NSA Doval met Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal Bin Farhan. Photo credit: X/@IndianEmbRiyadh
National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval’s surprise one-day visit to Riyadh was part of an outreach by the government amid a tense phase of the West Asian conflict and was on the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
The NSA visit was announced late on Sunday (April 19, 2026) night by the MEA, at the end of his meeting with a number of senior ministers. In Riyadh, Mr. Doval held talks with his counterpart, National Security Adviser Musaed Al-Aiban. He also met Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, both princes of the Saudi royal family. He was received at the airport by Saudi Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Saud Al Sati, who was earlier the Saudi ambassador to India for about ten years from 2012-2021.
Published – 20 Apr 2026 10:59 IST
