New Delhi — India and Saudi Arabia held wide-range of talks on Wednesday to enhance bilateral defence and security cooperation.
The discussions were held in New Delhi and were co-chaired by Joint Secretary in the defence ministry Dinesh Kumar and Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Defence and Strategic Affairs Ahmed A Aseeri, as per the ministry statement.
“During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the progress made in military-to-military engagements, including joint exercises, expert exchanges and industry cooperation. It was decided to identify new avenues and examine areas of mutual interest for Joint Venture in order to enhance defence industry cooperation,” the statement read.
“It was agreed to hold the next meeting of JCDC in Saudi Arabia on mutually convenient dates in 2023. The JCDC is the apex body between the Defence Ministries of India and Saudi Arabia to comprehensively review and guide all aspects of bilateral defence cooperation”, it added.
The meeting took place around four months after Saudi Arabia’s land forces commander Lt. Gen Fahd Bin Abdullah Mohammed Al-Mutair visited India. It was the first-ever visit by a serving Royal Saudi land forces commander to India which signifies the deepening defence ties between the two nations.
Wednesday’s meeting was the fifth one that highlights India-Saudi Arabia Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation.
India and Saudi Arabia have improved the defence and security ties in the past few years.
India is also in discussions with countries like Saudi Arabia and UAE to export BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, which can strike at a range of 290-km, and also the Akash air defence missiles.
