Introduction: Indo-Pacific Strategy and West Asia’s Overlooked Role

India’s Indo-Pacific strategy, formulated in the mid-2010s and articulated through frameworks like the Indian Maritime Doctrine (2015) and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), primarily focuses on the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and the broader Indo-Pacific maritime domain. However, this strategic vision often sidelines West Asia, a region integral to India’s energy security, diaspora relations, and maritime connectivity. Excluding West Asia from the Indo-Pacific framework neglects critical geopolitical and economic linkages, thereby rendering India’s regional influence incomplete and vulnerable to rival powers’ advances.

Legal and Institutional Framework Governing India’s Foreign Policy

India’s foreign policy is shaped without an explicit constitutional mandate but derives legal authority from Article 253, empowering Parliament to legislate for implementing international treaties. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), established under the Ministry of External Affairs Act, 1947, is the nodal agency formulating and executing foreign policy, including Indo-Pacific and West Asia strategies. The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 governs foreign funding impacting diplomatic engagements. Policy documents like the Indian Maritime Doctrine (2015) and the SAGAR framework explicitly guide India’s maritime and regional security outlook.

Economic Interdependence Between India and West Asia

India’s economic ties with West Asia are substantial and multifaceted. Bilateral trade reached approximately USD 130 billion in 2022-23 (Ministry of Commerce & Industry, 2023), underscoring the region’s commercial importance. India imports nearly 85% of its crude oil from West Asian countries, primarily Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the UAE (Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell, 2023), making energy security heavily reliant on this region. Remittances from the Indian diaspora in West Asia amounted to USD 87 billion in 2022 (World Bank, 2023), representing a critical source of foreign exchange. Additionally, Indian investments in West Asia exceeded USD 20 billion as of 2023 (RBI), while defense exports to the region grew by 35% in 2022 (Defence Ministry Annual Report, 2023). The strategic development of the Chabahar port in Iran, valued at USD 85 million (MEA, 2023), exemplifies India’s infrastructural footprint in West Asia.

Key Institutions Managing India-West Asia Engagements

• MEA: Central agency for foreign policy formulation and Indo-Pacific-West Asia strategy coordination.
• NITI Aayog: Provides strategic policy inputs linking economic and geopolitical interests.
• IBSA Dialogue Forum: Facilitates trilateral cooperation that indirectly supports West Asia engagement.
• RBI: Monitors remittances and financial flows from West Asia.
• DRDO: Supports defense technology cooperation with West Asian countries.
• Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell (PPAC): Tracks and analyses India’s energy imports from West Asia.

Comparative Analysis: India vs China in West Asia Engagement

Critical Gaps in India’s Indo-Pacific Strategy Regarding West Asia

India’s Indo-Pacific policy underemphasizes West Asia’s role in critical domains. Energy security, a core national interest, lacks integrated policy coordination between the MEA, Ministry of Petroleum, and Ministry of Defence. Diaspora diplomacy is managed without embedding West Asia fully into the broader Indo-Pacific framework. Maritime connectivity initiatives like SAGAR do not sufficiently incorporate West Asian littoral states, creating strategic blind spots. In contrast, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) integrates West Asia comprehensively, enhancing its geopolitical and energy foothold.

Significance and Way Forward

• India must formally expand its Indo-Pacific framework to explicitly include West Asia, recognizing the region’s economic and strategic centrality.
• Institutional coordination among MEA, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Ministry of Defence, and NITI Aayog should be strengthened for integrated policy formulation.
• Enhancing infrastructure projects like Chabahar port and exploring new connectivity corridors can deepen maritime linkages.
• Leveraging the Indian diaspora in West Asia as a strategic asset requires a coordinated diaspora diplomacy approach within the Indo-Pacific policy.
• India should increase investments and defense cooperation in West Asia to counterbalance China’s growing influence.

Jharkhand & JPSC Relevance

• JPSC Paper: Paper 2 – International Relations and Economic Development
• Jharkhand Angle: Jharkhand’s mineral and energy sectors depend on crude oil imports and remittances from the diaspora, linking local economy to West Asia’s energy and labor markets.
• Mains Pointer: Frame answers highlighting how West Asia’s energy and diaspora linkages impact Jharkhand’s economic development and employment, reflecting India’s broader foreign policy priorities.