India’s West Asia reset, more sinned against than sinning, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• India has increased its diplomatic engagement with West Asia over the past decade, including 15 visits by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to GCC countries.
• India has signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA) with the UAE and Oman, with negotiations underway with the GCC and Israel.
• The GCC is India’s largest socio-economic partner, with over $160 billion in bilateral trade and 10 million diaspora.
• Recent events, including attacks on GCC countries, have led them to seek a better security paradigm beyond the Pax Americana.

Detailed Insights:

• India’s policy reset in West Asia acknowledges the need to serve its national interests by upscaling symbiosis with key countries in the region.
• India has assured GCC countries of its support for their security and stability, prioritizing their concerns during critical times.
• The new approach emphasizes hard diplomacy, moving away from traditional please-all mantras and reflecting India’s growing confidence as an autonomous power.
• Some critics view India’s policy reset as abandoning traditional support for Palestinians and Iran, and surrendering sovereign autonomy.
• The situation in West Asia is volatile, and India should keep its options open, considering the importance of Iran as an oil supplier and strategic ally.
• The potential for GCC states to diversify their security partnerships to countries like India presents an opportunity for India.
• India’s eco-diplomacy should aim to position India as a viable alternative hub to the GCC, which has historically attracted capital and talent from India.

Key Concepts Involved:

• (Gulf Cooperation Council): A regional intergovernmental political and economic union consisting of all Arab states of the Persian Gulf.
• Pax Americana: A term used to describe a period of relative peace in the Western world since the mid-20th century, often associated with the dominance of the United States.
• CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement): A type of free trade agreement that covers a wide range of areas, including trade in goods, services, and investment.

GCC Countries