Relationship dossier
India
Saudi Arabia
Relationship assessment
A substantial strategic partnership spanning energy, investment and security
India toward Saudi Arabia
+55India has pursued a strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia through the Riyadh Declaration and the 2016 strategic partnership council. Indian governments have also expanded defense, security and counterterrorism cooperation with the Saudi government.
Saudi Arabia toward India
+55Saudi Arabia has pursued strategic and investment ties with India through the bilateral strategic partnership council and investment initiatives. The Saudi government has also engaged India on defense and security cooperation.
Overall relationship
+55The relationship has a durable strategic framework and cooperation across energy, investment, defense and security. These arrangements make ties substantially cooperative, while the available breadth of cooperation does not establish an exceptionally close alliance.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
India and Saudi Arabia maintain a substantial strategic partnership spanning energy, investment, security and defense. The 2010 Riyadh Declaration elevated bilateral ties, and a 2016 agreement established a strategic partnership council. The governments have also expanded defense and counterterrorism cooperation, while Saudi Arabia has pursued investment ties with India. Energy dependence and regional priorities remain important features of the relationship.
Key developments
The Riyadh Declaration elevated India–Saudi Arabia relations and set out a framework for expanded cooperation.
The governments established a strategic partnership council to deepen and coordinate bilateral cooperation.
The governments expanded defense and security cooperation, including counterterrorism engagement.
Major uncertainties
- The implementation and scope of announced Saudi investment commitments are unclear.
- The depth and continuity of defense and security cooperation are uncertain.