Recent Development in India's Foreign Policy - 2 | PSIR Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

India West Asia Relations

West Asia is a highly sensitive region in international politics, mainly due to its strategic importance, essential resources, and central geography. For India, West Asia holds significant strategic value and is crucial for its security and economic interests. This article aims to analyze India's policy towards West Asia and the key factors shaping its approach.

Strategic Importance of West Asia for India
According to C Rajamohan's concept of three concentric circles in India's foreign policy strategy, West Asia falls under the second concentric circle, the extended neighborhood. The region is vital for India due to several reasons:

• Energy Security: West Asia is a significant source of energy for India, with countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Iraq being major oil suppliers.
• Diaspora and Remittances: There is a considerable Indian diaspora residing in West Asia, particularly in the Gulf countries, contributing significantly to India's foreign exchange through remittances.
• Trade and Investment: West Asia is a significant trade partner and a potential source of investment for India, especially in the context of diversifying economies in the Gulf countries.
• Security and Counter-terrorism: India's security is closely linked to peace and stability in West Asia, and enhanced cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts is crucial to address common threats.

India's Policy towards West Asia

India's policy towards West Asia has been guided by principles of non-intervention, non-judgment, non-prescription, and non-alignment. Some key aspects of India's approach include:

• Balancing Relations with Regional Powers: India has been successful in maintaining good relations with Iran, Israel, and the Gulf countries simultaneously, showcasing its non-aligned approach.
• Support for the Palestinian Cause: India has traditionally supported the Palestinian cause and opposed the creation of Israel on the grounds of secularism and the potential destabilization of the region.
• Focus on National Interest: India's policy towards West Asia has primarily been driven by its national interest, rather than solely catering to the sentiments of its Muslim minority population.
• Engagement with Non-state Actors: India has managed to protect its interests in the region without being directly targeted by non-state actors, by maintaining a cautious approach and avoiding direct involvement in regional conflicts.

Challenges and Recommendations for India's Policy in West Asia

Navigating the complex and volatile political landscape of West Asia is a challenging task for India. However, to safeguard its interests and further enhance its relations with the region, India should consider the following:

• Enhance Economic Cooperation: India should work towards boosting trade, investment, and economic cooperation with West Asian countries, particularly in sectors like infrastructure, renewable energy, and technology.
• Strengthen Security and Counter-terrorism Cooperation: India should deepen its engagement with regional powers in intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism efforts, and capacity building to address common security threats effectively.
• Build on Cultural and People-to-People Ties: India should leverage its strong cultural ties and diaspora presence in the region to foster greater understanding, goodwill, and cooperation with West Asian countries.
• Engage in Multilateral Diplomacy: India should play a more active role in regional organizations and forums concerning West Asia and work towards promoting dialogue, confidence-building, and conflict resolution.

Views of Ishrat Aziz on India's foreign policy

• Ishrat Aziz's views on India's foreign policy, specifically regarding West Asia, emphasize that it is based on national interest and secular considerations, rather than religious factors. India has managed to maintain good relations with countries in the region such as Iran, Israel, and the Gulf countries, demonstrating that religion is not a significant factor in their foreign policy.
• Gulf countries are currently looking to strengthen their relations with India due to the opportunities it presents, such as economic diversification and cheap labor. India also has a strong cultural presence and diaspora in the region, notably in the UAE, where 30% of the population is Indian.
• Former Ambassador Ranjit Gupta characterized India's policy as "non-interventionist, non-judgmental, non-prescriptive, and non-alignment," which has allowed them to avoid taking sides in local conflicts. Aziz believes that India has navigated the challenges of West Asian politics well so far, protecting its interests without becoming a direct target of non-state actors in the region.

There are two schools of thought in India

1. Traditional Policy: Maintain a Low Profile

• Prof. Girijesh Pant: West Asia should not be a place for displaying India's power but rather be a region to augment India's power.
• Former Ambassador Ranjit Gupta: India's foreign policy should be based on the mature recognition of its limits and capabilities. In an unpredictable and volatile environment, India's passivity is appropriate. Silence is golden.

2. Proactive Role: Becoming a Leading Power

• Former foreign secretary S. Jaishankar: India's foreign policy should evolve to match its changed status. India should be a leading power, not just a balancing power. India's 'think west' should match its 'act east'. He argues that India's foreign policy towards West Asia has been driven by market interests rather than strategic considerations, but now it is time to consolidate partnerships.
• C. Raja Mohan: India is emerging as a swing state with the potential to shape outcomes on critical issues.
• Chinmaya Gharekhan: India should abandon its passive approach and raise its diplomatic profile in West Asia.
• Nicolas Blarel: Recommends recalibrating India's Middle East policy by engaging in multiple partnerships. Under the Modi government, India has been able to overcome its attitude of viewing West Asia through the prism of Pakistan.

Achievement in 'Look West' Policy

1. Gulf Countries: Historically, India had neglected its relations with Saudi Arabia and the UAE. However, in recent years, India has entered into strategic partnerships with these countries, significantly strengthening its ties. India also enjoys good relations with Qatar, as evidenced by Prime Minister Modi's visit to the nation.
2. Iran: India has always tried to consolidate its relations with Iran, but they have never reached their optimal potential. Iran's aspirations to become the leader in the Muslim world compel it to take a pro-Pakistan approach on the Kashmir issue. Moreover, India's growing closeness to the US makes it difficult for it to maintain equity in its relationship with Iran. However, there is still potential for growth in India-Iran relations.
3. Israel: India always had close relations with Israel, but the relationship was never openly acknowledged. It was only in 1992 that India established full diplomatic relations with Israel. Under Prime Minister Modi, India's relationship with Israel has become more transparent and confident. Israel is crucial for India's conventional and non-conventional security, as it provides high technology weapons at a lower cost and has expertise in servicing Soviet weapons and controlling cross-border terrorism. Israel is also important for India's food security, as it has expertise in dryland farming. However, India cannot regard Israel as its natural ally, as it is placed in a different security situation and has no common enemies.
4. Turkey: India has traditionally not enjoyed good relations with Turkey, mainly due to Turkey's aspirations to be a leader in the Muslim world, its alliance with the US, and its semi-authoritarian government with strong military influence. However, under Modi's government, India has tried to restart engagement with Turkey through a more pragmatic approach, reminding Turkey of its own complicated relations with its neighbors.

Conclusion

In conclusion, West Asia holds significant strategic value for India in terms of energy security, diaspora and remittances, trade and investment, and security and counter-terrorism cooperation. India's policy towards the region has been marked by a non-interventionist, non-judgmental, and non-aligned approach, successfully balancing relations with regional powers such as Iran, Israel, and the Gulf countries. To further enhance its relations with West Asia, India should focus on boosting economic cooperation, strengthening security ties, building on cultural connections, and engaging in multilateral diplomacy.