India & the Middle East, Africa & Central Asia — Energy, Diaspora & Strategic Outreach

Overview

India's engagement with the Middle East (West Asia), Africa, and Central Asia has transformed from historically transactional ties into multi-dimensional strategic partnerships. The Middle East remains critical for India's energy security (over 55% of crude oil imports) and the 9.7 million-strong Indian diaspora in the Gulf. Africa represents a growing frontier for development diplomacy and South-South cooperation. Central Asia offers connectivity and energy diversification through the SCO and the INSTC.

For UPSC, these regions appear in GS-II questions on bilateral relations, energy diplomacy, diaspora, and India's extended neighbourhood.

India and the Gulf (GCC Countries)

Overview of India-Gulf Ties

India-UAE Relations

India-Saudi Arabia Relations

I2U2 Group

India-Qatar Relations

For Mains: I2U2 represents India's ability to engage simultaneously with Israel, the UAE, and the US in a single platform --- showcasing India's multi-alignment diplomacy. The group bypasses the traditional West Asian fault lines (Arab-Israeli, Sunni-Shia) by focusing on technology and economics rather than security.

India-Israel Relations

Evolution of Ties

Key Cooperation Areas

For Prelims: India established full diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992. The jointly developed Barak-8 missile system is a flagship defence cooperation project. Israel is a global leader in drip irrigation technology, and over 43 India-Israel Centres of Excellence operate in Indian agriculture.

India-Iran Relations

Key Dimensions

INSTC (International North-South Transport Corridor)

India and Africa

Development Partnership

Strategic Engagement

India-Africa Trade

For Mains: India-Africa relations are best framed around "development partnership without conditionalities" --- unlike Chinese BRI loans that often carry sovereignty implications. Highlight ITEC, Lines of Credit, and India's support for AU's G20 membership as evidence of India's South-South cooperation credentials. Contrast India's approach with China's debt-trap diplomacy narrative.

India and Central Asia

Strategic Framework

SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation)

Connectivity to Central Asia

Gulf Indian Diaspora and Remittances

Scale of Indian Presence in GCC

Total Indians abroad: 35.4 million (world's largest diaspora). GCC accounts for ~27%.

Remittances

Key shift (2023-24): Advanced economies (US, UK, Singapore, Canada) overtook GCC countries in remittance share for the first time — reflecting increasing migration of skilled professionals to developed countries vs. semi-skilled/unskilled workers to Gulf.

India's Energy Security — West Asia Dependence

Crude Oil Import Profile (2023-24)

The Strait of Hormuz — through which ~45–50% of India's crude oil passes — remains a critical chokepoint for India's energy security.

India's Energy Strategy

• IEA Membership: India became a full member of the International Energy Agency in 2021
• Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR): India maintains ~5–9 days of crude oil reserves in three locations (Vishakhapatnam, Mangaluru, Padur)
• Diversification: Russia, US, Latin America as alternative suppliers
• Renewables: 500 GW target by 2030 reduces long-term oil demand

Abraham Accords (2020) — India's Perspective

The Abraham Accords (August–September 2020) normalised diplomatic relations between Israel and: UAE (August 2020), Bahrain (September 2020), Sudan and Morocco (October–December 2020).

India's perspective: India maintained studied neutrality; the normalisation benefited India as it reduced Israel-Gulf Arab tension, allowing India to maintain close ties with both simultaneously. The I2U2 grouping (formed 2021) was enabled in part by UAE-Israel normalisation.

Yemen and India

• Yemen civil war (since 2015): Houthi rebels (Iran-backed) vs. Saudi-led coalition
• Operation Raahat (April 2015): India evacuated ~4,741 Indians and 960 foreign nationals from Yemen
• Post-October 2023: Houthi attacks on Red Sea/Gulf of Aden shipping disrupted global trade; India deployed INS warships for anti-piracy patrolling

Diaspora Diplomacy

India's diaspora of approximately 35.4 million (Overseas Indian community) is one of its most significant soft power assets:

For Prelims: India has 8.9 million diaspora members in the Gulf (MEA, 2024). The first India-Central Asia Summit was held in January 2022. India became a full SCO member in 2017. The INSTC is 7,200 km long. India signed the Chabahar port 10-year agreement in May 2024.

IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor)

For Mains: IMEC represents India's most ambitious connectivity initiative in the Middle East. However, the Israel-Hamas conflict (October 2023 onwards) has delayed progress. For answer writing, discuss IMEC as both a counter to BRI and a practical connectivity solution, while acknowledging the geopolitical hurdles.

India's Look West Policy

Strategic Rationale

India's Balancing Act

India and the African Union

India and Oman --- Defence and Maritime Cooperation

Key Challenges in These Regions

Mains Previous Year Question Themes

Common UPSC Mains themes on the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia:

• "Discuss India's energy diplomacy with the Gulf states and its implications for energy security."
• "Evaluate India's development partnership with Africa. How does it differ from China's approach?"
• "What is the significance of the Chabahar port and INSTC for India's connectivity strategy?"
• "Discuss India's relations with Israel and Palestine. How does India balance its ties?"
• "Examine the role of the Indian diaspora in strengthening India's relations with the Gulf."
• "Discuss the challenges and opportunities of India-Central Asia relations through the SCO framework."

Key Terms for Quick Revision

Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Prelims

1. UPSC Prelims 2017: With reference to the International North-South Transport Corridor, which countries are the original signatories? (Answer: India, Iran, Russia — signed in 2000)
2. UPSC Prelims 2019: The Chabahar Port, which is being developed by India, is located in which country? (Answer: Iran)
3. UPSC Prelims 2023: The I2U2 group comprises which of the following countries? (Answer: India, Israel, UAE, USA)
4. UPSC Prelims 2024: With reference to IMEC announced at G20 New Delhi Summit in 2023, which of the following is NOT a participating party?

Mains

1. UPSC Mains GS II 2015: "India needs to engage more proactively with the countries of West Asia. Discuss with special reference to energy security and the Indian diaspora." (15 marks)
2. UPSC Mains GS II 2019: "The Chabahar port is a game-changer for India's connectivity with Central Asia and Afghanistan. Critically evaluate." (15 marks)
3. UPSC Mains GS II 2022: "India-UAE CEPA 2022 is a landmark in India's trade diplomacy. Examine its key provisions and significance." (15 marks)
4. UPSC Mains GS II 2023: "How does India balance its relationships with Israel and Arab countries, particularly in the context of the Israel-Gaza conflict?" (15 marks)
5. "Evaluate India's development partnership with Africa. How does it differ from China's approach?" (GS II pattern)

Exam Strategy

For Mains Answer Writing: Middle East questions often appear alongside energy security or diaspora themes. Structure answers around three pillars: energy (oil imports, LNG), economy (trade, investments, remittances), and strategic (defence cooperation, I2U2, Chabahar). For Africa questions, emphasise India's "development partnership" model (ITEC, Lines of Credit, Vaccine Maitri) versus China's BRI approach. For Central Asia, focus on the connectivity challenge and the INSTC as India's solution.

For Prelims: Key facts include CEPA with UAE (2022), I2U2 members (India, Israel, UAE, US), Chabahar agreement (May 2024), INSTC length (7,200 km), IAFS summits (3 held), SCO members (10 as of 2025), and India's full SCO membership year (2017). Also focus on GCC membership (6 countries) and India-Israel diplomatic relations establishment (1992).

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