EAM S Jaishankar Arrives in Riyadh for First India-GCC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

On Sunday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to attend the inaugural India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Upon his arrival, he was welcomed by Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Protocol Affairs, Abdulmajeed Al Smari. Jaishankar is on a two-day visit from September 8-9.

In a post on X, Jaishankar expressed his gratitude, saying, “Arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to take part in the First India – Gulf Cooperation Council Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Thank Abdulmajeed Al Smari, Deputy Minister for Protocol Affairs for the warm reception.”

During his stay, Jaishankar is expected to hold bilateral discussions with foreign ministers from GCC member states. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted the deep and multifaceted relationship between India and the GCC, covering areas such as political, trade, investment, energy cooperation, and cultural and people-to-people ties. The GCC region is a key trading partner for India and is home to around 8.9 million Indian expatriates. The Foreign Ministers’ Meeting aims to strengthen institutional cooperation across various sectors.

Following his visit to Riyadh, Jaishankar will head to Germany for his first bilateral visit to Berlin from September 10-11. India and Germany enjoy a strong strategic partnership, with Germany being one of India’s leading trade partners and significant foreign investors. Jaishankar will meet with the German Federal Foreign Minister, as well as other government officials, to review and enhance bilateral relations.

From Germany, Jaishankar will continue to Geneva, Switzerland, for an official visit from September 12-13. Geneva is home to numerous United Nations bodies and international organizations, and during his visit, Jaishankar will engage with representatives of these organizations. Additionally, he will meet with his Swiss counterpart to further strengthen the partnership between India and Switzerland.