India should reconsider its alliances with the US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) as the geopolitics of West Asia have significantly changed since October 7. Saudi Arabia has demanded that the security of the Red Sea be an international responsibility, in cooperation with riparian countries and UN support.
Since 2018, Saudi Arabia has called for the establishment of a Council of States bordering the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, with eight countries signing its founding charter, including Yemen. Saudi Arabia plans to host a Council of States summit, while Anglo-American missile strike against Yemen highlights Israel’s escalating conflict in Gaza and transforming it into a regional conflict for Red Sea freedom of navigation. India has abandoned the US-Israeli axis, which was a strategic asset for its West Asian policies.
The Israeli connection has become a liability for the Indian government, as it resumes voting against Israel in UN General Assembly resolutions on the Palestine problem and has seen Netanyahu-Modi pow-vows become infrequent. India has also been a strong votary of the Abraham Accords, which purportedly aimed to integrate Israel into the Arab fold but actually isolated Iran in its neighborhood.
The country has partnered with a surreal venture called ‘I2U2’, which brought together India, the UAE, the US, and Israel to promote the spirit of the Abraham Accords. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar paid a 5-day visit to Israel to participate in ‘I2U2.’ Delhi, which hosted the G20 Summit last year, arranged photo-ops for the visiting US President, who hijacked the event and catapulted the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC). However, Indian diplomats have learned that such absurdities in West Asian policy will not be beneficial and may even be counterproductive as they raise hackles in the Arab Street.
Qatar has ordered 15 Indian schools in Doha to ignore Hindu holidays, particularly Diwali. India should have supported South Africa’s initiative to petition the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to bring Israel to justice for its genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. However, India lacked the courage and moral fiber to do so. The ICJ may issue an interim order for a ceasefire in the coming weeks with tacit western support, which could be a game changer.
India’s decision to stay clear of the US’s idea of disciplining Yemen’s Houthis is sensible, as the Red Sea theater with the Five Eyes is incredibly complicated. The US has been militarily engaged on five separate fronts: Ukraine, Gaza-Israel, Yemen, Iraq, and Syria. India’s West Asia strategy often lacks prescience, as the region is not a one-dimensional place for one-dimensional men. Aligning with the US and its allies in the Indian Ocean under the rubric of’maritime security’ has been a strategic mistake.
India should recognize the Renaissance sweeping through Muslim countries in West Asia, which has cultural, political, and economic dimensions and will have significant geopolitical implications. It is crucial for India to stop viewing the region through Netanyahu’s Zionist eyes and terminate its collaboration with the US and colonial powers for maritime security in the Indian Ocean.
India should reconsider its alliances with the US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) as the geopolitics of West Asia have significantly changed since October 7. Saudi Arabia demands international responsibility for Red Sea security, collaborating with riparian countries and UN support, and plans to host a Council of States summit meeting.
