New Delhi: In a surprise one-day visit, National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval’s visited Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Monday (April 20) as part of an outreach programme by the Union government amidst the ongoing tensions in West Asia. He held talks with his counterpart, National Security Adviser Musaed Al-Aiban, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), The Hindu reported.The trip, announced late on Sunday night (April 19) by the MEA following the NSA’s meetings with a number of senior ministers, was reportedly on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s instructions.“On the directions of the Prime Minister, our outreach to countries in the Gulf continues,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a press briefing on Monday. “These meetings were helpful to exchange views and review bilateral ties, and also exchange views on the regional situation and other issues of mutual interest,” he said.In another press briefing on Tuesday, Jaiswal said that India has been following the developments in West Asia “very closely”. “We continue to follow developments in the West Asia region very closely. We have also maintained our outreach to countries in the Gulf region, as directed by the Prime Minister. You would have seen that two days ago, our National Security Advisor visited Saudi Arabia. Prior to that, our External Affairs Minister visited the UAE, and our Minister of Petroleum visited Qatar,” he said.“In addition, the Commerce and Industry Minister of India has had several interactions with his counterparts in the Gulf region. All these efforts are aimed at addressing key issues that both India and the countries in the Gulf are grappling with, including energy, the diaspora, and other matters of mutual interest and concern,” he added.Doval also met Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, energy minister Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, and both princes in the Saudi royal family in Riyadh. He was received at the airport by Saudi Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Saud Al Sati, who has been the Saudi Ambassador to India for nearly a decade from 2012-2021.Hon’ble NSA Shri Ajit Doval paid an official visit to Riyadh on April 19.He was received at the Airport by Ambassador Dr Suhel Khan and Deputy Minister for Political Affairs @KSAmofaEN H.E. Ambassador Dr. Saud Al-Sati.Later, he had meetings withEnergy Minister H.R.H. Prince… pic.twitter.com/VTz7LJAOFu— India in Saudi Arabia (@IndianEmbRiyadh) April 19, 2026The talks were described as a critical exchange of views on regional instability and a step toward cementing bilateral ties, involving the four “key pillars” essential to the India-Saudi relationship.In a statement, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the talks between the Saudi foreign minister and Doval reviewed areas of India-Saudi cooperation, “alongside a discussion of the latest developments in the regional situation and an exchange of viewpoints regarding it”.India has stepped up its diplomatic outreach amid the uncertainties in the Strait of Hormuz and rising concerns over maritime security. According to The Hindu, it is also being seen as India’s efforts to shore up ties with the major oil and gas suppliers amidst a possible energy crisis.Doval’s visit also comes amid speculations of second round of talks between the US and Iran in Pakistan to put an end to the West Asia situation started by US-Israeli attacks on Iran. The first round of talks between the US and Iran happened on April 11-12 in Islamabad but failed to achieve an agreement.Amid the regional spillovers in Lebanon, Syria and Yemen, India has so far maintained a calibrated stance. The MEA has also highlighted that active contact with stakeholders, including Israel, Palestine, and Iran, was essential to protect India’s “strategic and economic interests” in this geopolitical situation.Just last week, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar made a two-day trip to the United Arab Emirates. This was on the same day as the first direct US-Iran talks since 1979 got under way in Islamabad. Meanwhile, energy minister Hardeep Singh Puri visited Doha, Qatar, earlier this month, seeking stability in global markets and stronger ties with India’s major oil and gas suppliers amidst a possible energy crisis.