India finds itself in a tough spot as the Israel-Iran confrontation deepens. Such a conflict risks India’s energy security in the region and its own land transportation connectivity. India maintains close ties with both countries. The current conflict puts everything it has been working toward in the Middle East in jeopardy.
India enjoys strong diplomatic relations with Israel, which has increased notably with defense and economic collaboration. It continues to maintain an amicable partnership with Iran, especially in areas of energy and trade. The continued stability of the Middle East is of extreme importance to India. The country relies on seamless flow of resources from this very unstable region to maintain energy security.
Recent events have made India’s balancing act all the more difficult. This is on top of the U.S. announcement of airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites by B-2 stealth bombers. These punitive military gestures will only increase tensions. First, they risk breaking the careful triangulation that New Delhi has managed to maintain between its two partners.
Harsh V. Pant, vice president of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), underlined the significance of this conflict for India.
“An escalation of conflict in the Middle East puts Indian interests in jeopardy,” – Harsh V. Pant
The resultant conflict threatens to spark a wider regional conflict, a catalyst for which is something India cannot abide. India relies on Iran’s port of Chabahar for major connectivity projects that improve trade routes towards Central Asia and further. These projects are critical for diversifying India’s trade and securing its energy supply chains.
Mainly, as the crisis develops, India does not want to see an escalation that puts New Delhi’s strategic interests at stake. The country aims to balance its arms reliance on Israel while simultaneously fostering economic ties with Iran, ensuring that both relationships do not become collateral damage in a growing regional conflict.
“India’s energy security is linked to the stability in the Middle East. … So India has no interest in the widening of this conflict and the conflict continuing in the region.” – Harsh V. Pant
As the situation unfolds, India remains cautious about any escalation that could jeopardize its strategic interests. The country aims to balance its arms reliance on Israel while simultaneously fostering economic ties with Iran, ensuring that both relationships do not become collateral damage in a growing regional conflict.