New Delhi, Feb 16: In order to deepen the bilateral defence cooperation, the Commander of the Royal Saudi Land Forces, Lieutenant General Fahd Bin Abdullah Mohammed Al-Mutair, held extensive discussions with Indian Army Chief General M M Naravane here. This is the first-ever visit by a serving Royal Saudi Land Forces Commander to India. 

 

 

Terming the current visit as “historic and landmark” the Defence Ministry said here Commander of the Royal Saudi Land Forces, Lieutenant General Fahd Bin Abdullah Mohammed Al-Mutair, arrived in India on Monday. This is the first ever visit by a serving Royal Saudi Land Forces Commander to India and marks a deepening bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries.

 

 

The Army Chief had visited Saudi Arabia in December 2020 in a historic visit which marked the first time that an Indian Army Chief had visited Saudi Arabia. The aim of the visit was to bolster bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries.

 

 

Taking to Twitter, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information of Indian Army, said, "Lieutenant General Fahd Bin Abdullah Mohammed Al-Mutair, Commander, Royal Saudi Land Forces, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia called on General MM Naravane #COAS & discussed ways to further enhance the bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries."

 

Earlier in the day, the commander received the Gaurd of Honour at the majestic South Block Lawns in New Delhi. "Lieutenant General Fahd Bin Abdullah Mohammed Al-Mutair, Commander, Royal Saudi Land Forces, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia received a Guard of Honour at the South Block, New Delhi," said ADG PI.

 

 

The relationship between India and Saudi Arabia has grown owing to common interests in economic prosperity, eliminating the scourge of terrorism and mitigating the effects of climate change. Defence diplomacy forms one of the major tenets of the overall relationship.

 

This bilateral defence cooperation by top government functionaries are part of India’s outreach to West Asia, seen by New Delhi as part of its extended neighbourhood. This effort has bolstered defence and security cooperation, especially in fighting terrorism.