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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, eager to strengthen his ties with Asian allies, has arrived in India for a two-day visit, while there is more and more waiting for new agreements. Investment following a highly publicized trip at Pakistan.
The Saudi Crown Prince, also known as the MBS, was greeted at the Delhi airport by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hugged him.
On Wednesday, Prince Mohammed is expected to meet with Modi, who received Saudi Arabia's highest civilian honor, King Abdulaziz Sash.
"Trade and investment, defense and security, including the fight against terrorism and renewable energies" will be discussed at the meeting of the Crown Prince with Modi, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India stated.
#WATCH Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, upon his arrival in India. pic.twitter.com/huwzGrPhFG
– ANI (@ANI) February 19, 2019
The two sides should also discuss the investment of Saudi oil giant Saudi Aramco in refineries in India, including the company's blocked project to build a $ 44 billion facility on the west coast of India.
Devendra Fadnavis, chief minister of the state of Maharashtra, announced Monday that the Indo-Saudi project would be moved to a new location after Farmers demonstrations who protested against the acquisition of land.
Energy supply
India's links with Saudi Arabia have grown considerably over the last two decades. Home to more than 2.7 million Indian expatriates, t The kingdom is India's fourth largest trading partner with a bilateral trade of 28 billion dollars.
Riyadh is also India's largest source of energy supply, providing 20% of its crude oil.
"India, a major consumer of oil, and Saudi Arabia, one of the main producers, constitute an obvious synergy", Manoj Joshi, of the Observer Research Foundation think tank based in New Delhi, told Al Jazeera.
"Indian companies [organisations]qualified staff and managers already play an important role in Saudi Arabia. The Saudis, in turn, hope to play a role in India 's growth by soon becoming investors in the National Fund for Investment and Infrastructure. Investments in non-oil sectors in India are also part of the Saudi economic strategy, "he added.
In November, the powerful Crown Prince and heir to the throne announced that he was about to finalize an initial investment in the Indian National Investment and Infrastructure Fund, quasi-sovereign wealth fund, intended to accelerate the construction of ports, highways and others in India.
Pakistan links
Saudi Arabia has also long been a source of financial badistance for Pakistan, its rival with nuclear weapons, Pakistan.
Tensions between Indian and Pakistani neighbors have grown since last week following an attack that claimed the lives of at least 42 Indian paramilitary policemen in Kashmir administered by the United States. India.
On Sunday, during the MBS visit to Pakistan, Saudi Arabia signed $ 20 billion worth of investment agreements with the South Asian country.
"The relationship between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan is different," said Joshi. "Islamabad regards Saudi Arabia as a coreligator and even a leader of the Islamic world, Indian relations are based on a concrete partnership of two sovereign states."
MBS's trip to Asia includes a visit to China, its last stop, where it is expected to announce increased cooperation under the Beijing Belt and Roads Initiative, a modern revival of the ancient Route de la Chine. Silk.
#Saudi Heir prince #BinSalman #MBS no welcome in #India
Demonstration of thousands of people against his visit.
He is a sponsor of #Wahhabi Terrorism @MEAIndia@HMOIndia @PMOIndia #IndiaRejectsMBS pic.twitter.com/hLjwLmVadY– MSO FROM INDIA (@msoofindia) February 18, 2019
The Saudi leader is grappling with a major political crisis following the badbadination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul in October.
Joshi said the trip to India "would help a little" in attempts to revamp the international image of Saudi leaders.
On Monday, hundreds of people protested in New Delhi against the Saudi army attack in Yemen and Khashoggi's murder.
"Saudi Arabia guilty of war crimes in Yemen, civilians and children died because of war criminal Mohammed bin Salman . The Indian government should not welcome him on the red carpet, "Shujaat Ali Quadri, organizer of the protests in New Delhi and spokesperson for All India Tanzeem Ulema e-Islam told Al Jazeera.
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