India's stance on Iran-Israel conflict

India's stance on Iran-Israel conflict

GS-2: International Relations

(IAS/UPPCS)

Relevant for Prelims:

Islamic Republic of Iran, Operation Honest Promise, Tehran Declaration, India's relations with Iran and Israel.

Relevant for Mains:

India's relations with Iran and Israel, significance, India's stance on Iran-Israel conflict, Way forward, Conclusion.

16/04/2024

Source: IE

Why in news:

Expressing serious concern over the unrest and increasing hostility arising out of the war between Iran and Israel, India has recently issued a statement calling on both the countries to "immediately de-escalate tensions".

  • It is noteworthy that Iran had recently launched drones and cruise missiles against Israel under Operation True Promise (also known as "Operation Honest Promise") in retaliation for Israel's attack on the Iranian Embassy in Damascus.
  • This Iranian attack was in response to a suspected Israeli attack in which 12 people have been killed.

India's stance on Iran-Israel conflict:

Threat to Indian community:

  • There are about 18,000 Indians in Israel and about 5,000-10,000 Indians in Iran, about 90 lakh people are living and working in the Gulf and West Asia region.
  • Any conflict that spreads will pose a threat to the Indian community living in the region.

Energy security:

  • The West Asia region contributes 80 percent of India's oil supply, which would be impacted by a potential conflict.
  • India is able to mitigate the impact on oil prices due to the Russia-Ukraine war by purchasing Russian oil at discounted prices, but the conflict will have an adverse impact on energy prices.

Investment and Strategic Importance:

  • India has invested in strategic relations with key Arab countries, Iran and Israel.
  • India views the region as its extended neighbourhood, and is pushing for the India-Middle-East-Europe Economic Corridor, which also has strategic and economic benefits.
  • Chabahar in Iran is another strategic economic project, which serves as a gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia – as Pakistan denies land transit for Indian goods.

Defence relations with Israel:

  • India has very deep strategic relations with Israel, especially in terms of defense and security partnership.

Maintaining a balanced stance:

  • The stakes for India in bilateral relations with both Israel and Iran are huge, with India hoping that Israel will avoid new military actions that would lead to a dangerous and widespread war in the region.
  • India used to be seen as taking "sides with Israel", but today its position urging restraint will be seen as "balanced" and in favor of regional peace.

Based on complex regional politics:

  • Inter-state conflicts in the Middle East are deep and widespread, and India will always have to balance its engagement with key regional actors – Egypt, Iran, Israel, Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – whose interests and interests are at odds with each other. They are different and often in conflict.
  • India's call for reducing tensions between Israel and Iran is about recognizing the complexity of the politics of the region.

Non-ideological engagement:

  • Non-ideological engagement with the region is an essential complement to India's growing interests in the Middle East.
  • India's interests in the region are no longer limited to oil imports and labor exports.
  • The Gulf Arab countries – especially Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – have emerged as major economic and political partners for India.

India's relations with Iran-Israel

India-Israel relations:

  • Diplomatic relations: India officially recognized Israel in the year 1950, but full diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on January 29, 1992.
  • Trading Partners: India is Israel's third largest trading partner in Asia and seventh largest trading partner globally.
  • Investment: Israeli companies have invested in India in energy, renewable energy, telecommunications, real estate, water technologies and are focusing on setting up R&D centers or production units in India.
  • Defence Imports: India is one of the largest importers of arms from Israel, contributing about 40 percent of its annual arms exports.
  • International Solar Alliance: Israel joined this alliance under the leadership of India.

Significance of Israel for India

  • Israel is a good friendly country of India. During the 1999 Kargil war, Israel came out openly in support of India. There have been agreements between Israel and India in the defense sector, under which Israel has helped India in starting startups in the MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) sector of India.

India-Iran relations:

  • India and Iran relations have existed since the era of the Persian Empire.
  • Before independence and partition, India's borders were connected to Iran.
  • Tehran Declaration: Signed during Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's visit to Iran, through this declaration both the countries reaffirmed their shared vision for an "equal, pluralistic and cooperative international order". It was marked by the then Iranian President Mohammad Khatami as a dialogue between the civilizations of the two countries.
  • India is the world's third largest oil importer and consumer and imports a major portion of its petroleum purchases from the Middle East.

Significance of Iran for India:

  • Iran is an important partner of India for its reach to Middle East Asia and Europe. India is building Chabahar Port in Iran so that India can reach Afghanistan and other countries of Central Asia while ignoring Pakistan. Iran is also a major oil importer of India.

Way forward:

  • India has strategic relations with both Iran and Israel – and for decades, it has been able to strike a balance between the two sides. But if the conflict escalates, it will be difficult for him to maintain a dilemma. Concrete solutions should be found for this.
  • In the context of such deep ties with both Israel and Iran, India will find it difficult to choose a side. Therefore, India's stance should be "immediate de-escalation" and a policy of "refrain from violence" and "return to the path of diplomacy" which are vital to its national interest.

Conclusion:

Both Iran and Israel are friendly countries of India. In such a situation, India's position in this war should not be completely neutral because while India's geopolitical interests are linked with Iran, so are its defense relations with Israel. The Government of India needs to work on a strategic plan that does not affect all its interests.

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Mains Question

Comment on India's stance on the recent Iran-Israel conflict.

Maintaining relations with Iran-Israel can be very important for India in future. Discuss.