Lagatar24 Desk
Riyadh: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in Riyadh on September 8 to participate in the first-ever India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Foreign Ministers’ meeting. The visit is a significant step in strengthening India’s ties with the Gulf nations and addressing pressing regional and global challenges.
Upon his arrival, Jaishankar was warmly received by Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Protocol Affairs, Abdulmajeed Al Smari. Sharing his arrival on X (formerly Twitter), Jaishankar said, “Arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to take part in the First India-Gulf Cooperation Council Foreign Ministers’ meeting. Thank Abdulmajeed Al Smari, deputy minister for protocol affairs, for the warm reception.”
The minister’s visit is part of a broader six-day trip that also includes stops in Germany and Switzerland. The primary focus of his two-day stay in Riyadh is to engage in discussions with his counterparts from the GCC member nations. The GCC, a prominent grouping consisting of the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait, holds significant importance for India due to its strategic and economic ties.
India’s trade relationship with the GCC countries is robust, with the total trade volume reaching $184.46 billion during the financial year 2022-23. The GCC region is home to a substantial Indian expatriate population, numbering around 8.9 million, making it a crucial area for India’s foreign relations.
While in Riyadh, Jaishankar is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with several foreign ministers from the GCC nations. These discussions aim to further deepen cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, energy, and cultural ties.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) emphasized the strong and multifaceted relationship between India and the GCC, highlighting the region’s importance as a major trading partner and its role in India’s economic and cultural exchanges.
Jaishankar’s visit comes at a time when India is looking to bolster its presence and influence in the Gulf, with the India-GCC meeting serving as a vital platform for strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between the two regions.
