Diplomatist Magazine Diplomatist August 2018 | Page 12

Prime Minister Narendra Modi being received at the Offi cial Welcome
ceremony at the Royal Court, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on April 03, 2016.
India’s Diplomatic Quest in the Middle East:
Saudi Arabia forms a Key Ally
By Ashwath Komath*
T
he current decade is one that has
witnessed tectonic shifts in terms of
power politics. For one, it has signaled
clearly America’s shift towards the Pacific
from the larger politics of the Middle East.
This was the policy initiated in the Obama
administration, with the Trump administration
even more intent on limiting the American role
in the Middle East.
Even in India, there has been a change in
the way the country views itself and asserts
itself on the world stage. India has developed
global power ambitions owing to its growing
economic and military clout, and this has led it
to redefi ne its ties with various powers around
the world.
Since the Modi Government has come
to power, there has been a more proactive
approach in Indian foreign policy, with the
Middle East being an essential part of the new
strategy. Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Saudi
Arabia in April 2016 was an important visit
marking the strong ties between Saudi Arabia
and India, which resulted in the signing of
several agreements and increased cooperation
in the security and economic fi elds. India’s
‘Look West’ policy is a lot more sophisticated
in intent and design, and it focuses on Saudi
Arabia as a core partner.
Diplomatically, Saudi Arabia is seen as a
vital country for India. For one, Saudi Arabia is
12 • Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 6 • Issue 8 • August 2018, Noida
the largest country in the Gulf in terms of size,
economy, and military strength. In the Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC), Saudi Arabia is
considered to be the anchor economy as well
as its most infl uential member. This means
that Saudi Arabia would be very important for
retaining infl uence over the Gulf in general.
Developments in the Gulf have considerable
impact on India, be it with regard to energy
security, diaspora matters and remittances,
commercial interests or security matters.
Saudi Arabia’s clout with other Islamic
countries, owing to its status as guardian of the
Two Holy Mosques in Islam and its leadership
in pan-Islamic bodies such as the Organisation
of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), becomes
important for India. Saudi Arabia’s substantial
clout also comes from its disbursement of aid
to various countries around the world.
Saudi Arabia’s relations with Western
countries is also of importance here, especially
its close ties with the United States. Even while
the latter’s role in the Middle East seems to be
diminishing, Saudi Arabia’s ability to secure
American support for its regional ventures such
as the isolation of Qatar and the operations
currently going on in Yemen shows the far-
reaching infl uence the country wields. Perhaps
a closer relationship with Saudi Arabia would
also benefi t India with regard to its relations
with other Western powers.