Bangladesh, April 29 -- Despite the abrupt end to Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Saudi Arabia following the horrific violence in Pahalgam, the single day he spent in Jeddah with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was enough to mark a dramatic advancement in the already rapidly growing ties between India and the Kingdom. The meetings, agreements, and joint statements made clear that the bilateral trade relationship has reached an unprecedented level of depth and ambition – one built on mutual trust, expanding economic interests, and a shared desire for stability in an increasingly volatile global and regional environment.

The tone of the summit was set by the subtitle of the joint communiqué: “A Historic Friendship,...