Royal escort: Saudi fighter jets escort PM Modi’s plane in special gesture - Watch

NEW DELHI: A rarest special gesture caught everyone's attention when Saudi fighter jets escorted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's plane as it entered Saudi airspace to Jeddah.

This is the rarest moment which represents the strong partnership and friendship between India and Saudi Arabia.
PM Modi, who is en-route to Jeddah, will stay in Saudi Arabia during his two-day official visit. Ahead of his visit, PM Modi hailed Saudi Arabia and described the Kingdom as “a trusted friend, strategic ally and one of the most valued partners for India."
PM Modi also said that the partnership between India and Saudi Arabia has "limitless potential,” Modi said in an exclusive interview with Arab News.
Invited by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, this trip will be PM Modi’s third to the Kingdom after earlier visits in 2016 and 2019. It comes as part of the ongoing high-level diplomatic engagements between the two nations, following the Crown Prince’s own state visit to New Delhi for the G20 Summit in September 2023.
PM Modi and the Crown Prince will co-chair the second meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council during the visit. According to Indian Ambassador Suhel Ajaz Khan, a large number of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed, with key discussions centred on strengthening economic ties, bolstering defence cooperation and addressing regional political challenges.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jeddah, India and Saudi Arabia are set to sign at least six MoUs on Tuesday, with talks ongoing to finalize more. Key agreements are expected in space, energy, health, science, culture, and advanced technology, news agency PTI reported quoting sources.