India’s ‘Israel habit’ meets West Asian realities, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
• The article discusses India's deepening engagement with Israel and its potential impact on its broader West Asian foreign policy.
• West Asia is undergoing significant geopolitical reconfiguration, with Iran demonstrating resilience against sanctions and military strikes.
• India's economic interests, particularly oil imports through the Strait of Hormuz, are directly affected by regional conflicts.
• India sent Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Lt. Gen. Syed Ata Hasnain (retired) to the funeral, signaling a calibrated diplomatic posture.
• The piece argues for India to adopt an independent, architectonic foreign policy rather than an alignment-driven foreign policy.

Detailed Insights:

• India has historically benefited from military technology, know-how, and intelligence expertise from Israel.
• The assumption that Iran is a "sanctions-strangled actor" has been challenged by its retaliatory capabilities and influence in the region.
• The U.S.-Iran confrontation directly impacts India's economy due to the vulnerability of oil import routes in the Gulf.
• Public differences between U.S. and Israeli leadership suggest a potential shift in Washington's strategic calculus in West Asia.
• India's perceived alignment with Israel risks pushing Iran further into a strategic embrace with China and Pakistan.
• The changing political landscape in Europe regarding Israel's actions could impact India's economic ambitions, including the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement.
• India possesses significant leverage due to its strong relations with Gulf states like the UAE and historical ties with Iran.
• India's credibility as a champion of the Global South could be jeopardized by a visible alignment in the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Strait of Hormuz: A critical narrow sea passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, vital for global oil shipments.
• Global South: A term used to refer to countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, often characterized by developing economies and shared historical experiences.
• Architectonic Foreign Policy: A foreign policy approach that actively seeks to shape its strategic environment and define its own role, rather than merely reacting to existing alignments.
• Alignment-driven Foreign Policy: A foreign policy approach that primarily follows and adapts to alliances and strategic alignments forged by other major powers.