Relevance : GS Paper II ( International Relations )
It is expected that the visit by Saudi Crown Prince Salman will lead to further strengthening of Saudi Arabia-Indian ties.
Basis of such an exultation
- Saudi interest in
- expanding trade and investment in India
- collaboration in the energy sector
- developing an integrated refinery and petrochemicals complex
- Riyadh’s declaration that Saudi wants to intensify its strategic partnership with India.
The Pakistan angle
- Pakistan is far too important to Saudi Arabia for internal security reasons.
- Afghanistan has been a point of strategic convergence for Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
- Riyadh perceives Pakistan as a major asset it can use to check the spread of Iranian influence.
- Saudi economic largesse matters greatly to Pakistan.
Way forward for India
- It will be unwise for India to believe that it can wean Saudi away from Pakistan.
- India should take advantage of its economic relations with Saudi Arabia.
- India should not pin much hope on Riyadh in the political-strategic sphere.
