Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has decided to collaborate with India for procurement and manufacture of defence equipment under the newly-formed Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation (JCDC), ThePrint has learnt.
“Saudi Arabia is looking at collaboration with India on defence in terms of procurement and joint production … The talks have been going on for greater defence cooperation and expansion of ties between the two nations for the past six months,” a top Indian official posted in Riyadh told ThePrint.
The Saudis, the official said, are interested in procuring small arms, military vehicles, radars and other items from India. New Delhi and Riyadh will also, for the first time, hold joint naval exercises — expected to take place in the Gulf region — in March 2020. A preliminary meeting on this will be held in December this year.
The newly-constituted JCDC had recently met, with Indian companies such as Ashok Leyland, Bharat Forge and Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) participating in the discussion.
“The Saudi have found traction in what India is manufacturing and what they want to buy,” the official added.
Also read: Saudi Arabia ‘backs India’ against Pakistan on Kashmir and Article 370
New beginnings
Saudi’s decision marks a new beginning in its strategic ties with India because Pakistan has always been a key ally for Riyadh when it comes to defence cooperation.
The joint statement issued after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bilateral meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said: “Agreed on the importance of bilateral engagement to promote ways to ensure the security and safety of waterways in the Indian Ocean region and the Gulf region from the threat and dangers that may affect the interests of the two countries including their national security.”
New Delhi and Riyadh had earlier decided to join hands for defence procurement and manufacture when Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited India in February this year.
The Kingdom’s decision latest decision also comes at a crucial time when it is entangled in wars that are taking place in Syria and Yemen, even as its relationship with Iran has soured in the past couple of months.
Also read: Modi’s Riyadh visit expected to improve energy ties with Saudi, ensure steady supply of oil
Saudi depended on Pakistan for its nukes, which Saudi was after, However now Trump has transferred the required technology to Saudi. So they are no more independent now. Only for military training the Pakis are needed, And since Pakistan is drawing trouble from all over the globe, which does not give MS a good direction to follow Imran, and Khashyogi’s blood was on his hands. So the best alignment now is India, which is a good decision he made. This equation will balance the Israel’s position in the Gulf as well.
Thats a great political move by India and Saudi, whereby the Pakis and Chinese will be counter checked in the Gulf Region. But the main concern is the Saudi Army Chief is an ex-retired Army General from Pakistan, who can play a double agent game. Its here our security could be a risk factor. The MI should take note of this before calling for trouble.
The Indian equipment better perform when deployed against the Houthis, or else there will be hell to pay.
Saudis are not fully aware of India’s capability in terms of Arms manufacturing as they mostly rely on Russia for Arms purchasing and it would be better for Saudis to contact Pakistan and China who are making good modern arms by having interoperability since long.
This news should create headache to librandus of India.
Great diplomacy, Saudi Arabia is 1st grade Muslim country.
I term this a a master stroke, this will reduce Saudi dependency on Pakistan for it’s defence. Bravo.