Foreign Policy for Bay Countries

Context
Recently, Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj addressed the 73rd session of UN General Assembly in New York City, USA. The General Assembly included representatives of all major countries such as China's top diplomat Wang Yi from Antigua and Barbuda's Foreign Minister, however, there was absence of leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council in this meeting, which is a matter of regret because this year's joint The issue of clash between the Gulf countries in the Arab-Iran and Iran was one of the top international security issues. Also, it is logical that this is also the most important emerging regional security challenge for India. It is believed that India is ignoring its interests by giving privilege to Iran along with the Arab world.


Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
  • The Gulf Cooperation Council is a political and economic alliance of six countries in the Arabian Peninsula, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
  • Established in 1981, GCC promotes economic, security, cultural and social cooperation among the six states and organizes a summit every year to discuss cooperation and regional affairs.
Global position on Gulf security issue
  • After the strong debate over the nuclear deal between the US and Iran in 2015 and the abolition of this agreement by President Donald Trump, it became a matter of important discussion.
  • It is notable that this year also was part of the main theme of the UN Security Council Summit this year.
  • Recently, differences between the US and its most important colleagues in Europe have emerged rapidly in Iran.
  • However, with Washington's disagreement on Iran's issue, this issue is not new for Moscow and Beijing.
  • Recently, in the meeting between US Secretary of State Mike Pompey and Ministers of eight Arab countries, the Indian delegation did not pay attention to its critical approach, which included six countries of the GCC along with Egypt and Jordan. .
  • After the meeting, the US State Department said that "all participants have agreed on the need to face the threats from Iran to this region and the United States."
  • During this time, all the ministers had "productive discussions" on issues such as setting up a Middle East Strategic Alliance to promote security and stability in the region.
  • Even critics have emphasized the formation of a maintenance coalition as 'Arab Nato'.
  • Some people call it 'Sunni challenge' to face the fear of the emergence of 'Shia Crescent' in the Middle East supported by Iran.
What is Shia Crescent?
  • It is a geo-political concept that has been used to show the ability of regional cooperation from the Shi'a view in the politics of the Middle East.
  • In recent years Iran has taken advantage of the barriers to increase its influence in the Middle East.
  • The rise of Sunni extremist movements such as the invasion of Iraq, the result of the Arab Spring, the instability of ISI in the year 2003 has enabled Iran to pursue its military and political goals.
  • Tehran, which connects Iran from Iran as a 'land bridge' to Iraqi border in Syria, Lebanon, Golan, in fact, it is called Shia Crescent.
  • The new organization, which launches in January, is expected to strengthen US sanctions against Iran which will be effective from next month.
  • Indeed, skeptics believe that maintaining Middle East's strategic alliance with divisions within the Arabian Gulf will be difficult. But the United States hopes that the regional Arab coalition will work together with financial obligations to convert the Islamic Republic of Iran to its behavior. 
  • In this context, critics argue that it is actually related to 'governance change' in Tehran.
India's foreign policy for Gulf country
  • In the last two decades, India has to manage Iran factor to build a close partnership with the US.
  • India has not been debated on the issue of Gulf security, but it does not reduce its importance in any way.
  • India is also aware of President Barack Obama's nuclear deal with Iran and strong opposition to Arab Gulf countries.
  • Now the question is how should India's foreign policy deal with the rapidly changing situation in the Gulf region.
  • It is notable that India's economic and political characteristics do not match any other sub-region of the world.
  • But here the problem arises from India considering a part of that, American question, and silence on the other side i.e. Arab question.
  • Indeed, India's approach to Iran's nuclear proliferation became a major issue between Delhi and Washington.
  • Some traditionalist thinkers of India argued that India should stand with Iran against the US, whereas a small group of realists insisted that India should take care of its nuclear interests instead of Iran.
  • Iran gave major political concessions to the nuclear agreement and to relieve some restrictions from the Obama administration, but the Trump administration does not consider it very good.
  • The US president believes that Iran will negotiate a nuclear agreement with Washington again.
  • Therefore, steps taken by India to find ways to avoid the effect of the US sanctions on the Indian economy are quite practical.
  • But when it comes to dealing with the conflict between the Gulf country - Arab and Iran, then India's view is deprived of realism.
  • It is notable that India's tilt is more towards Tehran, but much of India's interests - such as trade, energy, expatriate remittances and anti-terrorism cooperation - are connected to all Arab countries.
  • Middle East countries believe that India, which denies Pakistan's instability in the subcontinent on every occasion, never criticizes Iran's effort to weaken the regional political system in the Arab world.
  • Therefore, Delhi can not ignore its Arab fears about Iran and its expectations to assess political understanding from India.
Conclusion:
  • Considering the above mentioned global developments, India needs to present strong and influential foreign policy to the Gulf countries so that relations with India's Gulf countries are normal and there is no apprehension about future requirements. Although, India has made many important efforts for this area, but these efforts are not enough to look at the severity of the situation.
  • Even though India has promoted its relations with the US due to its energy needs and other reasons, but interests of the majority of Indians from the Gulf countries and foreign currency remittances are linked, which can not be sidelined.
Source: Indian Express

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