Saudi Arabia, India sign military cooperation pact

[al-Hasani]

Saudi Arabia, India sign military cooperation pact
Visit to consolidate bilateral cooperation: Salman

​

Last updated: Thursday, February 27, 2014 12:14 AM

Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, and Vice President of India Hamid Ansari oversee the signing of a military cooperation pact between the two countries. The agreement was signed by Nizar Madani, Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs, and Jitendra Singh, India’s minister of state for defense. — SPA

Faheem Al-Hamid
Okaz/Saudi Gazette

NEW DELHI – Saudi Arabia and India signed an agreement for military cooperation in the fields of training, and exchange of expertise and visits of military personnel.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, and Vice President of India Hamid Ansari by Nizar Madani, Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs, and Jitendra Singh, India’s minister of state for defense.

Signing of the agreement followed the meeting between the two leaders. Crown Prince Salman also attended a dinner hosted in his honor by Ansari. Speaking on the occasion, Ansari thanked the Kingdom for giving care and attention to the Indian expatriates in the Kingdom. He noted that the visits of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to India and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the Kingdom have contributed tremendously in taking the bilateral relations to an excellent strategic level.

Crown Prince Salman said the Saudi-India friendship is fast moving toward broad prospects of cooperation and partnership in the economic, commercial, cultural and scientific fields in a way serving the interests of the people of both the countries.

Earlier, the Crown Prince said in his arrival statement that the visit comes within the framework of the keenness of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to consolidate cooperation between the two countries in all fields and to enhance consultation and coordination on regional and international issues.

He said the relations between the two countries have witnessed a great qualitative leap after the path-breaking visits by King Abdullah to India in 2006 and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the Kingdom in 2010.

The Crown Prince pointed out that the two visits founded joint working programs for strengthening relations which the leaderships of the two countries are keen on implementing.

On Thursday, Crown Prince Salman will meet President Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He will also hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at 7, Race Course Road.

Minister of Defense A.K. Antony and Minister of External Affairs Salman Khurshid will call on the Crown Prince at Hotel The Leela Palace.

On Friday, the Crown Prince will leave India after a whirlwind official tour to three nations.

Sources said the Crown Prince has been "highly impressed" by India's development in various sectors. Saudi Arabia sees India as an attractive investment hub for its business interests in Asia and seeks Indian investments in areas such as consultancy, construction, telecom, information technology and pharmaceuticals.

In recent years, there has been a significant progress in bilateral cooperation in key areas of mutual interest, including energy security, trade and infrastructure development projects.

Saudi Arabia is India's largest crude oil supplier accounting for about one-fifth of total imports in 2012-13.

Indians form the largest expatriate community in Saudi Arabia. There are over 2.88 million Indian nationals working in Saudi Arabia and are considered "the most preferred community due to their expertise, sense of discipline and peace-loving nature."

India is also setting its sights on railways. Apart from the mega contract for L&T for part of work on the Riyadh Metro project, there are other opportunities worth about $100 billion opening up as Saudi Arabia sets in motion a network extension plan for the next 30 years. – With agencies

Saudi Arabia, India sign military cooperation pact | Front Page | Saudi Gazette

 

[al-Hasani]

This below might interest the Indian users:

Trade and cultural links between ancient Arabia and ancient India date back to third millennium BC.[1]

Heptulla, Nejma. Indo-West Asian relations: the Nehru era. Allied Publishers, 1991.ISBN9788170233404.

@ranjeet @Contrarian @Cherokee @kbd-raaf @anonymus

 

[Shaldag]

I'll allow this, just as long as you don't muscle in on our military sales to India.

 

[al-Hasani]

Regional peace: KSA and India share joint vision

STRONG BONDS: Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, shakes hands with India's Vice President Hamid Ansari in New Delhi. (AP)​

