Indian National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval has again visited Saudi Arabia. His first meeting of this year was held in April, and now, in July, he met Prince Faisal bin Farhan of Saudi Arabia. It portrays the strengthening of the bilateral relations between the two states. While the central pillar of Ajit Doval’s Saudi Arabia visit was trade and energy cooperation, viewing it only through an economic lens overlooks its broader strategic significance. Visits by NSAs are rarely confined to commercial diplomacy; rather, they reflect deeper motives regarding regional security and intelligence cooperation.

Major Issues on the Table

Ajit Doval’s Saudi Arabia visit comes at a time when there is chaos in the Middle East and an energy crisis across the globe. The visit is expected to have focused on the following areas:

Recent attacks on ships in the Red Sea have raised the critical issue of maritime security. India’s economy depends on energy imports and international trade, mainly through maritime trading. It must secure its sea lines of communication. Consequently, the Indian Navy has expanded its presence in the Arabian Sea and in the Gulf of Aden through anti-piracy patrols by using guided missiles and maritime commandos. In this crucial time, India can become a strategic partner of Saudi Arabia and can provide maritime security to Saudi Arabia for the safe passage of their commercial ships through the Red Sea. 

Due to maritime commandos, in West Asia, every country seeks to secure its oil and gas supply routes. India is doing the same. He may........

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