India has recalibrated its West Asia diplomacy amid rising tensions, prioritizing Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Israel and called GCC leaders during early hostilities. The shift has sparked domestic controversy.
India has intensified diplomatic engagement with West Asia over the past decade. Prime Minister Narendra Modi made 15 visits to the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, two to Israel, and one each to the Palestinian Authority and Iran. Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA) were signed with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman, while negotiations continue with the GCC and Israel. With over $160 billion in bilateral trade and a 10 million diaspora, the GCC is India's largest socio-economic partner. Turmoil since October 2023 includes a three-week-old war, with GCC countries facing Iranian drone and missile attacks and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. India's recent diplomatic reset prioritizes GCC security. Modi visited Israel on February 25-26 and called all GCC counterparts in the early days of hostilities, assuring support for their security and stability. He later spoke with his Iranian counterpart. This clearer-sighted approach avoids traditional balancing on issues like the two-state solution or Iran's nuclear technology quest. Domestic detractors criticize the Israel visit as untimely before the February 28 offensive against Iran, accuse abandonment of Palestinians and Iran, surrendering autonomy to the West, and risking overreach. Defenses highlight the pre-planned bilateral nature of the visit. China bought most sanctioned Iranian oil, Russia underdelivered despite a treaty, and others offered little support. The US attacked Iran without notifying the GCC, prompting GCC states to seek alternatives like India. Former Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev assesses India's policy as more sinned against than sinning in this context.
