Jaishankar Arrives In Riyadh for First India-GCC Foreign Ministers' Meeting

During his visit, Jaishankar is expected to engage in bilateral meetings with foreign ministers from the GCC member countries

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Sunday arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to participate in the inaugural India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

Upon arrival, Jaishankar, who is on a two-day visit, was welcomed by Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Protocol Affairs, Abdulmajeed Al Smari. In a post on X, Jaishankar expressed his gratitude for the reception, stating, “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,” he added.

During his visit, Jaishankar is expected to engage in bilateral meetings with foreign ministers from the GCC member countries. These discussions aim to enhance cooperation and deepen ties between India and the Gulf region, according to a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) release.

“The GCC region has emerged as a major trading partner for India and is home to a large Indian expatriate community, numbering around 8.9 million. The Foreign Ministers meeting will be an opportunity to review and deepen institutional cooperation between India and the GCC across various sectors,” an MEA release had stated.