The United States and China are frequently brought up when discussing other regional powers in the Middle East, however, India also plays a role in the geopolitical dynamics within the region. With its long-standing linkages in economics, culture, and religion, India has long had a significant presence in the area. But as New Delhi has been interacting on political, diplomatic, and security fronts lately, this has taken a more strategic tone. In this episode, We are joined by Raja Mohan, a Senior Fellow with the Asia Society Policy Institute in Delhi. He will share with us his knowledge about India’s role in geopolitics in the Middle East as well as the perspective of New Delhi on the influence of the US-China tug-of-war within the region. He will also discuss India's relations with some states in the region and provide some insights about maritime security in the Indian Ocean and the growing influence of mixed cultures in the Gulf.

Takeaways

An overview of India’s interest in the Middle East and the shift toward the Gulf region

New Delhi's Viewpoint on the India-US-China Triangle in the Middle East

The India - China relationship in the recent decade

The geopolitical play of Iran, India, Pakistan, and GCC in the Indian Ocean

The growing partnership between India and the Gulf

The perspective of the geopolitical forces in Asia

Quotes

We'd rather have the Americans sit on our hands for good than the Chinese. - Raja Mohan

India faces challenges from China's growing presence in the Himalayas and the Indian Ocean, where China has established relationships with key island states. This requires India to work with Western partners. - Raja Mohan

Featured in the Episode

Jonathan Fulton
Nonresident Senior Fellow for Middle East Programs at the Atlantic Council. Assistant Professor of Political Science at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi
Profile: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/expert/jonathan-fulton/
Linkedin: https://ae.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-fulton-2627414b
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonathandfulton

Raja Mohan
Senior Fellow with the Asia Society Policy Institute in Delhi
Profile: https://asiasociety.org/policy-institute/c-raja-mohan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MohanCRaja

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:25 An overview of India’s interest in the Middle East
09:11 India’s shift into the Gulf region
13:12 The I2U2 Group and India’s approach to the Middle East
15:34 New Delhi’s perspective on the India-US-China Triangle in the Middle East
21:04 The India-China relationship today
26:00 The assessment of the China-Iran relationship
28:53 The maritime security in the Indian Ocean
31:32 Geopolitics of Iran, India, Pakistan, and the GCC
34:52 India and the Gulf’s growing partnership
38:01 Integrating different cultures and people in the Middle East
40:20 Balancing Geopolitical forces in Asia
42:27 Conclusion

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