India, Saudi Arabia Explore Joint Military Hardware Manufacturing

India and Saudi Arabia discussed the expansion of the rising defence and strategic partnership in New Delhi. They focused on the joint manufacturing of military hardware as a key area of cooperation.

This occasion marked the meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation (JCDC), co-chaired by Indian side’s Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad and Saudi side’s Maj. Gen. Saad Mohammed H. Alkathiri.

The conversation, according to the Ministry of Defence, covered a wide range of topics such as industrial collaboration, training programs, maritime cooperation, and joint military exercises. Advanced training by Indian armed forces to the Saudi counterparts was proposed by India while the collaboration in areas like cyberspace, information technology, tactical communications, and disaster management was furthered.

“There were drives to explore the opportunities of joint manufacturing and cooperation in the production of defence equipment with Saudi Arabia,” stated the Ministry of Defence while emphasizing the mutual agreement of both parties to deepen industrial-military relations.

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The ministry also informed about the progress made in defense engagement between India and Saudi Arabia, which has been further institutionalized by setting up a ministerial-level committee on defence cooperation under the Strategic Partnership Council during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Riyadh in April.

Such a stage in the dialogue demonstrates that both parties share a common vision of moving beyond conventional defense exchanges to cooperate in the co-development and co-production thus making India and Saudi Arabia the key strategic partners in the changing scenario of global security.