West Asia

India’s participation in mini-lateral frameworks together with the US and its West Asian allies has been a transformative development in its West Asia policy.

• Deepika Saraswat
• July 21, 2023
• IDSA Comments

The I2U2 is a promising initiative with immense potential for cross-regional cooperation.

• Md. Muddassir Quamar
• September 05, 2022
• Issue Brief

The recent Houthi attacks on the UAE have widened the ambit of the ongoing war in Yemen, and are likely to prolong the instability in and around Yemen and hinder the regional and international efforts towards establishing peace in the country.

• Prasanta Kumar Pradhan
• February 03, 2022
• IDSA Comments

Yemeni crisis has been a challenge for Saudi Arabia’s standing and reputation as the leader of the Arab and the Islamic world. It is caught between the resilience of the Houthis to sustain their fight, and the growing cost of war and the allegations of innocents being victims of their air strikes.

• Prasanta Kumar Pradhan
• September 13, 2021
• IDSA Comments

The growing ties between China and Iran can have challenges for India’s relations with Iran and interests in the Persian Gulf region. Nonetheless, it is unlikely to seriously affect India-Iran bilateral ties that remain robust and have withstood challenges earlier.

• Md. Muddassir Quamar , Lakshmi Priya
• April 30, 2021
• Issue Brief

It remains to be seen to what extent Turkish President Recep Tayyeb Erdogan’s recent efforts to mend broken regional ties and address concerns over domestic policies will succeed.

• Adil Rasheed
• December 23, 2020
• IDSA Comments

The normalisation of relations between the UAE and Israel is a historic development and a step forward in the rapprochement between the Arab Gulf and Israel.

• Md. Muddassir Quamar
• August 21, 2020
• IDSA Comments

Formal diplomatic ties between Israel and the UAE, two of India’s critical strategic partners, is indeed a welcome development.

• S. Samuel C. Rajiv
• August 18, 2020
• IDSA Comments

China’s soft diplomacy in West Asia, particularly in times of pandemic, is a way to improve its global image and recast itself as a responsible actor at relatively low cost, rather than a sign of any deeper commitment towards the region.

• Nagapushpa Devendra
• July 03, 2020
• IDSA Comments

The pandemic continues to amplify the crisis in West Asia, making it hard for governments to cope with it individually. In the absence of a coordinated effort at the regional level, the road to economic recovery will be long and uneven.

• Nagapushpa Devendra
• May 29, 2020
• Backgrounder