On Strengthening of India’s Ties with the Gulf

Source: This post on Strengthening of India’s Ties with the Gulf has been created based on the article “C Raja Mohan writes: In closer ties with the Gulf, a significant win for Indian diplomacy” published in “Indian Express” on 14^th February 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2 International Relations – Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

News: The article discusses the achievements of India’s diplomacy in the Gulf. It also mentions the factors behind the transformation of India-Gulf relations. On Strengthening of India’s Ties with the Gulf

Background:

The Prime Minister is on a visit to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

What have been the achievements of India’s diplomacy in the Gulf?

1. Inauguration of the BAPS temple in Abu Dhabi: A large Hindu temple would be built in the deeply Islamic and conservative Arabian peninsula with full state support.
2. Release of 8 Indian ex-naval personnel by Qatar.

What are the factors behind the transformation of India-Gulf relations?

1) Diplomatic Effort: For a long time, the Middle East did not figure in the political priorities of Indian diplomacy. However, since 2014, PM has travelled 15 times to the Middle East. Developing a personal connection with the emirs was also undertaken.

2) Political Efforts: Earlier India showed little interest in Arab political and economic life. That has changed through the setting up of the I2U2 group in 2022 and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.

3) Dropping the Religious Lens in Diplomacy: Earlier, there was an overestimation of the religious factor binding the Gulf and Pakistan, and an underestimation of the depth of goodwill in Arabia for India and the desire for greater cooperation. This approach has been discarded.

4) Strategic Economic Cooperation: India’s focus in the past was on oil purchases, labour exports, and hard currency remittances. The potential of the Gulf to accelerate India’s economic growth has now started receiving attention. This has opened unlimited possibilities for long-term economic partnerships with India.

5) Defence Collaboration: The Gulf countries are trying to diversify their defence partnerships amid the shifting regional geopolitics and are looking to India to act as a regional security provider. The scale and scope of India’s military exchanges with the Gulf have grown.

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Question for practice:

India-Gulf relations have been strengthening over the years. What are the factors behind the transformation of India-Gulf relations?