PM Modi in Jeddah: second India–Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council meeting; visit cut short
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman co-chaired the second meeting of the India–Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council in Jeddah on 22 April 2025; the PM cut short his two-day visit after the Pahalgam attack.
Summary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a State Visit to Saudi Arabia on 22 April 2025, his third visit in a decade and first to Jeddah. He and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman held talks and co-chaired the second meeting of the India–Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council (SPC), which was expanded to four ministerial committees with new committees on Defence Cooperation and on Tourism and Cultural Cooperation. Building on Saudi Arabia's commitment to invest USD 100 billion in India, the two sides agreed to collaborate on establishing two refineries in India. MoUs covered space, health, anti-doping and inward surface parcels. The Crown Prince condemned the Pahalgam attack. As reported by PTI (in ThePrint) and India Today, citing government sources, the PM skipped an official dinner and cut short the two-day visit, returning on the night of 22 April instead of the next night.
Key facts
- Visit
- State Visit, Jeddah, 22 April 2025 (planned two days)
- SPC
- 2nd meeting; now four ministerial committees
- New committees
- Defence Cooperation; Tourism and Cultural Cooperation
- Investment
- Saudi commitment of USD 100 billion; two refineries in India
- MoUs
- Space, health, anti-doping, inward surface parcel
- Cut short
- Returned night of 22 April (PTI/ThePrint, India Today)
Practice MCQs 4 questions
In which city did PM Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman co-chair the second India–Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council meeting on 22 April 2025?
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Correct answer: B — Jeddah
The second SPC meeting was held in Jeddah; it was the PM's first visit to the city.
Consider the following about the India–Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council meeting of 22 April 2025: 1. The Council was expanded to four ministerial committees, adding committees on Defence Cooperation and on Tourism and Cultural Cooperation. 2. It was the first meeting of the Council. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. It was the second meeting; the first was held in September 2023.
How much has Saudi Arabia committed to invest in India, as cited in the outcomes of the PM's visit of April 2025?
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Correct answer: C — USD 100 billion
The outcomes refer to Saudi Arabia's commitment to invest USD 100 billion in India.
Which of the following was NOT among the MoUs/agreements listed in the outcomes of the PM's State Visit to Saudi Arabia in April 2025?
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Correct answer: D — Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement
The listed MoUs covered space, health, anti-doping and inward surface parcels; a Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement was discussed at the India–Bhutan customs meeting, not signed with Saudi Arabia.