Link West Marks India's Strategic Pivot in West Asia

India's engagement with West Asia during the tenure of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has been strategic and deeply pragmatic, anchored in a multipolar vision that elevates India from a peripheral actor to a pivotal influencer in the region.

- Anil K Antony

The Link West policy, a strategic complement to the Act East initiative, captures the essence of this pivot, reorienting India's ties with West Asian nations through a dynamic blend of diplomacy, economic partnerships, defence cooperation, and cultural kinship.

West Asia supplies nearly half of India's crude oil, and is home to over nine million Indian expatriates, whose remittances play a crucial role in India's economy. Traditionally, India's engagement with the region was shaped by ideological leanings and measured diplomacy. However, this approach has undergone a transformative shift. Embracing a bold new doctrine often referred to as Act West-Act Fast, the Modi government has infused India's West Asia policy with a renewed sense of urgency and strategic intent.

At the heart of this recalibration are India's robust bilateral relationships with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia—two nations that now form the economic and strategic backbone of India's regional engagement. With Saudi Arabia, India's fourth-largest trading partner, relations have surged, with bilateral trade reaching $43 billion in 2023-24. The establishment of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council in 2019 has fostered a broad spectrum of collaboration in areas including energy, IT, defence, and counterterrorism.