The escalating conflict in West Asia, particularly the ongoing war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, has sent shockwaves through global economies, with India facing significant vulnerabilities. As one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies, India’s stakes in regional stability are immense. Approximately 38% of India’s inward remittances flow from the Gulf region, supporting millions of families and bolstering household consumption and national savings. Moreover, India’s energy security remains heavily reliant on hydrocarbon imports from West Asia, where disruptions can trigger immediate inflationary pressures and strain fiscal balances.

The conflict has already driven oil prices to alarming levels, exacerbating India’s import bill and contributing to currency depreciation. The Indian Rupee has weakened considerably, reaching levels around 92.35 against the US dollar amid these tensions. Such volatility poses risks to inflation control, manufacturing competitiveness, and overall economic momentum. Despite these pressures, the Indian government has adopted a measured and pragmatic approach. Rather than aligning overtly with any belligerent party, New Delhi has consistently advocated for dialogue, diplomacy and de-escalation to restore calm in the region. Simultaneously, robust evacuation and repatriation efforts have been underway to safeguard Indian nationals stranded in conflict-affected Gulf nations, demonstrating a priority on citizen welfare without compromising broader strategic positioning.

This balanced stance has drawn criticism from opposition parties and certain sections of the media, which accuse India of harboring a pro-Israel bias and subordinating national interests to the Israel-US axis. Detractors frequently cite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Israel—occurring shortly before the escalation—as evidence of undue alignment. They interpret his expressions of solidarity with Israel, framed around shared experiences of terrorism, as tacit endorsement of Israel’s military responses and broader US-led actions against Iran. Such portrayals, however, oversimplify a nuanced foreign policy and ignore the depth of India’s longstanding, multi-faceted relationships across West Asia.

Critics who label India-Israel ties as inherently “anti-Islamic” overlook empirical realities. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), for instance, stands as India’s third-largest trading partner, second-biggest export destination, and a major source of foreign investment. Deep economic interdependence with Gulf monarchies—many of which maintain normalized or warming relations with Israel—underscores that India’s partnerships transcend ideological binaries. Indian foreign policy has consistently prioritized peace, development, and national interest without alienating key stakeholders in the Muslim world.

At its core, the India-Israel relationship is rooted in mutual strategic imperatives rather than religious or ideological confrontation. Both nations confront the scourge of radicalism and extremism, which undermines progress and stability across West Asia. Israel has navigated complex relations with several Arab states, including periods of tension, yet has avoided direct military engagement with partners like the UAE in pursuit of broader anti-terror objectives. This convergence on countering terrorism and promoting regional development forms the bedrock of Indo-Israeli cooperation. Strengthening this bond is not merely bilateral; it serves India’s larger goal of fostering a stable, prosperous West Asia free from disruptive radical ideologies that threaten global security and humanity at large.

Türkiye under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan represents another dimension of this challenge. Erdoğan openly embraces the Ottoman legacy, aspiring to position Türkiye as the preeminent leader of the Islamic world, drawing inspiration from figures like Sultan Abdulhamid II. Domestically, his administration has consolidated power, eroding secular institutions and tilting toward theocratic influences where religious authorities increasingly shape state policy. Externally, Erdoğan’s regime has maintained troubling links with Kashmiri separatist elements and figures like fugitive preacher Zakir Naik. Türkiye’s vocal support for Pakistan on Kashmir, coupled with military assistance—including drone supplies and naval upgrades—has been evident in episodes like Operation Sindoor, where Turkish hardware bolstered Pakistani capabilities against India.

Türkiye’s arms exports to Bangladesh rank second only to China, signaling expanding supply chains in South Asia. Its nuclear ambitions further clash with Israel’s firm stance against proliferation in West Asia, breeding inherent rivalry. These dynamics position Türkiye as a rising source of instability, amplifying radical influences and challenging moderate forces in the region.

In response, India and Israel are aligning to counterbalance this multifaceted threat. Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Israel highlighted not only enhanced bilateral security and defense cooperation but also laid groundwork for a broader strategic architecture. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly articulated a vision for a “hexagon of alliances”—a proposed network encompassing Israel, India, Greece, Cyprus, and select Arab, African, and Asian nations. This framework aims to unite like-minded states against radical Shia and emerging Sunni axes, promoting shared security, economic resilience, and counter-extremism efforts.

The hexagonal initiative counters emerging alignments, such as the Saudi-Pakistan mutual defense pact, and signals India’s evolution from a primarily South Asian actor to a proactive global player. By forging forward and backward linkages in shifting geopolitical axes, India safeguards supply chains, energy routes, and diplomatic leverage. The unique strength of the India-Israel partnership lies in both countries’ robust ties with developed economies—enabling collective deterrence against interference by powers like the EU, Russia, or China while curbing radicalism.

To realize this vision, India and Israel must expedite formalization of the hexagonal alliance through regular high-level engagements, agenda-setting summits, and concrete collaboration on security, technology, and trade. Türkiye’s NATO membership provides it a shield, yet its actions—such as routing significant portions of EU military equipment to Russia (reports suggest pathways facilitating such flows)—violate alliance principles. Originally admitted under Atatürk’s secular commitments, Türkiye’s drift toward theocracy raises questions about its compatibility. India, leveraging Israel’s status as a major non-NATO ally and close US partner, should advocate diplomatically for scrutiny of Türkiye’s role, potentially pushing for reevaluation or expulsion from NATO structures.

Parallel efforts should block Türkiye’s EU accession aspirations, given overlapping NATO-EU memberships. India’s recently concluded Free Trade Agreement with the EU—often dubbed the “mother of all deals”—grants substantial leverage, promising duty-free access for most exports and deepening economic interdependence. Building on this, India should prioritize access to Greek ports like Kavala, Volos, and Alexandroupoli as gateways to Europe. These Mediterranean hubs offer strategic vantage points to monitor and counterbalance Turkish influence while enhancing trade corridors. Exporting “Made in India” defense products to Greece merits high priority, reinforcing mutual security ties within the emerging hexagon.

Türkiye’s economy, plagued by high inflation and structural weaknesses, remains dependent on trade with major partners like India. Antagonizing New Delhi—evident in economic fallout post-Operation Sindoor—has proven costly. India, in concert with Israel and allies, can strategically diversify trade routes, redirect supply chains, and reduce reliance on Turkish intermediaries, thereby exerting pressure for more responsible behavior.

In this era of fluid alliances and intensifying geopolitical competition, India’s foreign policy must remain balanced yet assertive. The partnership with Israel should be understood not through narrow ideological prisms but as a pragmatic instrument for regional stability, extremism containment, and long-term strategic autonomy. By deepening engagement with Israel and advancing frameworks like the hexagonal alliance, India can protect its economic lifelines, secure energy interests, and contribute to a more peaceful West Asia—ultimately advancing its vision of a multipolar world where national sovereignty and development prevail over radical disruption.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)