Saudi Arabia crown prince Mohammed bin Salman is likely to go ahead with his plans to visit India next month amid criticisms from the international communities on his way tackling the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi’s consulate Istanbul on October 2 last year, the media reported on Wednesday.
Apart from visiting India, the crown prince is also likely expected to visit South Korea and China in the month of February, the Nikkei Asian Review business journal has reported from Riyadh while citing some sources.
The report stated: “The Crown Prince has drawn criticism from the international community, especially from the US and Europe, over his handling of the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.”
The report further stated: “He apparently hopes to counter criticism from the US and Europe by deepening energy cooperation with Asia.”
During the visit, he will also inaugurate the new embassy complex in New Delhi, which will be one of its largest embassies worldwide.
Saudi Arabia, considered as the world’s largest exporter of crude oil, is among major countries, energy security partner, of India.
After the United States has imposed sanctions on Iran’s latter’s nuclear programme, the rival of Saudi Arabia, there have been several raised concerns in New Delhi over the energy security of India.
The US sanctions over Iranian exporting crude oil has called on several listed countries to stop importing crude oil from Iran. However, the US president Donald Trump’s administration has also given a temporary exemption to India over this matter.
During the course of his proposed visit to India, the crown prince is expected to further extend Saudi-India energy cooperation, according to the reports.