‘Think West’ Diplomacy

The present government, which initially had only a marginal interest in West Asia and the Persian Gulf, changed its attitude after 2015 when the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) signalled a desire for a genuinely strategic relationship — one that included long-term investments in India and a willingness to dilute ties with Pakistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2015 visit to the U.A.E. and subsequent events have seen India’s view of the region undergo a fundamental shift. The foundation for Prime Minister's successful outreach to West Asia was in fact laid by his predecessor when India invited the King of Saudi Arabia ....