NEW DELHI, 16 February 2022, (TON): India and Saudi Arabia have determined to further expand their bilateral defence ties via navy exchanges and coaching programs, exploring defence industrial collaborations and procurements, as half of New Delhi’s persevering with upward trajectory in navy ties with the Gulf international locations.

This got here after Royal Saudi Land Forces commander Lt-General Fahd Bin Abdullah Mohammed Al-Mutair held “significant” discussions with Army chief General M M Naravane, amongst others.

A senior officer stated “this is the first-ever visit by a serving Royal Saudi Land Forces commander to India and marks the deepening defence cooperation between the two countries. Gen Naravane had gone to Saudi Arabia in December 2020, the first time that an Indian Army Chief visited the country."

He added “the bilateral relationship has grown because of common interests in economic prosperity, eliminating the scourge of terrorism and mitigating the effects of climate change. Defence diplomacy forms one of the major tenets of the overall relationship.”

India can also be in discussions with international locations like Saudi Arabia and UAE to export BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, which have a strike vary of 290-km, and the Akash air defence missiles, which have an interception vary of 25-km, as was reported by media earlier.