Saudi Arabia is one of India's key strategic partners in the Middle-East. The overall relations between the two countries have witnessed a significant upward trajectory in the last few years. The two sides have also been focusing on strengthening their defence and security partnership. The then Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane visited Saudi Arabia in December 2020 in the first-ever visit by a head of the 1.3 million-strong Army to the important Gulf nation.