India and Saudi Arabia continue to deepen their defence partnership, built on long-standing trust and expanding cooperation across military, industrial and training domains, Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Suhel Ajaz Khan said ahead of the World Defense Show in Riyadh.
Speaking to Arab News, Khan described Saudi Arabia as “one of India’s most trusted and valued strategic partners”, citing historical civilisational, cultural and commercial ties that have evolved into a strategic relationship in recent years.
“Our ties are rooted in a rich tapestry of civilizational, cultural and commercial connections that date back centuries. In recent years, the relationship has grown exponentially, evolving into a robust strategic partnership", he said.
Khan said the state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Saudi Arabia in April 2025 reflected the depth of bilateral engagement.
“The landmark state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Kingdom in April 2025 was a true reflection of this deepening bond”, he said, noting discussions with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah.
The visit resulted in several outcomes, including agreements to establish two India–Saudi joint venture refineries in India and memoranda of understanding in space cooperation, health, sports and postal services. The second meeting of the India–Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council was also held during the visit, with both leaders reviewing the work of its committees and working groups.
On defence ties, Khan said cooperation is anchored in the Defence Cooperation Agreement signed in 2014 during the visit of then crown prince and defence minister King Salman to India.
“Over the past few years, this cooperation has deepened through regular high-level engagements, and enhanced interactions between the armed forces of both countries”, he said.
A major development was the addition of a Ministerial Pillar of Defence Cooperation to the Strategic Partnership Council, chaired by the defence ministers of both countries. Seven rounds of discussions have been held under the Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation, alongside regular exchanges of senior defence delegations.
Khan said India and Saudi Arabia have conducted two editions of the naval exercise Al Mohed Al Hindi and the first land forces exercise, Sada Tanseeq. Indian naval and coast guard vessels have also made regular port calls to Saudi Arabia.
After nearly 12 years, an Indian ministerial-level defence delegation visited Riyadh for the World Defense Show 2024, led by Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt. During that visit, Munitions India Ltd signed an agreement for defence exports to Saudi Arabia valued at $225 million.
India is expected to have a strong presence at the World Defense Show 2026, scheduled from February 8 to 12.
“There will be an India Pavilion set up by our Ministry of Defense in the show”, Khan said, adding that this would be the first time India has a dedicated pavilion to showcase its defence manufacturing capabilities.
The past year saw several firsts in defence engagement, including service-to-service staff talks and the visit of Saudi Armed Forces Chief of General Staff Gen Fayyad bin Ruwaili to India in December 2025.
Khan said military-to-military cooperation remains a core area of engagement, particularly maritime and naval cooperation linked to shared interests in the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea and key sea lanes.
“The two rounds of the naval exercises Al Mohed Al Hindi have provided an excellent base for continued collaboration in this area", he said.
Defence industry cooperation has also expanded, with India’s manufacturing sector aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. India’s defence production has crossed $15 billion, with exports exceeding $2.7 billion.
“We have a large number of products which we can offer to the Saudi side”, Khan said.
Training and capacity building form another pillar of cooperation. Saudi Arabia has been sending cadets to India for training at the Indian Navy and the National Defence Academy.
“The participation of Saudi cadets in professional military training institutions in India reflects the high level of trust and confidence between our armed forces”, Khan said.
In 2023, six instructors and 55 cadets from the King Fahd Naval Academy participated in afloat summer training with the Indian Navy in Kochi. This expanded in 2024 with five instructors and 76 cadets. Senior delegations from India’s National Defence College also visited Saudi Arabia in 2023 and 2025, while Saudi officers have attended NDC courses in India.
“These training exchanges not only contribute to professional skill development and interoperability but also foster enduring institutional linkages between our armed forces”, Khan said.
“We see this cooperation as a valuable investment in the long-term strength of the India–Saudi Arabia defence partnership”.