India-Saudi Arabia Defense Ties Blossom

Even as India refuses to join the U.S.-led sanctions regime on Iran, New Delhi is simultaneously cementing ties with Tehran’s long-standing rival, Saudi Arabia.

Last month saw the first-ever visit by an Indian defense minister to the kingdom in a move that signals as much New Delhi’s willingness to emerge as a net provider of security to Saudi Arabia as Riyadh’s desire to look beyond Pakistan for its security needs.

At a deeper level, the visit underscored the fact that the Gulf Cooperation Council -- of which Saudi Arabia is the largest constituent -- and India now view each other as indispensable enough not to let the absence of a formal security agreement get in the way of building broad-spectrum ties.

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