India’s new West Asia approach is a welcome break with past diffidence

Contact Counsellor

Last Updated13/07/2022

First summit of I2U2 (India, Israel, UAE and USA) is exploratory in nature.
Launched: October 2021.
Virtual summit will take place during US President’s visit to Israel but it is not the main objective of US President’s visit to Middle East.

The US bet that India can contribute to peace and prosperity in the region.
The new political will in Delhi to break old taboos on India’s West Asian engagement.
I2U2 marks consolidation of a number of new trends in India’s Middle East policy that acquired greater momentum under current PM.

India: One of the first countries to extend recognition to Israel in 1950.
Current Indian PM became the first Indian PM to visit Palestine when he visited Israel in 2018.
Current govt. came with determination to impart a political character to the Israel ties.
Govt.’s decisiveness in engaging Israel was matched by its effort to deepen India’s ties with the Arab world.

India’s traditional preference in Arab world was for engaging republics.
India’s ties to the monarchies became important since the 1970s
Main source of hydrocarbons
Main destination for Indian labour exports
Major source of hard currency remittances.
No Indian PM visited Saudi Arabia between 1982 and 2010 and UAE between 1981 and 2015.
Current PM build a personal rapport with rulers of Saudi and UAE and develop strong ties with these governments without a reference to Pakistan.

For Delhi, US and Western policies in region were a main part of the problem.
Immediate focus of Nehru’s policy after independence was to actively oppose US moves in region in the name of promoting peace.
It didn’t work as many regional countries sought active economic, political, and security cooperation with the US and the West.
I2U2 marks a big break from the anti-Western tradition in India’s approach to the region.

India’s participation in West Asian Quad brings Delhi in line with other major powers to try and engage all parties in the region.
I2U2 sets the stage for a new and dynamic phase in India’s relations with Middle East.