{"id":40655,"date":"2023-09-25T21:22:36","date_gmt":"2023-09-25T15:52:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=current-affairs&#038;p=40655"},"modified":"2023-11-17T12:03:35","modified_gmt":"2023-11-17T06:33:35","slug":"west-asia-countries","status":"publish","type":"current-affairs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/west-asia-countries","title":{"rendered":"India&#8217;s Diplomacy with West Asia Countries | PWOnlyIAS 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/india.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-40766\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/india-300x169.png\" alt=\"west Asia Countries\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/india-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/india-1024x577.png 1024w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/india-768x433.png 768w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/india-360x203.png 360w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/india-1536x865.png 1536w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/india-1568x883.png 1568w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/india.png 1640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Subject: GS:02: International Relations\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>News Source: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/lead\/india-and-the-great-power-contest-in-west-asia\/article67335615.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Hindu<\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>Context:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>West Asia<\/b> <b>countries <\/b>are a part of <b>India\u2019s extended neighbourhood<\/b>. Continued peace and stability in the region is of vital strategic interest to India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h1><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Strengthening Ties With West Asia Countries<\/b><\/span><\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">The India-Middle East-Europe Corridor, announced at the G-20 summit , enhances New Delhi\u2019s standing.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">It seeks to build an economic corridor from India\u2019s western coast, through the Gulf (the UAE and Saudi Arabia), Jordan and Israel, to the Mediterranean, bringing India and Europe closer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>What Constitutes West Asia?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">The West Asia countries region comprises <b>12 member<\/b> countries: Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, State of Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.<a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Map-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-40762\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Map-1-300x252.jpg\" alt=\"West Asia Countries\" width=\"512\" height=\"430\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Map-1-300x252.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Map-1-1024x859.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Map-1-768x645.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Map-1-360x302.jpg 360w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Map-1-1536x1289.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Map-1-2048x1719.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Map-1-1568x1316.jpg 1568w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>India&#8217;s Ties with\u00a0 West Asia Countries:\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Historical Perspective<\/b>: India considers West Asia countries as part of her extended neighbourhood. Further, India&#8217;s relations with West Asia countries have historical roots, including partnerships formed within the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Shifting Geopolitics and the &#8216;Asian Century&#8217;: <\/b>A shift in global economic power towards Asia, driven by China and India, is reshaping traditional Western allies&#8217; perspectives in West Asia countries.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Stability Through Diplomacy:<\/b> Agreements like the Abraham Accords and d\u00e9tente between Saudi Arabia and Iran, facilitated by China, have enhanced regional stability.\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">India has established defense and technology partnerships with Israel.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Regional Connectivity with West Asia Countries:<\/b> India maintains historic ties with Iran and is involved in projects like the development of the Chabahar Port.\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\">The port acts as a hub for regional connectivity, connecting Afghanistan and Central Asia.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Geopolitical Shift Towards Multipolarity:<\/b> India has been strengthening its ties with West Asia Countries, especially with the UAE and Saudi Arabia.\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\">These partnerships have expanded beyond energy considerations to include defense, maritime security, counterterrorism, and cybersecurity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Look West policy:<\/b> It focuses on maintaining strategic and economic relationships with West Asia countries, especially Arab Gulf countries, Israel and Iran.<\/li>\n<li><b>Strategic Oil reserves:<\/b> Recently, an Indian company, \u2018Renew Power\u2019 has signed an agreement to establish a facility in Egypt with an investment of US$ 8 billion, which is the largest country and the region in the West Asia countries.\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\">Saudi Aramco signed an MoU in April 2018 with the Indian consortium (IOC, HPCL &#038; BPCL) to acquire a 50 per cent stake in India\u2019s largest refinery project \u2018Ratnagiri Refinery &#038; Petrochemicals Limited\u2019 worth US $ 44 billion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Cultural Connect<\/b>: West Asia countries are India&#8217;s extended neighbourhood with deep civilisational connect and historic and People to people roots.\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\">Their welfare is yet another dimension of India\u2019s security imperatives.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"2\">During the Covid-19 when several Vande Bharat Mission flights ferried many of our citizens while rendering urgent assistance to the extended neighbourhood in West Asia countries.