India has coherently considered West Asia (WA) as its near neighborhood additionally shared brotherly affinity. The historic conventional bonds go back to 3000 years in the form of commerce, culture, religion and kinship, which endures. Since the invention of Oil ‘black gold’ – the gulf region became of strategic important. Hence, the relations among India and the United Arab Emeritus (UAE) adhere become great significance.
A large Indian expatriate citizenry populates as well as scuffles in the UAE in reasonably resourceful enterprises along with embraces played a significant role in the evolution of the UAE. According to a 2014 report of the Khaleejtimes says that about 1.2 million Indian expatriate in UAE send between $12.5 billion and $15 billion annually to India’s foreign exchange. The UAE provides job opportunity which acknowledges their families across different parts of India. India has reason to cheer, while the Arab Spring rocks the WA and North Africa (NA) – however the UAE had been out of its reach. Otherwise, India should have been in a boiling spot in evacuating her expatriates from the turmoil. India considers UAE as its closest business fortune for India’s exports.
The erstwhile record shows that India’s relation with the UAE caused friction due to UAE’s stance on Kashmir with Pakistan. However, India’s emerging global power status convinces the UAE to quantify for a transfer in policy change towards its stance on Kashmir. The expansion of economic links between India and the UAE impacts on their foreign policy, which is perceived the eminence of India as its converge neighbour – stance strong with their policy change towards India. The best example would be the tactical shift of UAE on Kashmir has been changed since 2014. Previously the UAE stance close flank with Pakistan as a Muslim nation now has changed a real blow to Pakistan. Pakistan usually tries to gather the support of the Gulf countries has now gradually declined except from Saudi Arabia. The Dawn report states that, “Pakistan’s arrant handling brings UAE and India closer”. It shows that India has achieved a concrete furtherance in convincing the Muslim neighbours towards the view of India on Kashmir. It’s seen as increasing India’s power status beyond the South Asian region. Now the UAE stance looks like the policy of the US. It states that, “Kashmir is an internal matter. It is up to both India and Pakistan to resolve it.”
The expanding ties between India and the UAE make them look at one another to move forward for farther cooperation. The GDP of Indian economy growing at the rate of 7.3 per cent has demand for more energy. Further, to continue its growth, it requires uninterrupted supply of crude oil from the Gulf region. At the moment Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the UAE are the top five energy exporters to India according to the (Congressional Research Service/ 2013).
At the same time, India’s exports looking UAE for its market opportunity. According to the Ministry of External Affairs of India, the “UAE was the second largest export destination of India with an amount of over US$ 33 billion for the year 2014-15. For UAE, India was the largest trading partner for the year 2013 with an amount of over US$ 36 billion (non-oil trade)”.
However, strategically the UAE will look toward India in future for vital reasons. Both sides have mutual stance of containing the ISIS and in expanding the two way bargain. Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the UAE during August 2015 was atmospherically prised by the media in India. After Indira Gandhi, he becomes the first head of the state to visit the UAE after more than 30 years. Modi’s international travel always posture with inviting infrastructural investment. The UAE agreed to invest $75 billion in India’s infrastructural projects as a boost to their relationship. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces visit India in February 2016 has offered his ambitious option to expand the India-UAE relationship. Though the nuclear deal between India and the UAE was not on their table but the newly announced strategic partnership addressing the cooperation on terror was a major highlight. Further, Adnoc the UAE national oil company’s decision to store crude oil in India’s maiden strategic storage and give two-thirds of the oil to it for free has showed this kind of advances are the new initiative would really rewrite the relationship between India and the UAE.
The Hindu pointed out from the joint statement issued by the prime minister and the visiting crown prince says “co-ordinate efforts to fight radicalisation and misuse of religion by groups and countries for inciting hatred, perpetrating and justifying terrorism or pursuing political aims.” Though this targets Pakistan but both the leaders uncomfortable in quoting out Pakistan name openly describes that Pakistan as a neighbour cannot be completely isolated. It postures the change in the Modi’s Pakistan policy in contract with what he articulated during his 2014 election campaign. On the stance of the UAE – though they have the long term alliance with the Pakistan the growing transformation in the international relations of the Middle East and Asia influence them to take a shift from their previous stance with Pakistan. However, it can be perceived that the perception would be though the UAE shift from their previous stance with Pakistan on Kashmir but it can be viewed that they will continue as a hinge between India and Pakistan.
However, it is true that the upgraded bilateral relationship between India and the UAE hurt Pakistan than many other country in the region. Both countries now perceived that this is not the choice but an opportunity to expand their relationship. The National media from the UAE report added that both sides the India and UAE, “They looked forward to the early signing of the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, and resolved to build on the momentum by pursuing the following areas of collaboration: trade, investment and economic development”. Further, India’s negotiation with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) under way since 2007. This also now approaching in a finalising according to The External Affairs Minister Ms Sushma Swaraj for an early operational of the agreement would serve more for India and the UAE to farther strengthens their strategic partnership.
The increasing conflicts and civil war in the Gulf region witnesses anymore the US cannot be alone maintain the order requires multi-polar cooperation gave a path for India to do more role in maintain security. Hence, Gulf countries diversely looking forward to India’s more active role by finding resolution for the stability in the region. Moreover, an ambitious India hopefully uses this opportunity to demonstrate its diplomacy with the expectation of the Gulf. If India fails to do so that would extremely benefit China.
