence over Saudi Arabia in hindering a stronger Indo-Saudi relationship. Although India’s deepening engagements with Saudi Arabia over the recent past has resulted in building a stronger bilateral relationship
• Saudi Arabia concerns with respect to India’s engagements in the West Asian region, particularly with reference to India’s engagement with Iran, be it on oil trade or the Chabahar port, and the supply of arms to India from Israel
• Both the countries have to delicately perform the balancing act (for the Saudis, between India and Pakistan, and for the Indians, between Saudi Arabia and Iran) to explore the benefits. Despite the buoyancy in bilateral ties in recent years, India remains hyphenated with Pakistan.
• Saudi policy of ’Nitaqat’ would potentially upset the large expatriate community of Indian working in the Kingdom.

Conclusion

Energy trade has traditionally been the foundation of the India-Saudi relationship. But during the past one decade, there has been a remarkable shift in India’s approach to the Saudi Kingdom. The increased focus on security and counterterrorism cooperation points to a maturing relationship that has moved away from a mere energy partnership.

With the US exercising less of an influence in the Gulf these days, the space is now available for India to put together a diplomatic peace initiative for the region. India should strengthen strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia and People-to-people relations need to be consolidated to strengthen bilateral relations.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/well-oiled/article26261456.ece