Katchatheevu and Beyond, Islands and India’s New Geopolitics

Context

• Indian foreign policy over the last decade shows that island states and territories from the South Pacific to the African coast have become new nodes in India’s changing strategic geography.

Khorasan

• Greater Khorasan: It is a historical territory in Central Asia that includes portions of Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan. It has a vast and rich history that goes back to ancient times. The name translates to “land of the rising sun” in Persian.
• Khorasan Province (former): This province in northeastern Iran existed until 2004, when it was partitioned into three new provinces. It is roughly equivalent to the western part of the historical Greater Khorasan.

Zomia

• Meaning: The term Zomia refers to a huge, hilly region in Southeast Asia.
• Concept: It is not a recognised country on a map, but rather a geographic and cultural notion. Refers to mainland Southeast Asia’s highlands, which have long been independent of centralized governments.
• Characteristics: Covers a large area (about 2.5 million square kilometres) in numerous countries including Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is home to a wide range of ethnic communities, each with its own language and customs.

Katchatheevu Island

• Political Agenda: Delhi’s surprising focus on Katchatheevu, an island in the narrow strip of waters between India and Sri Lanka, is a part of the ruling government’s determination to break into Tamil Nadu’s electoral map.
• Exploring New Frontiers: Indian foreign policy has developed during the last decade. Island states and territories ranging from the South Pacific to the African coast are now a vital part of India’s evolving strategic map.
• Significance of Islands: Islands have gained importance in India’s geopolitical environment visible in the increased focus on:
  • The Maldives amid maritime issues with China or greater engagement with resource-rich Papua New Guinea, cooperative infrastructure projects in Mauritius to cooperation in the Indian Ocean with Australia.

Embracing the Indo-Pacific Concept

• Origin of the Concept: The notion of the “Indo-Pacific” was first introduced by the late Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo in 2007, during a speech to the Indian Parliament.
• Initial Resistance: Initially, there was opposition in India to the Indo-Pacific notion. Some sceptics saw it as an “American plot” to coerce India into limiting China.
• Formal Adoption: It took more than a decade for India to formally accept the Indo-Pacific concept. In 2018, Prime Minister announced India’s support for the proposal during a speech at Singapore’s annual Shangri La Dialogue. 
• Reasons to Join Indo-Pacific: The deterioration of relations with China, as seen by multiple military crises, and the developing strategic cooperation with the United States were critical reasons in this choice.
• Institutionalization: The concept of the Indo-Pacific area is widely discussed in India. The Quad, its institutional anchor, which includes Australia, India, Japan, and the United States, is a powerful group that demonstrates how these countries collaborate and share common aims.

Rediscovering Europe

• Eurasian Influence: Russia regards Eurasia as its natural realm. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), led by Russia and China, embodies this ideal.
• India’s Involvement: In 2017, India joined the SCO, recognising its interests in continental Asia and strengthening its ties with Russia.
• Expanding Horizons: Initially centred on inner Asia, India’s interest in Eurasia has now expanded to Europe, indicating a significant shift.
• Rediscovering Europe: In recent years, Europe has become more important in India’s foreign relations, a change from previous neglect.

Trade and Agreements

• Trade Dynamics: 

• • between India and Europe is increasing. Despite the lack of a free trade agreement with the EU, there has been a significant growth in trade, investment, and technology exchange. 
    • Europe is India’s second largest commercial partner and third largest export destination.
    • Recently, India signed a free trade agreement with the EFTA, which includes Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

• Partnership Evolution: 

  • France has emerged as a key bilateral partner for India, while Europe as a whole is becoming increasingly important. 
    • India recognises Europe’s variety, viewing the continent as a collection of regions rather than a political monolith.

• New Regional Focus: 

  • Several European regions are of increasing importance for India, notably the Nordic region, the Nordic-Baltic coalition, the Med 9, and the Caucasus. 
    • Plans for an economic corridor between India and Europe via the Middle East, as well as occurrences like the Abraham Accords and the Gaza war, are changing India’s relationship with the region.

• Integrated Perspective: 

  • India’s alliances with the UAE and Saudi Arabia, together with its naval presence in the Red Sea region, are helping to shape a more integrated picture of the Middle East, Africa, the eastern Mediterranean, and the western Indian Ocean. These previously independent regions are now recognised as interrelated.

Shifting Geopolitical Focus

• Revised Priorities: India is moving its focus away from old conceptions such as “South Asia” and towards sub-regional cooperation in the eastern subcontinent and trans-regional collaboration around the Bay of Bengal.
  • Pakistan is pursuing commercial links with China via the CPEC corridor and seeking assistance from the UAE and Saudi Arabia to address economic issues.
• Dynamic Regions: Regions are not static; they fluctuate according to politics and economy. Two new regions gaining importance are “Zomia” and “Khorasan”.
  • As Zomia and Khorasan evolve, India is projected to get increasingly involved because of their strategic importance.

Conclusion

Addressing the stated concerns necessitates a multidimensional approach that includes strategic relationships, regional collaboration, and active participation in changing geopolitical landscapes.

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