India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is back in Saudi Arabia, six years after his last visit. But this trip isn’t just ceremonial—it’s tactical. And it’s landing at a time when the global chessboard is being flipped, tile by tile.
Modi’s arrival in Riyadh this week isn’t about headlines. It’s about realigning India’s foothold in a region that’s suddenly become a hotspot for geopolitical recalibration. The Gulf isn’t just about oil anymore—it’s about influence, trade corridors, and the uncomfortable tug-of-war between Washington and Beijing.
Modi Eyes Riyadh: Trade, Trust, and a Bit of Strategy
Modi’s Saudi trip is coming right when everyone’s watching the Gulf with more than casual curiosity. With the U.S. pulling back and China sliding in, India’s trying to draw its own arc of influence.
He’s not there to start a bromance. He’s there to balance relationships.
Saudi Arabia has been flirting with the East—think Beijing summits, Huawei tech, and oil yuan trades. But now, Trump’s back in the Oval Office, and Riyadh knows it’s time to recalibrate. Washington’s posture is hawkish again, especially toward Chinese allies.
India, positioned just right between the major powers, is stepping into that uncertainty.
IMEC Isn’t Just a Corridor. It’s India’s Calling Card.
India-Middle East-Europe Corridor, or IMEC. If it sounds ambitious, that’s because it is. But more importantly, it’s Modi’s ace card in this region.
Unlike China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which has often left partners entangled in debt, IMEC is pitched as a cleaner, friendlier alternative. A rail-and-port network connecting India to Europe via the Gulf.
The Gulf states like it. Europe likes it. Even Washington seems keen.
• IMEC would link Indian ports to the UAE, then to Saudi Arabia, and finally to Europe through Israel and Greece
• It could slash shipping times, offer redundancy to the Suez chokepoint, and challenge China’s logistics dominance
• Modi is positioning India not just as a customer of Gulf oil, but as a central trade partner
Saudi leaders, watching how Trump’s economic aggression against China affects their eastern bets, are keen to diversify. India fits nicely into that vision.
China Factor: The Elephant Sitting in Every Meeting Room
Let’s not kid ourselves. China is the unspoken guest in every meeting Modi is attending in Riyadh.
For the past few years, Saudi Arabia has been doubling down on ties with Beijing. Energy deals, infrastructure projects, digital surveillance systems—you name it. But the ground is shifting.
Trump has slapped tariffs on Chinese goods again, sent warnings to allies, and basically told Gulf countries: choose wisely.
This creates a tightrope for Riyadh. And that’s where Modi’s visit gets interesting.
Saudi Arabia doesn’t want to abandon China. But it doesn’t want to provoke Washington either. So here comes India—a democratic partner, a rising economic force, and a much less controversial friend.
Personal Diplomacy Still Matters—And Modi Knows It
You can’t discount optics. Modi arrived in Riyadh to fighter jet escorts—one of the highest diplomatic honors.
It was more than ceremony. It was a message.
India’s foreign policy under Modi has been built around personal rapport. Whether it’s with the UAE’s Mohamed bin Zayed or Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Modi invests heavily in face-time.
This isn’t about summit speeches. It’s about those quieter, closed-door moments where the real deals take shape.
Even with a complex topic like the Waqf law controversy back home, Saudi officials seemed careful to distance Modi’s trip from domestic noise. That’s respect—and calculated diplomacy.
Trump’s Return Flips the Table—and India’s Ready to Play
With Trump back in the White House, the Gulf is back under America’s sharp spotlight. The difference this time? India’s not waiting on the sidelines.
Saudi Arabia, which spent much of the Biden years pivoting to China, is now hedging. And that opens a new door for India.
Modi’s team is reading the room—and the calendar. Global elections, shifting alliances, and economic realignments are forcing every country to reassess. India is moving quickly to secure its seat before the music stops.
One sentence stands out from an Indian diplomat traveling with the delegation:
“We’re not just reacting. We’re shaping the game.”
And in this corner of the world, that could make all the difference.
