National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited Saudi Arabia and held talks with Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan about enhancing “energy security” and protecting “sea lanes.”
The visit comes amid rising tensions in West Asia, with concerns about disruption to major shipping routes and energy supplies in the wake of the ongoing conflict between the US and Iran.
According to the Saudi Foreign Ministry, Doval met with Prince Faisal in Riyadh on Monday. During the meeting, bilateral relations were reviewed and ways to enhance the strategic partnership between the two countries were discussed.
This is Duval’s third visit to the Kingdom this year.
“They also discussed the latest regional developments and efforts to enhance energy security and protect sea lanes,” the ministry posted on the X website.
The meeting was attended by Saudi Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Saud Al-Sati.
Duval’s visit comes amid rising tensions in the region after Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen announced a “maritime embargo” against Saudi Arabia, saying they would block Saudi ships in the Bab al-Mandab Strait in response to what they described as Riyadh’s blockade of ports and airports in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
Saudi Arabia rejected this claim and said that it would take all necessary measures to protect its ships in accordance with international law.
This development has heightened concerns about the security of key global shipping routes at a time when traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has already been disrupted by the ongoing US-Iran conflict.
Duval had previously visited Riyadh in February and again in April, where he held talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal, Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and National Security Advisor Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban.
India and Saudi Arabia share close strategic and economic relations. About 2.6 million Indians live and work in Saudi Arabia, the largest expatriate community in the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia is also among the largest suppliers of crude oil to India.
Doval’s latest visit comes as India intensifies its diplomatic engagement with Gulf states amid continued regional instability, with New Delhi focusing on protecting energy supplies, securing vital sea lanes and ensuring the safety of Indian citizens and sailors in the region.
