Why Gulf nations are important for India?
- India is dependent on these nations for oil/gas imports
- Gulf nations are investing in India’s infrastructure for ex. Qatar funding for NIIF and UAE commitment to invest.
- Indian workers in Gulf bring huge remittances (almost 50% of India’s total)
- Supports India on global platform like Counter Terrorism issue, UNSC membership etc.
- Share common interest of safety in Indian Ocean, anti-piracy etc.
What some of the issues in this region?
- Unhuman condition of work. Strict an biased laws.
- Unstable region due to war crisis in West Asia
- Strong ties with Pak will lead to secondary treatment for India in relevance to Pak
- Deep Iran-Saudi divide over political and religious conflicts on which India lacks stand