Koushik Das posted: " Almost four weeks have passed since the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas Movement began in West Asia on October 7, 2023. As Israel's attack on the Gaza Strip intensifies, global geopolitics heats up. While the US and its Western allies b" Boundless Ocean Of Politics
Almost four weeks have passed since the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas Movement began in West Asia on October 7, 2023. As Israel's attack on the Gaza Strip intensifies, global geopolitics heats up. While the US and its Western allies back the Zionist Regime, the Arab World, including Saudi Arabia, Iran and Turkey, stand by the Palestinians. Interestingly, China and India - the two major Asian powers - have taken a cautious stand on the Hamas issue.
Initially, China did not criticise Hamas after the Palestinian outfit triggered the war by launching rocket attacks on the Jewish nation. Hamas reportedly fired more than 5,000 rockets toward Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7. A couple of weeks later, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an immediate ceasefire between the two warring parties. The Asian giant recently sent six warships to the troubled region. It may be noted that Beijing has kept itself out of regional disputes (especially in West Asia) for the past few decades.
In fact, the Asian powerhouse has maintained cordial ties with almost all the countries in West Asia mainly to serve its own commercial interests. Currently, China imports more than half of its total consumption of crude oil from this region. Beijing has also emphasised on strengthening diplomatic ties with West Asian nations for a specific geopolitical purpose that is to mitigate the US' influence in this region. The Xi Jinping Administration also played an important role in mediating peace talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia earlier in 2023. Once, it was considered as the responsibility of the US.
On the other hand, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi stood by Israel immediately after the Hamas attack. Later, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement in which New Delhi mentioned the necessity of formation of an independent Palestinian State. Incidentally, Modi, after becoming the Prime Minister in 2014, emphasised on strengthening India's ties with Israel and the Arab World. As many countries in West Asia have started considering India as an emerging economic power, they have developed a diplomatic partnership with the South Asian nation. Apart from signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), India has formed a new economic alliance - I2U2 - with Israel, the UAE and the US in 2021. I2U2 is basically a trilateral partnership that is working to tackle global challenges and to advance economic opportunities. During the recently held G-20 Summit in New Delhi, Prime Minister Modi announced the plan to build the India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor that would include Saudi Arabia and the UAE as partners.
Watch: Gaurav Sawant, an Indian journalist who was reporting right from Israel and West Bank, revisits the horrifying images and stories of war and human suffering.
Meanwhile, this ambitious project of the Modi Government is facing a tough challenge due to the ongoing armed conflict between Israel and Hamas. If the war flares up beyond Gaza, then it will certainly affect India's diplomatic ties with the Arab World, as well as the regional geopolitics. Hence, the scenario shall become increasingly difficult for India.
Since India maintains cordial ties with both Israel and the Arab World, it has no choice but to maintain a diplomatic balance in this ever-changing geopolitical landscape. Hopefully, India's balancing act would be successful in West Asia as it was in the case of Russia-Ukraine War.
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