India’s Gulf diplomacy: Jaishankar will leave on a 6-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Germany, Switzerland, emphasis on promoting bilateral relations

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will on Sunday embark on a six-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Germany and Switzerland with the larger objective of boosting overall bilateral ties and deliberating on regional and global challenges. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, he will first visit the Saudi capital Riyadh on a two-day visit primarily to attend the first meeting of the India-Gulf Cooperation Council Foreign Ministers. The GCC is an influential grouping that comprises the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait. The total volume of India’s trade with the GCC countries in the financial year 2022-23 was US$ 184.46 billion.

In Riyadh, Jaishankar is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with foreign ministers of several GCC member states. India and the GCC have deep and multifaceted ties, including in the areas of trade and investment, energy, cultural and people-to-people ties, the MEA said. The GCC region has emerged as a major trading partner for India and is home to a large Indian diaspora community, numbering around 8.9 million. India and the GCC have deep and multifaceted ties, including in the areas of trade and investment, energy, cultural and people-to-people ties, the MEA said.

The GCC region has emerged as a major trading partner for India and is home to a large Indian expatriate community, numbering around 8.9 million. The Foreign Ministers’ meeting will be an opportunity to review and deepen institutional cooperation between India and the GCC in various sectors.