New Delhi: India and Saudi Arabia conducted the seventh meeting of the Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation (JCDC) in New Delhi on Thursday, during which they discussed ways to strengthen defense ties. It was co-chaired by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad from the Indian side and Staff Maj Gen Saad Mohammed H Alkathiri from the Saudi side.
Both parties reaffirmed their desire to deepen bilateral military cooperation and welcomed the implementation of the majority of the major decisions made during their last meeting. According to the Ministry of Defense, the preceding JCDC conference took place.
With the goal of reinforcing security connections and investigating new avenues of collaboration, the two nations engaged in talks on topics including training cooperation, military technology, and joint exercises. Partnerships, maritime collaboration, and military activities, the ministry said, are all examples.
Both parties discussed their training capabilities and demands.
Furthermore, the ministry emphasised that India offered to train Saudi Armed Forces and addressed collaboration in cyber, IT, catastrophe management, and tactical communication.
The Indian side emphasized India's rising strength in defense manufacturing and displayed Made-in-India state-of-the-art equipment. Opportunities for cooperative production and collaboration in military technology with Saudi Arabia were investigated. The cochairs commended the successful completion of Navy and Army Staff Talks this year and resolved to continue the discussions, according to the ministry.
India and Saudi Arabia have a gradually developing defense alliance. This is reflected in the creation of a Ministerial Committee on Defence Cooperation under the Strategic Partnership Council during the Prime Minister's trip to Saudi Arabia. The ministry said that Saudi Arabia would host the event in April 2025.