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"2\">Every year more than a lakh Indian Muslims go for Hajj in Mecca and Medina located in this region providing a binding force between two regions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Also read: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/india-uae-relations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">India-UAE Relations<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Significance of West Asia Countries for India:<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Energy Security:<\/b> Out of India\u2019s total imports of crude oil, the share of the Gulf countries is about 60%. (Iraq- 22%, Saudi Arabia-18% [ORF Study])\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\">A large proportion of India\u2019s refineries process the sulphur-heavy sour grades of crude that are produced in the Gulf region.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Diaspora:<\/b> West Asia countries hosts around <b>8.5 million<\/b> Indians working in different sectors which is about 65 percent of the total number of Indians working abroad.(MEA)<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Remittance: <\/b>\u00a0The non-resident Indians (NRIs) annually send home about $40 billion, and account for more than 55% of the country\u2019s total remittance inflows.\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\">As per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), <b>82 percent<\/b> of the total remittances received by India originated from seven West Asia countries: the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United States (US), Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Kingdom, and Oman.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Trade and investment: <\/b>According to UN Comtrade database, Iran and the GCC member states accounted for a 15.3% share of India\u2019s cumulative two-way merchandise trade from 2017 through 2021.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>The GCC\u2019s Look East Policy:<\/b> India\u2019s <b>Look West Policy<\/b> has been complemented by the GCC member states\u2019 <b>&#8220;Look East\u201d policy<\/b>, aimed at fostering closer ties with Asian countries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<table style=\"background-color: #b8a5d987;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle;\">\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\"><b>India&#8217;s stand on Palestine Issue:<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">India has expressed solidarity with the Palestinian cause and supported the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In 1975, India became the first non-Arab country to recognise the PLO as the sole representative of the Palestinian people.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">India invited it to open an office in Delhi, which was accorded diplomatic status five years later.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In 1988, when the PLO declared an independent state of Palestine with its capital in East Jerusalem, India granted recognition immediately.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Also read:<\/b>\u00a0 <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/india-israel-bilateral-relations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">India-Israel Bilateral Relations<\/a><\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Challenges in India-West Asia Countries Relations:\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Palestine Issue &#038; India&#8217;s deepening ties with Israel:<\/b> The long-standing and complex conflict between Israelis and Palestinians presents a challenge of balancing human rights violations and strategic interests for India.\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\">The conflict between the two states is rooted in a tussle between culture, religious identity, and land, primarily a control over the city of Jerusalem.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"2\">While Israel claims the whole of Jerusalem as its capital, the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Organization of the Islamic Cooperation(OIC):<\/b>\u00a0 Since the 1990s, the OIC has been issuing statements and resolutions against India year after year, which India has rejected outright.\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\">OIC aims at promoting Islamic solidarity by coordinating social, economic, scientific, and cultural activities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>China&#8217; s role as peacemaker:<\/b> China has emerged as the biggest trading partner and a major investor in the region. It is playing a bigger role as peacemaker, as evident in the Iran-Saudi reconciliation agreement.\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\">China&#8217;s<b> Belt and Road Initiative <\/b>involves significant infrastructure projects in the Middle East.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Religious Extremism and terrorism:<\/b> The rise of religious fundamentalism and its political manifestation in the form of jihadi radicalism and terrorism in West Asia countries is a cause of grave concern to India.\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\">India has its large Muslim population and there is ongoing militancy in Kashmir. India fears radicalization of sections of its Muslim population. Pakistan, under the slogan of Pan-Islamism, tries to exploit the situation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Energy dilemma:<\/b> India continued oil purchases from Russia, even in the face of the severe U.S. and Western sanctions.\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\">Consequently, Iran is prompting India to also consider importing oil and gas from them. The situation presents a complex dilemma in the wake of US-imposed CAATSA sanctions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Weak labour Laws &#038; Indian diaspora:<\/b>\u00a0 Some West Asia Countries, especially Gulf States have not ratified core international Labour Organisation conventions protecting freedom of association and right to organise, which includes the right to strike and right to collective bargaining.\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\"><b>For example<\/b>: In <b>UAE the labour laws are very much in favour of employers<\/b> and the law enforcements are poor <b>(McGeehan and Keane, 2008).