2.4. Security

♤ The 2010 Riyadh Declaration has been termed as ‘a new era of strategic partnership’ between the two countries. The visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Riyadh from April 2-3, 2016 could be seen as a taking forward the momentum in India’s growing engagement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has taken an upward strategic direction.

♤ Terrorism is an important issue on which cooperation between India and Saudi Arabia is crucial. Collaborating with each other in combating terrorism has become necessary keeping in view the transnational nature of terrorist funding, operation and ideology.

♤ In 2015 the Saudis deported Abu Jundal, who was wanted in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, making counter terrorism a key area of cooperation between the two countries.

♤ The visit of A. K. Antony to Saudi Arabia on February 13-14, 2012 was the first ever visit by an Indian Defence Minister to the Kingdom.

♤ Only in recent years that the two countries have begun to conduct joint naval exercises. Indian ships have visited Saudi Arabia on port calls and India has been providing training to some Saudi defence personnel.