Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s five-nation diplomatic tour across the United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy from May 15-20, 2026 reflects India’s broader effort to establish itself as a consequential actor in an increasingly fragmented multipolar order. As geopolitical rivalries intensify, supply chains reorganize, and energy markets remain volatile, New Delhi is pursuing partnerships capable of supporting both economic modernization and strategic autonomy.

India’s outreach to Europe and the Gulf is driven largely by economic and technological considerations. Access to semiconductor ecosystems, renewable energy cooperation, logistics infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and foreign investment has become central to India’s long-term development strategy. Negotiations surrounding the India-EU Free Trade Agreement and the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement illustrate New Delhi’s attempt to integrate itself more deeply into evolving global production and technology networks.

At the same time, Indian foreign policy has evolved from diplomacy centered primarily on symbolism and political alignment toward a more capability-oriented approach focused on industrial resilience, artificial intelligence, defence manufacturing, and strategic connectivity.

Yet India’s Gulf strategy now carries implications extending far beyond economics. New Delhi is increasingly attempting to convert economic interdependence into geopolitical leverage in a region where security structures, historical alliances, and ideological legitimacy continue to outweigh commercial influence.

Yet India’s Gulf strategy now carries implications extending far beyond economics. New Delhi is increasingly attempting to convert economic interdependence into geopolitical leverage in a region where security structures, historical alliances, and ideological legitimacy continue to outweigh commercial influence.

The UAE as India’s Gateway into West Asia

Among all stops on Modi’s tour, the UAE remains the most strategically significant. Modi’s meeting with President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan builds on a relationship that has acquired substantial geopolitical depth over the past decade. Trade, infrastructure investment, fintech cooperation, logistics connectivity, and energy coordination have transformed the India-UAE relationship into one of the most consequential partnerships in the broader Middle East.

India increasingly views the UAE not simply as an energy supplier or commercial partner, but as a gateway into West Asia through which it can expand........

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