India's West Asia Policy: Evolution, Significance, Cooperation& Challenges

As West Asia witnesses overlapping conflicts and shifting regional alignments, India must pursue a balanced, multi-vector diplomacy to protect its long-term national interests.

Evolution of India’s West Asia Policy
- Non-Alignment (1947–1991): Prioritised Arab solidarity, support for Palestine, energy security, and labour migration under the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
- Strategic Opening (1991–2014): Normalised ties with Israel, expanded engagement with GCC countries, and launched the Look West Policy.
- Multi-Alignment (2014–Present): Adopted the Think West Policy and pursued de-hyphenation, engaging all major regional powers independently.

West Asia Significance for India

Energy Security: The Gulf remains crucial for India’s crude and LNG supply and price stability.
Remittances: ~90 lakh Indians live in the region; remittances from Gulf countries like the UAE.
Maritime Security: India has gained access to the strategically located Duqm port in Oman.
Connectivity & Trade: Chabahar, North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), & India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) aimed at Eurasian access, Central Asia outreach & alternatives to Suez.
Technology: Collaboration with Israel on agri-tech, water management, defence, & start-ups.

India–West Asia Cooperation

Energy Security: West Asia supplies 55–60% of India’s crude oil and nearly 50% of LNG imports, ensuring long-term energy security.
Trade & Investment: Bilateral trade exceeds US$200 billion; United Arab Emirates is India’s 3rd-largest trading partner under the CEPA.
Defence & Security: India co-developed the Barak-8 missile with Israel; 40% of India’s crude imports transit the Strait of Hormuz.
Connectivity: Chabahar Port, the International North-South Transport Corridor and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor strengthen connectivity to Central Asia and Europe, bypassing Pakistan.
Diaspora & Multilateralism: Around 9 million Indians reside in Gulf countries, while I2U2 advances cooperation in food, technology, energy, and innovation.

Challenges in India–West Asia Relations

Strategic Balancing: Balancing defence ties with Israel while maintaining strong partnerships with Arab states and Iran amid regional conflicts.
Sanctions & Energy: US sanctions on Iran constrain energy imports and delay the development of Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor.
Connectivity Challenges: Geopolitical conflicts, Red Sea disruptions, and instability hinder projects like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and regional supply chains.
Chinese Competition: China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and expanding strategic footprint reduce India’s economic and geopolitical influence in West Asia.
Pakistan Factor: Pakistan’s defence ties with Gulf countries and Turkey’s pro-Islamabad stance complicate India’s diplomatic and security interests.

Way Forward for India–West Asia Relations

Strategic Autonomy: Maintain balanced engagement with Israel, Arab states, and Iran through multi-alignment and strategic autonomy.
Economic Integration: Fast-track the India–GCC Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to boost trade, investment, and resilient regional value chains.
Connectivity Expansion: Expedite India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, Chabahar Port and International North-South Transport Corridor to strengthen connectivity and logistics resilience.
Energy Diversification: Diversify crude oil and LNG imports, expand renewable energy cooperation, and strengthen India’s strategic petroleum reserves.
Minilateral Diplomacy: Leverage I2U2, the Abraham Accords, and India–GCC partnerships to deepen technology, connectivity, food, and clean energy cooperation.

“Friends to all, enemies to none” and “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” together define India’s West Asia policy, anchored in strategic autonomy, multi-alignment, and shared prosperity.

Reference: The Indian Express

PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 735

Q. India’s relations with West Asia have undergone a paradigm shift from transactional energy dependence to multidimensional strategic engagement. Examine the drivers of this transformation, the emerging challenges, and the measures required to sustain India’s strategic interests in the region. (250 Words) (15 Marks)

Approach

Introduction: Write a contextual introduction about India–West Asia relations.
Body: Write the key drivers of West Asia’s paradigm shift from transactional energy dependence to multidimensional strategic engagement, the emerging challenges, and the measures required to sustain India’s strategic interests in the region.

Conclusion: Emphasis on multi-alignment, strategic autonomy, and comprehensive partnerships to safeguard India’s long-term interests in West Asia.