India signing a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Oman is a harbinger of India’s success in making inroads in the Middle East. There has been a major turnaround in India’s Gulf policy as earlier it was shaped by energy considerations. Now, its new policy is inspired by India being at the centre of the world’s economic growth, political stability and strategic balance.
The Head of State of the Sultanate of Oman, Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, adopted a joint vision focusing on 10 essential areas when he met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his maiden visit to India recently. The cooperation with Oman has a special significance as it gives India access to the Gulf as well as the Eastern African region.[1] Defence and maritime security features in the areas of cooperation between two countries.[2] New Delhi entered into a similar agreement with the UAE a year ago.
India enjoys strong ancient civilisation ties with Oman though the diplomatic relations were established in 1955. Oman is India’s defence ally in the Gulf and the strengthening of bilateral relations is going to further New Delhi’s strategic interest in the region. India has emerged as a significant player in the Middle East, said geopolitics expert Jonathan Fenton-Harvey. “With its rapid economic growth and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership since 2014, India has sought to deepen its trade and strategic relations with the region,” he said.[3]
Middle East expert Muddassir Quamar said Oman is an important player in the Gulf and several regional forums. “Its strategic location makes it an important actor for maritime security in the Gulf. India and Oman have a robust political, economic and defense partnership. The two sides are committed to strengthening bilateral engagements,” he said. India shares extensive links with the Middle East ranging from religion, culture to trade. Yet, the Indian diplomatic attitude remained uncertain for decades. However, it saw a tremendous shift in the recent future.
India’s foray into the Arab world has been a defining success as India slowly moved away from its old non-alignment movement even as maintaining ties with the old allies, said Kabir Taneja, the head of the Strategic Studies Programme’s West Asia initiative at the Observer Research Foundation. “India’s outlook toward the Middle East is looking beyond the traditional centrality of energy and migration,” he said. “As India’s economy rapidly grows, setting its sights on becoming the third largest in the world by 2030, so does its desire for influence. And the Middle East, from a foreign-policy perspective, is where a lot of this influence is being tested.”[4]
New Delhi hosted an India-Arab business partnership conference to strengthen economic and technological cooperation. The partnership between India and the Arab world has a bright future, said Dr. Khalid Hanafi, secretary-general of the Union of Arab Chambers. “Our relationship should now evolve from a linear, traditional relationship to a new relationship based on technology,” he said.[5]
Similarly, India has been emphasizing defence cooperation with the Gulf nations. India has signed defence and security cooperation agreements with many Arab nations including Egypt, Bahrain, and Qatar in the recent past.[6][7][8][9] Alvite Ningthoujam, assistant professor at Symbiosis School of International Studies, said the defence and security ties are not restricted to just military training now. But they cover intelligence sharing, counterterrorism, artificial intelligence, electronic warfare, and cybersecurity, which Ningthoujam said are “pivotal areas that are of major interest and concern to both sides.”[10]
Mohammed Soliman, director at Washington-based Middle East Institute, said the renewed India-Egypt partnership has immense regional and global implications, enhancing New Delhi’s global standing. “Egypt’s pursuit of a self-reliant defence industry aligns with India’s defence capabilities, offering an alternative to Western and China/Russia options. By forging the Cairo-Delhi axis, India can build on Egypt’s expanding presence in Africa and elevate its own position on the global stage,” he said.[11]
India’s growing influence in the Arab world would fetch it some major economic benefits but more importantly, it helps it counter its rivals Pakistan and China’s presence in the Arabian Sea. Oman has given India access to the Duqm port, which affects China’s ambition to grow its influence in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. “A key factor motivating India to secure access to Duqm is New Delhi’s interest in countering China’s growing leverage in the Indian Ocean via its network of sites that enable the People’s Liberation Army Navy to patrol the greater region,” said Dr Khalid Al Jaber, Director of Gulf International Forum.[12] (Singapore Post)