India’s West Asia playbook: The art of not taking sides

For decades, West Asia has served as the ultimate testing ground for the resilience of India’s foreign policy. It is a region where history is heavy and the geopolitical landscape is often a zero-sum game.

Yet, India has managed to traverse this volatile terrain with a unique brand of “strategic autonomy”, evolving from the ideological rigidities of the Cold War to a hyper-pragmatic, interest-driven engagement under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

This shift is not merely a change in government policy; it is a fundamental recalibration of the Indian identity on the global stage — one that prioritises the national interest over inherited religious or ideological dogmas.

From Ideological Solidarity to Strategic Autonomy

The roots of India’s West Asia policy were planted in 1947, characterised by a reflexive support for the Palestinian cause, largely driven by India’s domestic sensitivities.

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For years, New Delhi viewed the region through a moralistic lens, often keeping Israel at arm’s length. However, the end of the Cold War necessitated a departure from this singular track.

The establishment of full diplomatic ties with Israel in 1992 was the first major pivot, but it is the last decade that has seen the most sophisticated execution of what analysts call “multi-alignment”.

Nowhere was this balance more visible than in the symbolic and substantive actions of the Indian leadership. In 2015, the late External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj inaugurated the Palestine-India Techno-Park and an IT hub at Al-Quds University, reinforcing India’s commitment to Palestinian nation-building through technology and education.

Yet, simultaneously, India was elevating its relationship with Israel to a strategic partnership. This is the hallmark of Indian diplomacy: the ability to engage with one without alienating the other.

Modi Doctrine: Multi-Alignment Without Entanglement

Unlike Pakistan, which often finds itself trapped in the sectarian or political crossfire of Arab regimes — acting as a “sitting duck” for the shifting whims of regional powers — India has maintained a posture of dignified independence.

This evolution was perfectly encapsulated in a landmark address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where he articulated a vision of a confident India that no longer seeks permission from the West to engage with the East.

Modi emphasised that India’s diplomacy has matured to a point where it can speak to Russia without an American “veto”, and engage with Saudi Arabia without upsetting the delicate balance with Iran.

This “India-First” approach is rooted in the belief that New Delhi does not need to fight someone else’s cause to prove its relevance. By refusing to join proxy wars or ideological blocs, India has positioned itself as a reliable, stable partner for all sides.

Diaspora Power and Economic Stakes in the Gulf

The economic dimension of this relationship is perhaps the most robust pillar of India’s regional standing.

The Gulf economy is inextricably linked to the Indian diaspora, a community that has moved beyond the “blue-collar” stereotype to become the backbone of the region’s retail and infrastructure sectors.

The success of top Indian brands in West Asia — such as M.A. Yusuff Ali’s Lulu Group, Rizwan Sajan’s Danube, and the Landmark Group’s Centrepoint and Red Tag — demonstrates the sheer scale of Indian entrepreneurial influence. These are not just businesses; they are conduits of soft power that contribute billions in remittances, fuelling India’s domestic growth while anchoring the economies of Dubai, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.

However, the pragmatism of Indian diplomacy is most tested during times of kinetic conflict. As West Asia faces renewed instability, India’s stance has remained remarkably consistent: supporting a two-state solution while deepening defence and intelligence ties with Tel Aviv.

Even under the Modi administration, which has seen the closest ties with Israel in history, India recently voted in favour of a UN resolution expressing support for Palestinian rights, proving that strategic deals do not necessitate the abandonment of long-held principles.

In a recent analysis, ‘Indian Labour in Wartime Israel’, for the Deccan Herald, Divya Malhotra highlights a significant shift in the migration patterns of the Indian workforce. As Israel looks to replace Palestinian workers amidst the ongoing conflict, Indian labour has emerged as a critical substitute.

Malhotra notes that this migration is not just about economic necessity but is also a reflection of the deepening bilateral trust between New Delhi and Jerusalem. It is rational that the Indian worker is seen as a stabilising, non-political element in the region.

In a world increasingly polarised by religious and ideological fervour, the Indian approach to West Asia serves as a template for domestic identity.

National Interest as the Compass of India’s West Asia Policy

For Indians, the national interest must remain the North Star. The tendency to import foreign conflicts or to align one’s identity with religious movements thousands of miles away undermines the cohesive strength of the Indian state.

The Indian identity — one of pluralism, economic aspiration and sovereign pride — must supersede any external ideological affiliation.

The “Modi Doctrine” in West Asia is essentially a rejection of the old, defensive posture where India was a passive observer of global events.

Today, India is an active architect of regional security and economic corridors, such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

By maintaining strong defence ties with Israel — ranging from drone technology to missile systems — while simultaneously being the primary investor in Iran’s Chabahar Port, India is practising a sophisticated geometry of equilibrium.

Ultimately, India’s success in West Asia is a testament to the power of being “pro-India” rather than being “pro-this” or “anti-that”. It is a lesson in the maturity of a rising power that recognises that in the realm of international relations, there are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests.

By focusing on remittances, energy security, and technological exchange, India has ensured that its voice is heard not because it shouts the loudest in favour of a particular ideology, but because it is too economically and strategically vital to be ignored.

As the sands of West Asia continue to shift, India’s neutral hand and unblinking focus on its own national interest will remain its greatest diplomatic asset.

(Zahack Tanvir is an Indian-origin activist and founder of ‘The Milli Chronicle’, a UK-based publication. With expertise in geopolitics and counter-extremism, he provides insights into global affairs. He holds certifications in Counterterrorism from the University of Leiden of the Netherlands, and Georgetown University of Washington DC. He tweets under @ZahackTanvir. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.)