Narendra Modi's visit to Israel last month was not a routine diplomatic stop. It was a deliberate embrace of Benjamin Netanyahu, staged with parades, embraces and a speech in the Knesset. Within days, Israel and the US launched strikes on Iran, which responded by closing the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices spiked, Gulf capitals braced for instability, and the region slid deeper into war. Modi's choice to stand firmly with Israel now looks less like a strategic masterstroke and more like a reckless gamble.

India once prided itself on balancing ties across West Asia. Israel was a partner for defence and technology, the Gulf for energy and trade, Iran for connectivity. This balancing act allowed Delhi to maintain generally good relations with all sides. Modi's embrace of Israel has shattered that balance. In a region where visibility equals policy, India is now seen as part of the same security architecture that shields Israel while Gaza burns and Iranian cities are bombed.

The risks are not abstract. India's diaspora in the Gulf — over 6.8 million people........

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