Modi Saudi Arabia Visit LIVE: PM welcomed with 21 gun salute in Jeddah

LIVE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for a two-day visit at the request of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In a unique gesture, the Royal Saudi Air Force fighter jets escorted the prime minister's plane into the Middle Eastern kingdom.

Before leaving for Jeddah, Modi stated that India values its historic relations with Saudi Arabia and that bilateral relationships between the two countries have grown significantly over the last decade. “I look forward to participating in the 2nd Meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council. I'll also be meeting with the Indian population there," he explained.

In an interview with Arab News prior to his arrival in Jeddah for a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Modi called the West Asian country as "one of India's most valued partners - a maritime neighbour, a trusted friend, and a strategic ally". This is Prime Minister Modi’s third visit to Saudi Arabia in the past decade and the first to the city of Jeddah. The tour comes after Mohammed bin Salman's state visit to India in 2023.