Editorial: Thru’ the Desk of the Editor
India India as an ancient civilisation always believed in universal brotherhood, peaceful existence and harmony, keeping its heart open for people across the globe. The philosophy of mutual respect, tolerance and peaceful coexistence of all races, religions, faiths and community has been its primal policy of foreign relations. From time immemorial, India and countries of West Asia have been connected in terms of exchange of knowledge, goods, ideas, resources and cultures. The cultural roots between India and West Asia point towards similarities between them as no other country in Asia had sustained historical engagement with the West Asia as that of India.. Read More
India- UAE Economic and Bilateral Relations
The visit of Crown Prince Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to India as chief guest for Republic Day means India's developing engagement with the Gulf. As India tries to upgrade economic engagement and extend security collaboration with the Gulf, it finds a willing accomplice in the UAE. Then again, as the UAE ―Look(s) East ―to discover accomplices for its economic growth and wrestles with security concerns exuding from strife in West Asia and developing danger from fear based oppression and fanaticism, it finds a natural accomplice in India. The milestone visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August 2015 and the arrival visit of the crown prince in February 2016 set the energy for improving the bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership. Consent with that impact was marked on January 25, 2017, aside from 13 different MoUs. Read More
Dynamics of Gulf Security
The Gulf is area of utmost security concern. The hydrocarbon resources of the region have increased the strategic significance of the region. There has been a constant competition among the world powers to position their interest in the region to ensure their energy security. Growing importance of oil in the world economy and other issues like the disputes over continental shelf rights and conflicting territorial claims over Bahrain, Kuwait and many islands gives it a separate sub-region identity. The defeat of Egypt in 1967 war eventually separated the issue of ArabIsraeli conflict as well as the influence of Egypt receded. The British withdrawal and the US decision to relay on Iran and Saudi Arabia under Nixon Doctrine (1969) decisively separated the Gulf from the extended region of West Asia Read More
Status of Agriculture Trade between India and the UAE
Today, India ranks second worldwide in farm output. The economic contribution of agriculture to India's GDP is steadily declining. India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices and spice products. It ranks third in farm and agriculture outputs. Agricultural export constitutes 10 per cent of the country‘s exports and is the fourth-largest exported principal commodity (APEDA, India). The total agricultural exports to United Arab Emirates rose from US $ 368 million in 2003 to US $ 2,296 million in 2012, which is almost three times greater than the exports in 2003. There is a growth in India‘s exports to UAE around $ 1,928 million in a decade that is from 2003 to 2012.This study highlights the major agriculture products of India to UAE. It has also shed light on the current status of agriculture bilateral trade between India and UAE. Agriculture policies of both countries are also being taken into account. Read More
The “Aden” policy - Why India cannot ignore the Yemen war
The ongoing conflict in Yemen has been in infrequently reported in our local media and finds little to no mention in the government‘s foreign policy briefings. Yet, this region near East Africa that is considered to be technically a part of Asia, its long-standing internal strife and the latest on-going international conflict should be of primary concern to us. Read More
India-Egypt Relations: Paradigm Shift since Independence to Present
India and Egypt have both endured relatively similar trials and tribulations and underwent various social metamorphosis with plethora of issues like colonialism, post-colonial socialism, nationalism so on and so forth. It became a catalyst for the leaders of both the countries to develop a fresh start after Second World War. This has culminated into Non-Aligned Movement, which intended to protect the interest of undeveloped nations in international politics. Read More
India - Gulf Relations: Ports, Energy and Other Trade
Primarily originating as a trading community, the Arab Gulf (GCC) states have benefitted from the oil boom. As oil money flowed in, the Gulf became dependent that gave them the rentier status. The oil boom saw a big influx of Indian's going to the region for work. The number of Indian expatriates are in millions, that send enormous remittances. Similarly, the bilateral trade between the two also increased. The Gulf is one of the largest regional - bloc trading partner for India. The economic and political upheaval post 2011 has made the Gulf States more volatile. The Arab Uprisings (2010-11), Iranian nuclear deal, the Qatar crisis, Yemen war or the US Shale revolution has changed the regional geopolitics. The paper is an attempt to look into the increased level of engagement and enrichment of the bilateral ties between India and the Gulf. The dipping oil prices in 2014 has pressed the Gulf producers to pursue policies that will help them reduce their oil dependence and diversify their economy. India imports more than 80 per cent of its oil needs from West Asia. Consequently, it will be topical to probe into the geopolitical scenario that engages the India - Gulf relations. It looks at the energy dimension of the relations, especially when the Gulf is an important source of hydrocarbons for India. The conflicts in the region are borne by the fact that that there is a competitive geopolitics for acquiring strategic positions; and, ports is crucial component of this competition. The paper explains that the changing pattern of relations has become more calculated and strategic. Read More
