Answer: India and West Asia share deep civilizational contacts, cultural exchange and historical linkages. Also, India’s policy of non-alignment found tremendous support and strength in the region to face the challenges of the Cold War influences. Geo-political and geo-economic significance of West Asia for India:

• Energy engagement: India’s energy security is largely dependent on the supplies of crude and gas from the region. The economic diversification drive in the Gulf economies (such as Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030) has created an accelerating pace of engagement. The major oil companies of the region- ARAMCO and ADNOC are deepening their engagement with public and private Indian companies.
• Diplomatic ties: The recent Indian outreach in the region has led to new realization of mutuality of geo-strategic and geo-economic interests, trust and re-alignment of interest towards India. India was invited to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in 2019 despite Pakistan’s opposition. On the issue of revocation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, both Saudi Arabia and UAE backed the Indian position.
• Diaspora: There is around 9 million-strong Indian diaspora in the region, which is an invaluable soft power asset for India. Further, the region is one of the highest remittance sources to India. India’s diaspora is also central to the economic progress of this region.
• Relations with Iran: Iran is a key factor in India’s Chabahar port project which is a crucial chain and strategic point in India’s Afghan policy and beyond in Central Asian countries. India can help mitigate sanctions and ease the ‘maximum pressure’ strategy of the US by using its leverage with the US, Saudi Arabia and Israel.
• Formation of a ‘New’ Quad: The 12U2 grouping (comprising India, Israel, the UAE and the US) or the ‘New Quad’ is framed as an economic forum, akin to the ASEAN in its earliest stages. It focuses on cooperation in maritime security, infrastructure, trade, technology, health and big data aimed at economic growth.
• Policy shift from the West to the East: The Gulf states (especially Saudi Arabia) are in the process of diversifying their political and strategic alliance and are turning East to reduce over- dependence on the West. In the wake of receding US interests in the region, the extensive high level Indian visits in the region have given a profound boost to India’s goals and interests.

The strategic significance of the West Asian region for India cannot be overstated. However, the region is infested with multi-layered conflicts and rivalry such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) crisis, Iran- Saudi relations, Iran-Israel conflict, Iran-US conflict and their proxies in Syria, Yemen, etc. India is a strategic partner to the major power aspirants in the region (such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and Israel) and with its soft power, it is better placed than the Western powers to mitigate hostility and conflict in the region and protect its economic and strategic interests.