18 December 2024 : Indian Express Editorial Analysis

1. Closing the Gulf circle    

(Source: Indian Express; Section: The Ideas Page; Page: 11)

Topic: GS2 – International Relations

Context

Modi’s visit to Kuwait highlights India’s expanding diplomatic ties with the Gulf, aligning with regional shifts and strategic priorities.

 Historic Context and Significance of the Visit

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kuwait marks the first by an Indian Prime Minister in over four decades, symbolizing a decisive closure of gaps in India’s engagement with the Gulf region.
• The visit follows a transformative decade in India-Gulf relations, with Modi spearheading increased connectivity, commercial cooperation, and security partnerships.
• It coincides with the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, hinting at a potential restructuring of Middle Eastern geopolitics.
• This visit reflects India’s renewed commitment to fostering strategic ties in a region pivotal to its energy security, economic interests, and expatriate population.

India’s Gulf Diplomacy: From Hesitation to Strategic Priority

• India’s approach to the Gulf has historically been shaped by its alignment with Ba’athist republics like Saddam Hussein’s Iraq and Hafez al-Assad’s Syria, prioritizing radical pan-Arabism and anti-imperialism over deeper ties with Gulf monarchies.
• This created friction during key moments, such as the Gulf War of 1990-91, when India’s reluctance to condemn Iraq’s aggression against Kuwait strained relations.
• However, under Modi, there has been a qualitative transformation, as evidenced by his frequent visits and high-level engagement with Gulf states, culminating in a strategic shift that emphasizes partnerships over past ideological biases.

Shifting Geopolitical Realities

• The fall of the Assad regime underscores the decline of authoritarian Ba’athist republics, which have often been more repressive than Gulf monarchies.
• The latter, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, are emerging as modernizing forces in the region, promoting religious moderation, social reforms, and economic diversification.
• This pivot aligns closely with India’s strategic priorities, fostering natural synergies in energy, trade, and security cooperation.
• The diminishing role of Pakistan in Gulf politics further simplifies India’s engagement, as Gulf monarchies increasingly value ties with New Delhi.

Towards a Comprehensive Middle East Policy

• India’s evolving relationship with the Gulf demands nuanced understanding of the regional dynamics.
• This includes addressing the contradictions between moderate Arab states and non-Arab powers like Iran, Israel, and Turkey.
• While India supports the Abraham Accords, it also recognizes the need for Israel to address Palestinian concerns, which could facilitate deeper cooperation between Arab states and Israel.
• Modi’s visit to Kuwait serves as a crucial step in aligning India’s Middle East policy with the region’s changing realities.

Conclusion

• Modi’s visit to Kuwait symbolizes India’s maturing engagement with the Gulf, reflecting a broader strategic vision for the Middle East amidst deep structural changes.
• By prioritizing partnerships with moderate Arab states and leveraging its unique position as a bridge between competing regional interests, India positions itself as a pivotal player in the evolving geopolitical landscape of the Gulf.

Gulf Region

The lands around the Persian Gulf are shared by 8 countries namely, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These all eight countries are members of the United Nations. UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Out of the Persian Gulf countries, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, UAE and Saudi Arabia are members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Strategic Importance: The Persian Gulf is one of the most strategically important regions globally. This is due to two main reasons. Oil and Gas Reserves: The Persian Gulf region holds the world’s largest proven reserves of oil and natural gas. This has made the region a vital source of energy for many countries worldwide. Strategic Location: The Persian Gulf is a crucial shipping lane for oil exports from the region to other parts of the world. The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, is a chokepoint through which a significant portion of the world’s oil travels.

Practice Question: Discuss the significance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kuwait in the context of India’s evolving Gulf diplomacy and the shifting geopolitical landscape of the Middle East. (250 words/15 m)