Why Delhi is building bridges with the Gulf

Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi's recent visit to Kuwait, currently the chair of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), with which India has been negotiating a Free Trade Agreement for the past several years, was significant in the bilateral context and its broader regional connotations.

- Ausaf Sayeed

It reflected India's keen desire to expand and strengthen its multidimensional relationship with this vital region, which has traditionally been a dependable partner in India's quest for energy security and accounts for almost 35% of its oil and 70% of its gas imports.

GCC is India's largest trading partner bloc, with trade amounting to over $162 billion in FY 2023-24. Next comes the European Union (EU) with $135.31 billion and the Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) with $120.88 billion. Over 8.8 million Indian citizens employed in the Gulf countries send over $40 billion in remittances, contributing significantly to India's economy.

India's outreach to the Gulf countries has significantly transformed over the years. From a relationship primarily focused on crude oil imports and labour exports with minimal political engagement, it has evolved into a multifaceted strategic partnership encompassing increased security and defence cooperation. This transformation started when India began engaging with the Gulf in the early 2000s under its "Look West" policy, recognising the region's growing economic and strategic importance. This further evolved into a more proactive and multi-aligned foreign policy under PM Modi, whose multiple visits to the region covering all countries in the Gulf and beyond further deepened India's strategic, economic, and cultural engagement with the entire West Asia. The Arab leaders responded by their high-level visits to India, thus showing mutual respect and collaboration. Over time, India upgraded its relations with several Gulf countries, particularly the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman, to strategic partnerships, laying the grounds for deeper cooperation in diverse fields.