NSA Ajit Doval's Saudi Arabia Visit: Gaza Peace Plan and Defence Ties on the Agenda
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National Security Adviser Ajit Doval arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday for a previously unannounced visit, amidst growing tensions in the Middle East. The visit comes on the heels of Deputy National Security Adviser Pavan Kapoor's trip to Iran and is seen as an opportunity for the Saudi side to brief India on the kingdom's recently concluded defence pact with Pakistan. According to sources, Doval's visit is also expected to focus on the Gaza Peace Plan, a key development in the region. The Saudi government recently condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and the Red Fort terror incident, and the two sides will likely discuss ongoing security cooperation and the threat posed by terror groups globally. This visit is significant, as it marks the first high-level visit from India to Saudi Arabia since the kingdom signed a mutual defence agreement with Pakistan last September. The trip also comes just over two weeks after UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed's visit to India, during which the two sides agreed to strengthen their strategic defence partnership and double bilateral trade to $200 billion. Additionally, Saudi Arabia recently attended the India-Arab foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi, which backed a two-state solution to the Palestinian issue. The visit is expected to further strengthen India's ties with Saudi Arabia and explore new avenues for cooperation.
