From Trees to Forests: The Evolution of India-Middle East Ties Post 2014

This report examines the evolution of India-Middle East relations from 2014 to 2025, highlighting how these ties have transformed through distinct phases: establishing independent bilateral relationships (by 2014), strengthening these connections (by 2019), creating new regional cooperative frameworks based on mutual trust (by 2024), and safeguarding these gains amid renewed regional conflict.
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This report examines the evolution of India-Middle East relations from 2014 to 2025, highlighting how these ties have transformed through distinct phases: establishing independent bilateral relationships (by 2014), strengthening these connections (by 2019), creating new regional cooperative frameworks based on mutual trust (by 2024), and safeguarding these gains amid renewed regional conflict.

The report analyzes how India’s Middle East policy has been shaped less by strategic intentions and more by available strategic space in the changing regional landscape. It examines how traditional limitations to India-Middle East relations—namely, Pakistan’s influence and ideological constraints—have receded over time, allowing India to pursue “de-hyphenated” relationships across previously divided lines, such as Israel-Palestine, Arab-Iran, and Arab-Israel.

The analysis concludes that while recent conflicts have complicated initiatives like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC), India’s strategic foundation of strong bilateral relationships allows it to maintain engagement while awaiting regional stabilization.

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