Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Kuwait Visit
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Source: The post Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Kuwait Visit  has been created, based on the article “C Raja Mohan writes: What Indian PM’s first visit to Kuwait in four decades means for diplomacy in Middle East” published in “Indian Express on 18th December 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS2- International relations- Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

Context: This article examines the significance of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Kuwait, marking the first visit by an Indian prime minister to the Gulf nation in over four decades. It highlights the strategic importance of the Middle East for India’s security, economic growth, and international diplomacy, particularly in light of the region’s ongoing structural changes.

What is the significance of PM Modi’s visit to Kuwait?

  1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit marks the first by an Indian PM to Kuwait in over four decades, closing a significant gap in India’s diplomatic engagement with the Gulf region.
  2. It underscores the growing importance of the Arab Gulf nations for India’s security and economic prosperity.

How has India’s relationship with Kuwait evolved over time?

  1. Relations were strained during the 1990-91 Gulf War due to India’s affinity for Saddam Hussein’s Iraq.
  2. High-level visits resumed in the 2000s, with Vice President Hamid Ansari visiting Kuwait in 2009.
  3. PM Modi’s visit reflects a definitive shift in priorities, part of a broader engagement with Gulf countries.

How has PM Modi transformed India’s ties with the Gulf region?

  1. Modi has visited the Gulf frequently: seven times to the UAE, twice to Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and once each to Bahrain and Oman.
  2. This frequent engagement contrasts with the limited Gulf visits by his predecessors.
  3. The transformation is evident in strong personal rapport, growing commercial ties, security partnerships, and new connectivity projects.

What geopolitical developments frame the timing of this visit?

  1. The visit coincides with the recent fall of the Assad dynasty in Syria, signaling a potential restructuring of the Middle East.
  2. The decline of Ba’athist regimes, historically supported by India, paves the way for closer ties with moderate Arab monarchies.

What historical challenges have shaped India’s Gulf diplomacy?

  1. India’s post-colonial affinity for Ba’athist republics like Iraq and Syria led to strained relations with conservative Gulf monarchies.
  2. India’s reluctance to condemn invasions by close partners (e.g., Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, or Russia’s invasion of Ukraine) reflects the tension between principles and strategic interests.

How have Gulf monarchies changed in recent years?

  1. Countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE are embracing reforms promoting religious moderation, social modernization, and economic diversification away from oil dependence.
  2. These reforms align with India’s interests, making the Gulf a natural partner.
  3. Pakistan’s influence in the region has diminished, with Arab monarchies prioritizing their ties with India.

How does the fall of the Assad regime affect India-Kuwait relations?

  1. The decline of Ba’athist republics removes a historical hurdle in India’s relationship with Kuwait.
  2. It opens new opportunities for engagement as the Middle East undergoes political restructuring.

What are the broader implications for India’s Middle East diplomacy?

  1. India must better understand the core concerns of moderate Arab states, which include resistance to Ottoman and Persian dominance, opposition to radical Islamist movements, and dissatisfaction with Israel’s stance on Palestine.
  2. The Abraham Accords offer a framework for India to encourage cooperation between Israel and Arab states.

What does this visit mean for India’s role in the Middle East?

  1. Modi’s visit to Kuwait symbolizes a broader effort to deepen India’s ties with moderate Arab states amidst a rapidly changing Middle Eastern order.
  2. It signifies India’s commitment to becoming a key player in the region’s economic and security dynamics.

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