The Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) has been organising its biennial West Asia Conference (WAC) since 2014. Over the years, this flagship event has dealt with a number of critical issues facing West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region including the paradigmatic shifts in the region’s geopolitics, the growing impact of ideological and socio-political movements, and the global, regional and intra-regional responses to the regional developments. The Conference has been an important platform for academics, analysts, policymakers and government officials to discuss issues of mutual concern and explore newer avenues for cooperation. Invitees, both institutions and individuals, stretching the vast expanse of WANA as well as other parts of the world, participate in the Conference to discuss issues in a free and frank manner.
India’s relations with WANA go back to historic times with artefacts found in archaeological sites of Indus Valley, Harappa and Mesopotamian and the Sumerian civilisation underscoring trade and cultural ties in ancient times. Geographic proximity and maritime connectivity played a significant role in establishing mercantile contacts between the Arabian Peninsula and Indian Subcontinent. Although post-Independence India’s relations with the region were inhibited by ideological considerations, the post-Cold War recalibration in India’s foreign policy opened avenues for reconnecting with the WANA region.
In order to deepen cooperation and engagement with the neighbourhood, India has adopted the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. Engagement with the WANA region is a key component of the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and the government has taken a proactive approach towards its neighbourhood. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, since 2014, India’s relations with WANA have witnessed a qualitative transformation leading to strengthening of bilateral relations with the regional countries. The change has been visible not only in the frequency of political and diplomatic engagements but also in growing cooperation in newer fields including business, investments, security and defence. Recent cooperation between India and the countries of the West Asian region to fight the COVID-19 pandemic underlines the strong bonds of friendship.
Further, India’s ‘Think West’ policy focuses on its western neighbourhood with renewed emphasis to accelerate the pace of engagement with these countries. This has been an important pillar in India’s foreign policy in the recent years. The WANA region, especially the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States, is significant for India for a variety of factors, most importantly for its energy security and as host to millions of Indians who live and earn their livelihood there. There is also a mutuality of interest in maritime security as well as in fighting international terrorism and religious radicalism. Indian interest is also connected to peace and stability in the region because of the natural linkages between South and West Asia regions.
India’s bilateral trade with the region is around US$ 200 billion. India imports more than 60 percent of its energy requirements from the region. There are about nine million Indians living in the region whose safety and security is a concern for New Delhi. Any challenge to regional security situation or weakening of the economies in WANA will have a direct impact on the economy and security of India. As a result India has developed strategic partnerships with regional countries, especially with the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar and Oman without ignoring other important regional countries including Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Bahrain and the Palestinian territories.
India favours peace and stability in the region and seeks partnerships with all like-minded countries towards economic prosperity for the people of India and the WANA countries. Towards this end India has not hesitated in participating in multilateral fora including most recently, engaging in a dialogue in October 2021 with the foreign ministers of the UAE, Israel and the United States with the objective of harnessing the collective resources and expertise for developing economic cooperation.
Despite the growing engagement, India must deal apace with the challenges of existing regional tensions, social polarisation, deteriorating humanitarian situation, terrorism and religious radicalism in the region. Even after a decade of the Arab unrest, the impact of the regional upheaval on the politics, security and economy of the region continues to remain high. India has persevered in its engagements, successfully navigating the turbulence in the Arab world.
Against this backdrop, the MP-IDSA is organising the 5th West Asia Conference on the theme “India’s Approach to West Asia: Trends, Challenges and Possibilities.”
The following key questions, along with many others, would be discussed during the conference:
- What are the changing components of India’s growing engagement with the WANA countries?
- How have the WANA countries responded to India’s regional policy and what are the expectations in New Delhi?
- With renewed focus on West Asia, what would be the possible new political, security and economic challenges and opportunities for India in the region?
- Keeping in mind the changing regional political dynamics in West Asia, what should be the future trajectory for India’s foreign policy towards the region?
- How does the involvement of extra-regional powers, such as the United States, Russia, European Union, China and Pakistan, affect India’s policy towards the region?
