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Q1. For decades, India was a passive player in West Asia. Considering the significance of West Asia for India, critically comment on India and West Asia relations. (250 words, 15 Marks)
Approach:
- Introduction: Provide a brief background on India and West Asia relations.
- Body:
- Highlight the significance of West Asia with respect to India.
- Mention the challenges in India and West Asia relations.
- Conclusion: Conclude with a futuristic approach.
Answer:
West Asia includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Georgia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. India and West Asia have powerful historical and cultural links. Bilateral trade, which has been going on for centuries, has substantially benefited both parties by advancing their mutual understanding.
Spices, foodstuffs, jewellery, textiles, muslin, and other items flowed from India toward the
Arab region, while pearls and dates were exported from the Gulf region. The Arabs served as a conduit to the West, taking Indian expertise like numerals and trading.
India and West Asia Relations
- To accommodate the three major players in West Asia—Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Israel—the bi directional strategy has been enlarged to a tri-directional foreign policy in the post-Soviet era.
- In 2005, India implemented the Look West policy, which did not see any fruition. The Look West Policy now concentrates on three primary axes:
- The nations of the Arab Gulf
- Israel
- Iran
- Energy, trade, and the safety of the Indian people in the region are just a few of the significant interests India has in the area.
Significance of West Asia with respect to India:
- West Asia provides 70% of India’s energy imports.
- Gateway to Central Asia, which is landlocked and abundant in energy.
- Interdependence between India and the GCC nations is growing as their economic links advance more quickly.
- India is the largest beneficiary of international remittances from West Asia, which is vital to the country’s development.
- Nearly 70% of all Indians who live abroad reside in six countries in West Asia: Bahrain, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
- The third-largest Muslim population in the world, which resides in India, regards Saudi Arabia as a significant place of pilgrimage.
- India has invested in Iran’s Chabahar port, which is anticipated to serve as a commerce bridge
connecting India, Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia.
- India and Israel have a strong defence and security relationship, which is beneficial for India’s security and military modernisation initiatives.
- The Indo-Pacific maritime area of India includes West Asia as a whole.
The issues in India – West Asia relations
- Since the Arab Spring began in December 2010, the security situation in West Asia has been steadily deteriorating. Like the problems in Syria, Yemen, and Iraq.
- The situation has worsened due to the engagement of non-regional actors like the USA and Russia in domestic disputes in West Asia.
- The most alarming development is the expansion of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
- The economic sanctions of the USA on Iran and its impact on the Iran nuclear agreement place India in a very dicey situation.
One of the world’s most unstable and delicate regions, West Asia is characterised by historical injustices, intra-regional conflicts, and competition for religious supremacy and allegiance. India travels its road with extreme caution and impartiality. Almost all of the countries in the region now trust India because of this, and they see it as a reliable friend and partner.
