Partnerships with the UAE and Israel are helping India expand its influence not only in the Middle East but also across the larger Asia-Europe trade corridor.

Partnerships with the UAE and Israel are helping India expand its influence not only in the Middle East but also across the larger Asia-Europe trade corridor.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent engagements in West Asia point to something much bigger than routine diplomacy. India’s approach to the Middle East is clearly changing. For years, New Delhi’s relationship with the region revolved around oil imports, remittances, and the Indian workforce in Gulf countries. That relationship still matters, but it is no longer the full picture.

Today, the Middle East has become strategically important for India in ways that go far beyond energy security. Trade routes, technology partnerships, maritime stability, and geopolitical influence are now part of the conversation. As global rivalries sharpen and supply chains become more political, India is trying to secure a stronger role in the region instead of remaining just an economic stakeholder.

One of the clearest signs of this shift is the growing cooperation between India, the UAE, and Israel. What makes this partnership stand out is India’s ability to maintain ties across competing regional camps without becoming deeply entangled in their rivalries. New Delhi can engage with Iran through forums like BRICS while also expanding defense and economic cooperation with Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv.

That balancing strategy is especially visible in the Strait of Hormuz. India consistently supports the idea of keeping the waterway open because a large share of global energy and trade passes through it. At the same time, India avoids military coalitions against Iran. The focus remains on........

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