\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Also read: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/india-saudi-arabia-strategic-relation-bilateral-collaboration-and-beyond\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>I<\/b>ndia Saudi Arabia Strategic relation: Bilateral collaboration and Beyond<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Major Initiatives by India for the West Asia Countries:\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>The Middle East Quad (I2U2) Initiative:<\/b> The idea behind I2U2 (India, Israel, the U.S. and the UAE) is to connect South Asia, the Middle East, and the United States for economic, technological, and diplomatic collaboration.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Vaccine Maitri Initiative: <\/b>Vaccine Maitri is a humanitarian initiative undertaken by the Indian government to provide COVID-19 vaccines to West Asia countries.\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\"><b>For Example: <\/b>Saudi Arabia , were Bahrain\u00a0 beneficiaries of this initiative.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Downstream\u00a0 Projects:<\/b> India invited West Asia countries to invest in downstream projects in India\u2019s hydrocarbon sector.\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\">The agreement on oil storage and management between Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and the Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited was signed in January 2017.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"2\">It underscores that crude oil supply from UAE for the Mangalore cavern would be a significant transformational step in building a strategic partnership in the energy sector.<a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/7-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-40761 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/7-1-300x196.png\" alt=\"west Asia Countries\" width=\"651\" height=\"425\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/7-1-300x196.png 300w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/7-1-768x502.png 768w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/7-1-360x235.png 360w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/7-1.png 940w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 651px) 100vw, 651px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Strategic Partnership in Energy Sector:<\/b> Abu Dhabi awarded a major oil concession to an ONGC-led consortium from India in Lower Zakum.\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\">A High-Level Ministerial Taskforce has been created in order to keep track of various high-level promises and agreements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Technological Solutions:<\/b> The RuPay card, a key initiative by India in the digital payment system, was launched in Abu Dhabi.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Soft Power Diplomacy:<\/b> India inaugurated the first Hindu temple in Dubai as a special gift to the Indian community by the UAE. Yoga, Bollywood, and Music are other dimensions of Soft Power.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Way Forward: Navigating West Asia Countries: India&#8217;s Strategic Imperatives Amidst U.S.-China Rivalry<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>New Opportunities Amid U.S.-China Competition:<\/b> The United States views India, given its size, economic strength, historical ties, and cultural connections with the region, as a valuable partner in shaping West Asia&#8217;s geopolitics.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Multi-Engagement Approach:<\/b> India&#8217;s overall policy for the West Asia Countries should be rooted in the idea of multifaceted engagement.\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\">It should not prioritize appeasing or containing any specific great power.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Strategic Independence:<\/b>\u00a0 India should aim to maintain a significant geopolitical role in West Asia Countries, regardless of U.S. involvement or China&#8217;s presence.\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\">The safety of trading sea lanes and anti-piracy and counter-terrorism collaboration are absolutely essential for interrupted supplies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Diversification of economies ties:<\/b> Recognize the shift in oil-dependent economies toward renewable energy sources and embrace a green technology-driven development path, aligning with their vision spanning from 2025 to 2040.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Protection policies for Indian diaspora:<\/b> Sound bilateral labour policies need to be framed to address the issues concerning the Indian labour working in the West Asia countries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Conclusion\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">India&#8217;s strategic engagement with West Asia countries is anchored in historical ties and vital interests, spanning energy security, diaspora welfare, and regional stability. Amidst evolving geopolitical dynamics, India must pursue a multifaceted approach, uphold strategic independence, and adapt to economic diversification while safeguarding its diaspora in this critical region.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>West Asia countries are a part of India\u2019s extended neighbourhood. Continued peace and stability in the region is of vital strategic interest to India.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":40766,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"paper-wise":[],"subject":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/40655"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/current-affairs"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/32"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40655"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/40655\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53988,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/40655\/revisions\/53988"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40766"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40655"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40655"},{"taxonomy":"paper-wise","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/paper-wise?post=40655"},{"taxonomy":"subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/subject?post=40655"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}