Gulf Research Center 95 Realizing the Indo-Saudi “Strategic Partnership”: An Analysis of the Leading Drivers Realizing the Indo-Saudi “Strategic Partnership”: An Analysis of the Leading Drivers Robert Mason India, along with China, Ja pan and South Korea, merits attention in its relationship with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, and Saudi Arabia in particular, due to its growing economic proile. Although India has had a close relationship with many of the Middle East states for centuries, it is only since 2005 that the Indo-Saudi relationship has experienced a renaissance in the political sphere. Prior to this, there was a budding bilateral relationship evident from oicial visits such as those of King Saud to India in 1955 and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to the Kingdom in 1956. 1 here was then a “communication gap” for the 26 years up to 1982 when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited Riyadh. 2 he Indo-Saudi relationship was also afected during this time by India’s support for Egypt under Nasser, its ties with Communist Russia, Iraq, and others in North Africa and West Asia. he relationship froze during the Cold War when there were close Saudi-US 1. “Indo-Saudi Relations,” Indian Ministry of External Afairs, available at http://meaindia.nic.in/ meaxpsite/foreignrelation/saudi.pdf 2. A. K. Pasha, “India, Iran and the GCC States: Common Political and Strategic Concerns,” in India, Iran and the GCC States: Political Strategy and Foreign Policy (New Delhi: Manas Publications, 2000), 232. 7