'Sada Tanseeq' joint military exercise between India and Saudi Arabia

The joint military exercise between the armies of India and Saudi Arabia – Sada Tanseeq is going to start in Rajasthan from 29 January 2024. This ‘Sada Tanseeq’ will be organised in Rajasthan from 29 January to 10 February 2024.

• According to the information given by the Indian Army, 'Sada Tanseeq' is the first exercise of its kind to be organised between the two countries.

Purpose of Sada Tanseeq:

• The objective of this exercise is to share the best military activities and experiences between the armies of the two countries. This exercise will promote military cooperation and interoperability between India and Saudi Arabia.
• The objective is to enhance synergy, interoperability and joint skills by learning and sharing best practices between the armies of the two countries.
• This joint exercise will focus on counter-terrorism operations under the UN mandate.
• During this exercise, participants will engage in missions ranging from joint planning, operations, joint tactical exercises.
• This exercise will provide an opportunity to field commanders and soldiers to interact with each other.

Other exercises between India and Saudi Arabia:

• Exercise Al-Mohad Al-Hindi: India and Saudi Arabia conducted their first naval joint exercise  Al-Mohad Al-Hindi.
• Exercise Al-Hindi aims to conduct tactical manoeuvres, search and rescue operations and an electronic warfare exercise to enhance interoperability.

India-Saudi Arabia relations:

• India heavily relies on Saudi Arabia as a primary source of crude oil.
• Saudi Aramco, UAE's ADNOC and Indian public sector oil companies are seeking to set up the world's largest greenfield refinery at Raigarh in Maharashtra.
• Saudi Arabia is India's fourth top trading partner (after the US, China and Japan).
• Bilateral trade was worth US $ 8 billion in the financial year 2021-22.

Indian expatriates in Saudi Arabia:

• In Saudi Arabia, there are 6 million Indians living and working there. They are the biggest group of foreigners. People in Saudi Arabia like them a lot because they are skilled, follow rules and are peaceful and disciplined.
• The Haj pilgrimage is an important part of the friendship between India and Saudi Arabia. In January 2024, India and Saudi Arabia had signed a bilateral agreement in this regard. New Delhi has been allocated a quota of 175,025 pilgrims for the annual Haj pilgrimage in 2024.