Thru’ the Desk of the Editor
Editorial: Shifting Sands in West Asia: Dynamic Perspectives
The regional geopolitical situation in West Asia continues to remain fluid and unexpected. The signing of Iranian nuclear deal called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in July 2015 in Vienna between Iran and P + 1 countries (US, China, Russia, France, UK) with Germany and EU for tenure of 15 years to preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons and obviating nuclear arms competition in West Asian region, was believed to be new opening in the region. Obama’s administration tried to reconfigure a new regional order bringing in Iran with signing of JCPOA. But US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from JCPOA has brought back animosity and heightened tensions in the Gulf. It has significantly reshuffled power arrangement and equation among state entities in the Gulf. Read More
Changing Dynamics of India – GCC Strategic Relations
In wake of ravages of Second World War, regional groupings were established in various parts of the world including Middle East, where seven former Arab possessions of Ottoman empire came together to form the Arab League in 1945. Since then idea of unity has played important role for an organisation which can today boast of twenty two states and territories as members. Despite its growth and impressive achievements in some areas, the Arab League had poor track record in promoting cooperation at regional level. Due to lack of cohesion, persistent rivalries among members, and influence of external powers on inter-Arab politics, Arab unity has been an elusive goal for the Arab League (Miller, 2016). In 1981, Arab Gulf States, all members of the Arab League came together at sub-regional level to form Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Read More
Geopolitics of Water Conflict in West Asia: The Tigris-Euphrates Basin
Water is an important strategic resource and geopolitical issue in West Asia. The region has three river basins viz., the Jordan River basin, The Nile River basin and the Tigris and Euphrates River basin. The Jordan River flows to the Dead Sea and is only 251 km long flanked by Israel and the West Bank (Palestine) to the west and the Golan Heights (Syria) and Jordan to its east. Israel, Jordan, Syria and the Palestinians have been trying to control the river.1 Second, the Nile river passes through Egypt and has issues with some upstream countries to protect its water.2 The third and most contentious river basin of the region is the Tigris-Euphrates basin, shared by Turkey, Syria and Iraq. The Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers originate in Turkey forming a basin which encompasses territories of Iraq, Syria and Turkey. Tigris is 1,850 km long, rising in the Taurus Mountains of southeastern Turkey about 25 km southeast of the city of Elazig. The river then flows for 400 km through Turkish territory before becoming the border between Syria and Turkey for 32 km. This stretch is the only part of the river that is located in Syria. Then the river enters Iraq for its rest of the journey. Read More
The Military–Security Dimension of India-West Asia Strategic Partnerships
If one looks at the emerging relations between India and some of the West Asian countries, their engagements are no longer restricted to the traditional oil-energy related cooperation or remittance-related financial activities, but are gradually entering the military-security domain as well. This is discernible since the last few years, particularly after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government headed by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi came to power in May 2014 and started exhibiting personal interest in warming up to the leaders in the said region. The growing importance given by both sides towards strengthening military-security cooperation is timely due to the evolving geopolitical dynamics and security challenges in the respective regions (South Asia and Gulf in this context). Read More
UAE’s Iran Policy: Implications and Prospects for Gulf Security
Geopolitical realism is the dominant trend in the Gulf and wider West Asia at the moment. In the post-1967 the Gulf has gradually emerged as a dominant sub-region and the centre of power away from traditional center of Egypt and Syria. The trend gained momentum in the wake of the Arab Spring when the Gulf States were forced to respond with alacrity and pragmatism to manage and tame this existential threat. Owing to their strategic location, natural resources and increasingly complex demographics, the Gulf region faces wide range of risks to its stability. In addition to the traditional political and military threats, the region is faced with such global challenges as climate change and pandemic which has dented its economic stability devastatingly with ramifications at national and regional level. The United Arab Emirates has responded to the situation with multi-pronged strategy and pragmatic policies in line with the changing geopolitical landscape and emerged as the dominant factor in the Gulf and wider West Asia. It has displayed discernible prudence in its approach to the Gulf security which is integral to its national security. In this perspective, UAE’s Iran policy is a crucial component to analyze and understand dynamics of threat perception and security imperative in the region. Read More
INDIA’S LINK WEST POLICY: PROSPECTS FOR SPACE DIPLOMACY
In the twentieth century, the national interest for a State, was mainly governed by acquiring hard power capabilities and the diplomacy could be seen to have a greater emphasis on the military engagement, especially during the cold-war period. Whereas, in the twenty-first century the Public Diplomacy and Science Diplomacy which involves the role of a number of non-state actors such as citizens, businesses, corporations and non-government organisations have been popular forms of diplomatic engagement. Within the ambit of Science Diplomacy, Space Diplomacy is one of the effective instruments of enhancing cooperation and peaceful engagement.With India’s ambitious space programme, it has already been achieving various milestones and looking forward to establishing itself as a credible space power. With its commercial arms Antrix and NSIL coming into being, it is important to look forward to how India utilises its capabilities for furthering its national interest and how Space capabilities can serve as a tool for fulfilling the goals of its foreign policy. Read More
