External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar arrived in Riyadh on Sunday for a two-day visit to attend the inaugural India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) foreign ministers' meeting. This visit marks the beginning of Jaishankar's three-nation tour, which will also take him to Germany and Switzerland.
The GCC, an influential regional bloc, comprises the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait. This gathering represents a significant opportunity for India to strengthen its diplomatic and economic ties with these key Gulf nations. The meeting is expected to cover a broad range of topics including trade, investment, energy, and cultural exchanges, as well as collaborative efforts in tackling regional and global challenges.
In Riyadh, Jaishankar is scheduled to hold a series of bilateral meetings with foreign ministers from several GCC member countries. These discussions aim to explore avenues for enhancing cooperation and expanding the partnership between India and the GCC countries.
India's trade with GCC nations reached USD 184.46 billion in the financial year 2022-23, highlighting the robust economic relationship between the two regions. The GCC is also home to a substantial Indian expatriate community, estimated at around 8.9 million, which adds a significant people-to-people dimension to the bilateral relationship.
Jaishankar took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express his appreciation for the warm reception extended to him by Abdulmajeed Al Smari, Deputy Minister for Protocol Affairs. His visit to Riyadh is expected to reinforce India’s commitment to deepening its ties with the GCC, ensuring a more collaborative approach to addressing mutual interests and regional issues.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi emphasized that the first India-GCC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting provides a critical platform for reviewing and enhancing the multifaceted relationship between India and the GCC. This includes exploring new opportunities for cooperation across various sectors and ensuring that both parties benefit from strengthened institutional connections and collaborative initiatives.
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