Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's landmark visit to Jeddah strengthened the friendship between India and Saudi Arabia, with a focus on defense cooperation. The visit marked Modi's first to the Red Sea port city and his third visit to Saudi Arabia in a decade. The visit included the second meeting of the India-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council, which has become a vital platform for cooperation in politics, security, trade, and culture. The leaders discussed expanding naval exercises and strengthening security partnerships, particularly in maritime and cybersecurity domains. Bilateral trade between the two countries surged to $52 billion in 2023-24, and both sides are exploring new areas of cooperation, including green hydrogen, emerging technologies, and infrastructure.