On India-Qatar relations – Qatar Questions

Source: This post on India-Qatar relations has been created based on the article “Qatar Questions” published in The Times of India on 27^th October 2023.

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

News: This article discusses the recent challenge for Indian foreign policy in the wake of a Qatari court sentencing 8 former Indian navy personnel to death.

Aspects of India-Qatar bilateral relations have been discussed in detail here: https://forumias.com/blog/india-qatar-and-the-continuing-saga-of-eight-detained-ex-indian-navy-officers/

What was the reason for the sentencing?

The precise charges remain unknown.

Various news reports suggest that they were arrested for allegedly leaking classified information related to a high-value Qatari submarine project.

There is also speculation in some news reports that the receiver of the classified information was Israel.

What makes the situation challenging?

1) Secrecy of the trial: The precise nature of charges is not yet known.

2) India’s investments in bilateral relations: India has invested a lot to improve bilateral relations with Qatar, in line with India’s greater engagement with other Gulf states.

3) Qatar’s geopolitical standings: Qatar also hosts a plethora of opposition and militant movement leaders from the Islamic world, including from Palestinian Hamas, Muslim Brotherhood, and Taliban.

4) Interests of global and regional powers: Qatar houses American and Turkish military-bases and simultaneously has a working relationship with Iran.

5) Soft power: In the government-owned Al Jazeera broadcaster, Doha has an opinion-influencer in the region.

6) Fuel exports to India: India is one of the largest importers of Qatari gas.

7) Large Indian diaspora: 800,000 Indians live and work in Qatar.

India will have to tread very carefully as it tries to help the ex-navy personnel.

Question for practice:

India’s outreach in the Gulf has received a setback in the form of the recent diplomatic row with Qatar. In this context, analyse the challenges in India’s bilateral relations with Qatar.