Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: THE 7th meeting of the IndiaSaudi Arabia Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation (JCDC) was held on August 28, with both sides agreeing to expand collaboration in training, industrial partnerships, maritime security and military exercises.
The talks were co-chaired by Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence Amitabh Prasad and Staff Maj Gen Saad Mohammed H Alkathiri from the Saudi side.
The two sides reviewed progress made since the last JCDC meeting and expressed satisfaction that most of the significant decisions taken earlier had been implemented. They also discussed training capabilities and cooperation in new areas such as cyber security, information technology, disaster management and tactical communication.
India offered to provide training to Saudi armed forces personnel, while also highlighting its growing defence manufacturing sector. The Indian delegation showcased state-ofthe-art equipment under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, and both sides explored opportunities for joint production and industrial partnerships. The co-chairs noted the successful conduct of the Navy and Army Staff Talks this year and agreed to continue such exchanges.
India and Saudi Arabia’s defence partnership has been expanding steadily, with a Ministerial Committee on Defence Cooperation added under the Strategic Partnership Council during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Riyadh in April 2025.
