In a rare development, both India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval were present at the Saudi National Day celebrations in Delhi. The development shows the growing closeness between India and Saudi Arabia.
The last time India’s EAM was present at National Day celebration of any country was in 2018 when the then EAM late Sushma Swaraj was the chief guest at Russian National Day at the Russian embassy in Delhi.
Speaking at the 90th National day celebrations, Saudi Arabia’s envoy to India Saud M Al Sati called India a “close friend and an important strategic partner”, one with whom the country has “cultural, socioeconomic engagement and strategic partnership” based on “mutual respect and shared interests.”.
The country is India’s fourth-largest trade partner and a major source of energy as India imports around 18 per…