22 April 2025 : Indian Express Editorial Analysis
1. A bridge to the gulf
(Source – Indian Express, Section – The Ideas Page – Page No. – 09)
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Topic: GS2 – International Relations |
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Context |
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A New Era in India-Saudi Relations
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia underscores the transformative shift in bilateral ties between New Delhi and Riyadh.
- While media coverage often highlights such high-level visits, it tends to miss the broader context particularly the internal transformations within Saudi Arabia itself.
- This visit is more than a diplomatic formality; it signifies the deepening of a strategic partnership between two evolving powers and reflects the synchronised rise of Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) in their respective nations.
Historical Underperformance and Recent Acceleration
- India’s engagement with Saudi Arabia has historically been underwhelming, with only six prime ministerial visits since 1947.
- This long-standing underperformance stemmed from ideological hesitancy, over-cautious diplomacy, and a Pakistan-centric lens through which India viewed the Gulf region.
- However, things began to shift in the early 2000s with landmark visits by Indian and Saudi leaders.
- The momentum picked up pace under Modi, who has made Saudi Arabia a clear priority, as reflected in his three visits since 2016.
- This signals a new strategic approach based on mutual interests in energy, economy, and regional security.
Strategic and Economic Convergence
- The Indo-Saudi partnership has moved well beyond oil and diaspora ties. Under Modi, India has actively sought to deepen cooperation in areas such as counterterrorism, technology, investment, and infrastructure.
- Frequent diplomatic exchanges and increasing economic integration suggest a multi-dimensional relationship is taking shape.
- Saudi Arabia, for its part, has welcomed India’s growing footprint in the Gulf and beyond, seeing New Delhi as a valuable partner in its own strategic recalibration.
The MbS Factor: Reforming the Kingdom
- Much of Saudi Arabia’s dramatic transformation can be attributed to the rise of Mohammed bin Salman.
- Since becoming Crown Prince in 2017 and later Prime Minister, MbS has broken away from the kingdom’s conservative past.
- Governance has shifted from a consensus-driven monarchy to a more centralised, top-down model increasing state efficiency while also attracting criticism for authoritarian tendencies.
- This new mode of leadership has enabled sweeping reforms and faster execution of policy goals.
Vision 2030: Economic Diversification and Innovation
- At the core of MbS’s reforms lies Vision 2030, a bold blueprint to reduce the kingdom’s dependence on oil.
- The strategy includes diversifying into tourism, entertainment, and tech — sectors previously unimaginable in the conservative Saudi landscape.
- Initiatives such as the partial privatisation of Aramco and futuristic mega-projects like Neom are not just about economic growth but about rebranding Saudi Arabia as an innovative, investment-friendly hub in the global south.
Cultural Liberalisation and Social Change
- Perhaps the most visible shift under MbS has been social liberalisation. Restrictions on women have eased dramatically, public entertainment has returned, and youth-centric policies have reshaped public life.
- These changes resonate with Saudi Arabia’s largely young population and reflect a deliberate effort to align with global cultural norms.
- The Crown Prince’s push for a “moderate Islam” is particularly significant given Saudi Arabia’s religious standing and the rise of extremism in other parts of the Islamic world.
A More Assertive and Pragmatic Foreign Policy
- Under MbS, Saudi foreign policy has grown more assertive and pragmatic. From military interventions to diplomatic reconciliations, Riyadh has demonstrated a willingness to engage with the world on its own terms.
- The kingdom has diversified its global alliances, building closer ties with China, Russia, and other emerging powers — even joining the expanded BRICS group.
- This shift away from unilateral U.S. dependence indicates Saudi Arabia’s broader ambition to be a key actor in a multipolar global order.
Echoes of India’s Own Geopolitical Strategy
- Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy evolution under MbS mirrors India’s own shift under Modi from reactive to proactive, from ideology to pragmatism.
- Like India, the kingdom is leveraging its strategic geography, economic potential, and diplomatic capital to mediate in regional conflicts and engage with multiple global powers simultaneously.
- This convergence of worldviews creates fertile ground for deeper Indo-Saudi cooperation in shaping the future of the Middle East and the broader global order.
Conclusion:
- Modi’s visit to Saudi Arabia is a milestone not just in bilateral relations, but in the larger context of global realignment.
- It brings into focus two leaders with transformative visions, both steering their nations through significant political, economic, and social changes.
- As Saudi Arabia sheds its old image and embraces a more modern, dynamic role in world affairs, its partnership with a similarly reformist India is set to become a defining feature of 21st-century geopolitics.
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Practice Question: Discuss the evolving nature of India-Saudi Arabia relations in the context of recent geopolitical shifts and internal transformations within the Kingdom under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. (250 Words /15 marks) |
Read more – 21 April 2025 : Indian Express Editorial Analysis
