[Answered] Critically examine the shift in India’s Middle East policy from ideological slogans to a pragmatism-led ‘diplomacy of interests’. Evaluate how this realism-based approach balances the strategic partnership with Israel against global criticism and regional geopolitical complexities.”

Introduction

With West Asia supplying nearly 60% of India’s crude oil and hosting over nine million Indian expatriates, India’s regional engagement has shifted from ideological posturing to interest-driven multi-alignment amid shifting geopolitics.

From Ideological Posture to Strategic De-hyphenation

1. The Legacy of Ideological Diplomacy: In the Cold War era, India’s West Asia policy was shaped by Non-Alignment and vocal Palestinian solidarity. Though India recognised Israel in 1950, full diplomatic relations were established only in 1992 under P. V. Narasimha Rao. Engagement remained cautious, reflecting domestic political sensitivities and Global South leadership aspirations.
2. De-hyphenation and Strategic Autonomy 2.0: The watershed came with PM’s 2017 standalone visit to Israel, symbolising the de-hyphenation of Israel-Palestine relations. India simultaneously reaffirmed support for a two-state solution while upgrading defence and technology ties with Israel. This reflects “Strategic Autonomy 2.0”, engaging multiple poles without formal alliances, consistent with India’s multi-alignment doctrine.

Drivers of Pragmatic Realism

1. Defence and Technological Synergy: Israel has emerged among India’s top defence suppliers, providing UAVs, missile systems (e.g., Barak-8), and surveillance technologies critical for border security. Counter-terrorism cooperation deepened after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Beyond security, Israel’s expertise in water desalination, agri-tech, and semiconductors aligns with India’s food and climate resilience goals. Innovation-driven cooperation replaces earlier ideological hesitation.
2. Energy Security and Diaspora Imperatives: India’s stakes transcend Israel alone. The Gulf region supplies the bulk of India’s hydrocarbons and remittances exceeding $100 billion annually. Partnerships with United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have expanded into defence, fintech, and infrastructure. This diversification ensures that strengthening Israel ties does not undermine Arab partnerships, a hallmark of calibrated realism.
3. New Geopolitical Architecture: The Abraham Accords reshaped regional alignments, normalising Israel’s relations with several Arab states. India’s participation in the I2U2 and the proposed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) demonstrates comfort within emerging minilateral frameworks. Such platforms expand India’s connectivity and supply-chain ambitions without formal military entanglements.

Balancing Global Criticism and Regional Volatility

1. Managing Normative Pressures: Israel’s military actions in Gaza and tensions with Iran have attracted global scrutiny. India has adopted calibrated diplomacy, abstaining on certain UN resolutions while calling for humanitarian pauses and a two-state solution. This approach avoids overt moral signalling while safeguarding bilateral defence and technology cooperation.
2. Navigating Regional Rivalries: The Middle East remains volatile, US-Iran tensions, Israel-Iran rivalry, and emerging Sunni coalitions pose risks. India maintains engagement with Iran for connectivity (e.g., Chabahar Port) while deepening ties with Israel and Gulf monarchies,  reflecting hedging strategy in complex balance-of-power politics.
3. Risks of Over-Realism: Critics argue excessive proximity to Israel may dilute India’s traditional Global South credentials or alienate domestic constituencies. Energy disruptions from regional escalation remain a structural vulnerability. Hence, realism must be accompanied by diplomatic agility and crisis preparedness.

Evaluation: A Mature Diplomacy of Interests

1. India’s West Asia policy now rests on functional pillars; energy security, diaspora protection, counter-terrorism, defence technology, and connectivity. The earlier “hyphenated” binary has given way to issue-based alignment.
2. Rather than ideological alignment, India practices “issue-based coalitions”, cooperating with Israel on defence, with Gulf states on energy, and with Iran on connectivity, exemplifying pragmatic pluralism.

Conclusion

Foreign policy must blend moral vision with national interest. India’s West Asia realism reflects this synthesis, principled yet pragmatic, autonomous yet adaptive.