INDIAN POLITICS TO THE MIDDLE EAST

INDIA – MIDDLE EAST

India is geographically dependent of the Indian Ocean corridors for its trade, and historically dependent of the Gulf of Persia supply of Oil. It actually account for 70% of Indian sources of Oil.

The Suez Chanel and the Gulf of Persia set the main corridors for Indian western guided trade.

Iran – Iraq Indian good relations based on oil trade until the 80’s helped to keep Islamic countries support after the wars with Pakistan.

India’s refusal to sign the Bagda Pact (actually CENTO) in 1954, made it easier to keep non-aligned presence in the Middle East, and kept the alliances even after Iraq quit the treaty.

New Delhi's anti-Israeli stance in the Arab-Israeli wars of 1967 and 1973 and by Indian support for the fourfold oil price rise in 1973 by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

India’s silence for 1979 Afghanistan seizure by URSS was understood as a pro-URSS movement, which however had the bad output of strengthening the strategically importance of Pakistan to the US, therefore reviving the weapon cooperation recently interrupted by the parliamentary amendment against nuclear developing countries.

1980-88 Iran-Iraq War forced India to shift its oil purchases from Iran and Iraq to Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf states

India kept neutrality

In the Gulf War to release Kwait, India tried to keep discret, but in a conturbed decision allowed refueling of US airplanes in Mumbay for a short while before domestic pressions baned the agreement.

Along those years India also expanded its influence and oil dependency to northeast African countries, including Libya, therefore creating difficulties for any condemnation in the SC meeting on Gadaffi.

In the G. W. Bush war, India condemned US unauthorized action.

India had to sign the Facility Nuclear Treaty (2008) and the 123 Agreement (2005 Indo-US Agreement) with US, than it couldn’t transfer technology to non-nuclear states according to the AIEA list. For that, in 2007 and 2011 India couldn’t vote for them. The clause made India commit to vote against, not allowing eventual abstentions to happen.

But despite this, Iran plays a major role in counterbalancing US-Pakistan influence in central Asia in favor of India.