West Asia

About Centre

The West Asia Centre seeks to cover issues, themes and countries of the region which are undergoing rapid political transformation impacting the political and security situation of the region and beyond. Popular protests demanding political and economic reforms and the subsequent fall of some long ruling authoritarian rulers and the rise of Islamists to power have significantly changed the region’s political landscape. GCC-Iran rivalry, Shia-Sunni sectarian conflict, external intervention in the region, and the rise of religious radicalism have further aggravated the situation. The Centre is closely following the unfolding internal political developments in individual countries as well as the regional political scenario.

The historical shifts in the region and domestic political developments will have a significant impact on India’s external environment. With huge stakes in the region such as energy, trade and safety of Indian citizens in the region, it has become important for India to carefully watch developments taking place in its ‘extended neighbourhood.’ These and other related issues are being focused upon by the scholars at the Centre. The Centre continues to hold regular bilateral dialogues with some leading think tanks in West Asia thus facilitating exchange of ideas and perspectives.

Current projects being pursued in the Centre are:

Linking South and Central and West Asia: Transportation and Energy Cooperation
Political transformations in the Arab world and implications for India
Regional organisation in Gulf: The Gulf Cooperation Council
India-Arab relations and partnership
Iran’s domestic and foreign policies
India’s Engagement with Iran: Prospects and challenges.

Challenges for the New Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia

The real test for Bin-Salman would be to manage the three-pronged challenge of keeping royal unity intact, expediting economic reforms and ensuring regional stability.

Crisis in the Gulf: Implications for India

Qatar is the largest supplier of LNG to India, accounting for over 65 per cent of India’s global import and 15 per cent of Qatar’s export of LNG.

The GCC in Troubled Waters

It is unlikely that Qatar will agree to align its foreign policy with that of Riyadh and to rein in Al Jazeera.

K. P. Fabian
June 13, 2017
IDSA Comments

Qatar Crisis Sharpens Regional Faultlines

The decision to target Qatar clearly indicates that the region is now divided into two camps and that the Arab Gulf countries are in no mood to accept neutral players.

Do India-Oman relations need a Push?

A high level political engagement between Oman and India will push the relations in the positive direction and also provide a fresh fillip to the economic relations.

Jatin Kumar
June 08, 2017
IDSA Comments

Modi Redefines India’s Palestine Policy

Behind the media hype about India's ‘unwavering support' for the Palestinian cause, there is a subtle but unmistakable shift in its policy towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

India-Turkey Relations: Frozen in Time?

India-Turkey relations are expected to gradually move in a positive direction based on new found interests and some common grounds.

India-Cyprus Relations: Need for Consistency and Diversity

New Delhi should leverage the prospective post-Brexit scenario as well as the enormous goodwill India has enjoyed consistently since Cyprus`s independence, to boost and deepen bilateral trade and investment relations with Nicosia.

Gautam Sen
May 08, 2017
IDSA Comments

India Hyphenates Turkey

The timing of its engagements with Armenia and Cyprus is a clear indication that India is hyphenating its relations with Turkey. By simultaneously engaging with his regional adversaries, India is hoping to influence Erdogan’s attention and priorities.

Turkish Referendum: Will it lead to Autocratic Rule?

The post-referendum changes in Turkey will have far reaching implications not only for the form of government but also for the long-term future of the republic and adversely affect democratic consolidation.