India's West Asia Policy

India's approach to West Asia has evolved from Nehruvian non-alignment to what analysts describe as calibrated multi-alignment. India maintains parallel relationships with Iran, the Gulf monarchies, Israel, and the US — a balancing act that allows it to engage with all parties without being perceived as partisan. India was the first non-Arab country to recognise the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) in 1974. Under the "Act West" policy (complementing "Act East"), India has deepened economic and energy ties with Gulf states through instruments like the India-UAE CEPA (2022) and the I2U2 grouping (India, Israel, UAE, US, established 2022).