India and West Asia
Strategic Interests and Diaspora
India has significant strategic, economic, and demographic stakes in West Asia (the Middle East). Over 9 million Indian nationals live and work in GCC countries (the largest component of India's diaspora in any region), remitting approximately $45-50 billion annually to India. India's energy dependence on the Gulf has been outlined above. India also runs Operation Kaveri (Sudan, 2023) and Operation Dost (Turkey-Syria earthquake, 2023) as examples of its evacuation and humanitarian capabilities in the region. The Gulf is also a hub for India's infrastructure investment through the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC), announced at the G20 New Delhi Summit (2023).
- Indian diaspora in GCC: ~9 million (largest regional concentration of Indian expatriates)
- Annual remittances from GCC to India: ~$45-50 billion
- IMEEC: India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor; G20 New Delhi (2023); connects India-Gulf-Europe
- Operation Kaveri (2023): Evacuation of Indians from Sudan during civil conflict
- Operation Dost (2023): India's disaster relief in Turkey-Syria earthquake
- India's policy: Strategic autonomy; avoids taking sides in US-Iran confrontation; balances relations with all Gulf states, Iran, and Israel
● Tracked since February 28, 2026 · last seen March 09, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes