India’s naval presence in the Middle East has recently gained prominence, marked by a series of port visits, joint exercises, and high-level military engagements. This surge in naval diplomacy signals India’s growing interests in a region traditionally considered within Pakistan’s sphere of influence. However, India’s efforts appear to aim not at competition but at fostering regional stability—a vision aligned with shared goals of security and economic growth.
The Middle East: A Region of Shared Strategic Importance
For both India and Pakistan, the Middle East represents a region of profound strategic, economic, and cultural relevance. Beyond energy security and investment opportunities, both countries have longstanding diplomatic and community ties in the Gulf. Pakistan’s connections with nations like Saudi Arabia and the UAE are well-established, underpinned by economic links, military cooperation, and large expatriate communities.
While a comparatively recent player in the Middle East, India has significantly deepened its engagement in recent years. Driven by a rapidly growing economy heavily dependent on Middle Eastern energy, India’s diplomatic and military outreach in the region has become an integral element of its foreign policy. This engagement, guided by the “Look West” policy, reflects India’s ambition to enhance regional security and position itself as a constructive partner in an increasingly multipolar Middle East.
India’s Strategic Shift: Naval Diplomacy in Action
Recent naval deployments highlight India’s strategic pivot toward the Middle East. Through coordinated port visits and joint exercises, Indian warships have cemented relationships with regional counterparts. The First Training Squadron (1TS), comprising INS Tir, INS Shardul, and ICGS Veera, has led India’s maritime engagements in the Gulf, visiting key ports and engaging in collaborative activities throughout 2024.
In October alone, these vessels docked in UAE, Oman, Bahrain, and Iran, conducting professional exchanges, training sessions, and community outreach initiatives. For instance:
UAE: Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, India’s Chief of Naval Staff, visited Dubai to oversee the third India-UAE Bilateral Naval Exercise. INS Shardul’s docking at Port Rashid involved extensive training culminating in a joint Maritime Partnership Exercise with the UAE Navy’s Al Quwaisat. The exercises focused on tactical coordination and trust-building manoeuvres, reflecting a deepening partnership aligned with regional security.
Bahrain: The First Training Squadron’s visit to Manama featured joint training sessions and community events, fostering interoperability with Bahrain’s naval forces. This cooperation, which includes cultural exchanges and professional interactions, suggests Bahrain’s openness to a multipolar approach to maritime security.
Oman: Through the Naseem-Al-Bahr exercise, India and Oman demonstrated their steady alliance. This iteration saw INS Trikand and a Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft participating in anti-aircraft drills, cross-deck operations, and close-range manoeuvres with Oman’s Royal Navy. Oman’s partnership with India in maritime training and intelligence sharing contributes to a secure Indian Ocean that is beneficial for all stakeholders, including Pakistan.
Iran: India’s engagement in Bandar Abbas highlighted a balanced diplomatic approach. The Indian vessels, welcomed by Iran’s Zereh, conducted joint exercises, cultural events, and professional exchanges with Iranian counterparts. These efforts illustrate India’s commitment to balancing relationships across the Gulf and maintaining ties with Iran without compromising other strategic alliances.
Economic Imperatives and Energy Security
India’s naval outreach is inseparably linked to its economic interests in the Middle East, particularly its energy needs. Approximately 60% of India’s oil and gas imports originate from the Gulf region, with countries like the UAE playing a vital role in meeting these demands. The Indian Navy’s presence in the Persian Gulf contributes to safeguarding critical shipping routes, supporting India’s energy security and reinforcing broader regional stability.
The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the UAE, signed in 2022, has driven India-UAE trade to new heights, totalling $88 billion—an increase of 38%. The Indian Navy’s active engagement can thus be viewed as a safeguard for these economic investments, reflecting India’s commitment to a stable and open maritime domain.
Enhancing Maritime Security Through Interoperability
The Middle East faces an array of shared security concerns—piracy, smuggling, and terrorism—that necessitate cooperative maritime efforts. India’s joint exercises with Middle Eastern navies collectively serve as practical frameworks for tackling these issues. By partnering on anti-piracy operations, naval manoeuvres, and intelligence-sharing, India contributes to regional security without diminishing Pakistan’s role.
In Oman, the Naseem-Al-Bahr exercise allowed both nations to collaborate on advanced combat drills, while partnership exercises with Bahrain and the UAE fostered tactical coordination and mutual trust. These activities bolster the operational readiness of each country’s forces, offering a foundation for future cooperation in securing essential maritime routes for all.
Soft Power and Humanitarian Engagements
India’s humanitarian aid to Turkey and Syria following the 2023 earthquake reflects its ‘soft power’ approach in the Middle East. Similarly, Indian naval visits have incorporated community outreach initiatives, including social activities in Bahrain and charity events in Iran. Such efforts foster goodwill, enhancing India’s image as a responsible and culturally attuned partner in the region.
Bollywood’s popularity and India’s historical ties add further depth to its Middle Eastern engagement. These connections emphasise India’s commitment to constructive diplomacy and cultural understanding, reinforcing its image as a partner dedicated to both regional security and cultural affinity.
A Multipolar Middle Eastern Landscape
India’s presence in the Middle East underlines a shift in the region’s dynamics, where traditional alliances are evolving, and countries are diversifying their partnerships. This multipolar landscape enables Middle Eastern nations to collaborate with multiple powers—India, the United States, China, and Pakistan—fostering a balanced approach to security and economic growth. India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision encapsulates this cooperative approach. By emphasising mutual security and prosperity, SAGAR advocates for a collaborative maritime environment where all regional players, including Pakistan, can benefit from enhanced stability.
Implications for Pakistan and Regional Stability
India’s active maritime role in the Middle East need not challenge Pakistan’s established influence. Instead, it presents opportunities for broader cooperation, where both nations can mutually benefit from secure, stable maritime routes. India’s contributions to anti-piracy efforts and open trade lanes, for instance, align with Pakistan’s economic needs and offer security without infringing on Pakistan’s strategic alliances.
These evolving dynamics invite a reassessment of India’s role in the Middle East, suggesting that India and Pakistan can collaboratively leverage a secure maritime environment for economic and strategic gains.
New Alliances, Shared Goals
India’s expanding maritime engagements reflect a broader strategy of cooperative security and shared regional interests. Through diplomatic ties, economic investments, and humanitarian outreach, India is establishing itself as a responsible, reliable partner in a region crucial to India and Pakistan. This trajectory suggests a future in which Pakistan’s interests coexist with India’s rising role. As India positions itself within a multipolar Middle Eastern framework, it opens avenues for both countries to work together in fostering a stable, prosperous region that benefits all stakeholders.