RIYADH: GHAZANFAR ALI KHAN

Published — Thursday 27 February 2014

Last update 27 February 2014 1:23 pm

Saudi Arabia and India have signed a historic pact in New Delhi to enhance cooperation in the defense sector, in the presence of Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, and Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari.
Syed Akbaruddin, spokesman of India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), told Arab News that Nizar Obaid Madani, Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs, and Jitendra Singh, Indian minister of state for defense, signed the memorandum of understanding for defense cooperation.
The vice-president earlier received Crown Prince Salman as he arrived in India to a red carpet welcome.
Crown Prince Salman, who is on a three-day official visit to India, described the cooperation between the two countries as exemplary and fruitful.
“The pact for defense cooperation will allow for shared use and exchange of defense-related information, military training and education, as well as cooperation in areas varying from hydrography and security to logistics,” he said.
The crown prince, in his arrival statement, said his visit to India comes “within the framework of the desire of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to consolidate cooperation between the two countries in all fields and hold consultations on regional and international issues of common concern.”
He recalled the visits of King Abdullah to India in 2006 and of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Saudi Arabia in 2010.
Prince Salman highlighted the growing Saudi-Indian ties.
“We are happy to see the Saudi-Indian friendship expanding to new horizons as a result of cooperation and partnership in economic, commercial, cultural and scientific fields,” the crown prince said.
He added: “Saudi Arabia and India have a joint vision for achieving prosperity for their peoples and establishing peace and stability in the region.”
Addressing a dinner banquet hosted by Ansari, Prince Salman called for strengthening of cooperation between Saudi and Indian companies by setting up more joint ventures.
On Thursday, Crown Prince Salman will call on Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Singh and hold wide-ranging talks on bilateral, regional and international issues.
“Joint efforts should be made to promote the spirit of cooperation among allies and partners, who share similar concerns on a range of issues and challenges facing the world today,” the crown prince said.
Sibi George, charge d’affaires at the Indian mission, said the visit of Crown Prince Salman heralds a new era of relationship. India and Saudi Arabia share friendly relations based on close people-to-people contact, he said.
In recent years, he said there has been significant progress in bilateral cooperation in key areas of mutual interest, including energy security, trade and infrastructure development projects.
He said the Saudi–Indian Joint Business Council will hold talks in New Delhi on the sidelines of the visit of Crown Prince Salman. The discussions are aimed at boosting investment opportunities between the two countries.
Ministers and members of the business and investment communities from both countries will attend the meetings.
Saudi Arabia ranks as the fourth largest commercial partner with bilateral trade in excess of $43 billion reported during the last financial year.
Saudi Arabia is also India’s largest crude oil supplier accounting for about one-fifth of India’s total imports.
Indians also form the largest expatriate community in Saudi Arabia and their positive contribution to the progress and development of their host country is well recognized.
There are more than 2.8 million Indian nationals presently living and working in Saudi Arabia.

Regional peace: KSA and India share joint vision | Arab News — Saudi Arabia News, Middle East News, Opinion, Economy and more.

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

No matter what happens, the Indians won't like us

This became crystal clear after reading many interesting posts.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

No matter what happens, the Indians won't like us

This became crystal clear after reading many interesting posts.

Doesn't matter though right? National interests come first.

As for the topic, it is good to see more military cooperation in Asia.

 

[al-Hasani]

No matter what happens, the Indians won't like us

This became crystal clear after reading many interesting posts.

Well, I have seen many friendly Indians here that like KSA and Arabs.

Besides this is completely irrelevant. Firstly they do not represent anything and secondly this is about business. So 99,9% of all Indians could hate us for all I care as long as those people that are ruling their country and essentially their people make business with us.

 

[Not Sure]

No matter what happens, the Indians won't like us

This became crystal clear after reading many interesting posts.

Why not change the stance on Kashmir? You will see nothing but love from India.

 

[jarves]

Wow,didnt knew that L&T is also working on Riyadh metro project.

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

Doesn't matter though right? National interests come first.

As for the topic, it is good to see more military cooperation in Asia.

It just is worth mentioning to say that though.

I think the Saudi-Indo relations won't go far beyond trades and counter-terrorism, which is I believe more than enough. The defense agreement is just an ink on paper just like the ones we signed with them already years ago.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

It just is worth mentioning to say that though.

I think the Saudi-Indo relations won't go far beyond trades and counter-terrorism, which is I believe more than enough. The defense agreement is just an ink on paper just like the ones we signed with them already years ago.

Anyway I think it's good to cooperate with everyone as much as possible.

Saudi is in a good geostrategic and economic position, you can cooperate with everyone without worrying too much about immediate conflict on your borders.

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

Why not change the stance on Kashmir? You will see nothing but love from India.

We don't expect people to love us. Similarly, our political views aren't subjected to change to appease anyone. We call for a peaceful solution between both nations, it is at the top of our agendas, hoping the best to all Indians and Pakistanis as well.

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

Anyway I think it's good to cooperate with everyone as much as possible.

Saudi is in a good geostrategic and economic position, you can cooperate with everyone without worrying too much about immediate conflict on your borders.

Agreed. We look forward to maintaining a health relation with everybody.

 

[Dillinger]

Agreed. We look forward to maintaining a health relation with everybody.

You people view us as potential hostiles?

 

[jarves]

Any deals about Saudi Arabia investing in India??