Editorial 1: Looking West
Context:
- Recently, a meeting between India and US, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) was held to explore possibilities of Rail connectivity with west asia through sea lanes.
Status and history of West Asia:
- The west asia had always been the theatre of conflicts whether sect based (Shia Iran vs Sunni Saudi Arabia), religion based (Jew Israel vs Muslim countries), great power politics based (Russia supported Iran, Iraq, etc. vs US supported Saudi Arabia, Israel, etc.) or Claim of the land territory (Israel vs Palestine).
However, in recent times, few of these traditional dynamics have drastically altered causing de-hyphenation due to
- The Abraham Accords 2020 for normalization of relations between Jew Israel and Muslim UAE and Bahrain, brokered by the US.
- In 2023, there was restoration of ties between Shia Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia.
- Rise of China as a challenge to traditional great power i.e. US in the region.
- Russia- China axis has posed a challenge for the US which has brought India into US fold indirectly.
- China’s Belt and Road Initiative aims to expand its influence across the region.
- Debt Trap diplomacy is another tool to gain influence.
- China Pakistan bonhomie is also an issue for India in its neighbourhood.
Significance of West Asia for India:
- The West Asian region is considered as India’s extended neighbourhood. India’s engagement with the region is rooted in history, cultural exchanges and vibrant diaspora. India has huge stakes involved in the region such as regional stability, security, energy, trade and safety of Indian community in the region.
- Energy security: It imports nearly 40 per cent of its oil and 70 per cent of its gas requirements from the region.
- Source of Precious Foreign Exchange: India is the largest recipient of foreign remittances from west Asia. India in 2021 received US$ 87 billion, an uptick from US$ 83 billion in 2020. The remittances from Gulf States contribute a major chunk in India’s total share. In fact, the UAE (US$ 43 billion) and Saudi Arabia (US$ 34.5 billion) are second and third largest sources for remittance outflow globally in 2020.
- Indian Diaspora: 11 million Indians working in West Asia. Therefore, stability in the region is high on India’s core agenda.
- Countering Terror and Crime: Cooperation and coordination is necessary to counter radicalization, terrorism and crime in India.
- Key to Central Asia: West Asia is gateway to land locked, energy rich central Asia region.
- Geostrategic importance: To reduce the influence of China in west Asia and in Arabian Sea. China is continuously making in road to west Asia through OBOR initiative.
India’s Link West Policy 2014:
India’s Link West Policy is a new paradigm in multidimensional engaging with the west asia ending ideological inhibitions and outdated slogans and free from domestic politics. Key pillars of this policy include
- De-hyphenation of relationship between opposite sides of the conflict like Israel-Palestine or Iran-Saudi Arabia etc. It means relationship with one should not impact relationship with the other. Both relations remain independent.
- Taking forthright positions on terrorism, nuclear proliferation and other controversial regional issues of concern while engaging with great powers like United States or Russia.
- Direct engagement with the influential diaspora in the region and ensure their safety and security.
- Containing China will be a major objective to protect India’s Interests in the region, especially focus on control over Indian Ocean Region through West Asia.
Way Forward:
- West Asia is the key to stability in the South Asia region due to rising threat of Taliban, non-conventional threats, cyber warfare, Fourth Generation Warfare or proxy warfare, etc. India can also strengthen its claim to the UNSC permanent seat if it plays a constructive role in the development of peace in the region. This will protect its investment, energy security and vital diaspora interests in the region.
Editorial 2: Why Arab League has reinstated Syria, 12 years after suspension
Context:
- Recently, Arab League reinstated the membership of Syria as a positive step of reengagement with the Syrian government.
Key reasons behind the move:
- Key to regional stability: Syria’s ongoing civil war has caused widespread migration, refugee crisis and instability in the region.
- Drug Smuggling: Amphetamine(captagon) production in Syria is proliferating across borders causing security problems in the region.
- Changed regional dynamics: China-supported normalization of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia has created favourable environment for Syria (an ally of Iran).
- Earthquake Disaster: Humanitarian situation created by the earthquake in Syria also caused concern in the leaders of the region. This was after Covid-19 pandemic
- Prolonged Civil War: Since 2011, it has been more than a decade of civil war which has killed around half a million and displaced around 23 million. This has created a protracted political and socioeconomic crisis in the region which is still ongoing.
Steps taken:
- Geneva Peace Talks 2017 : These were peace negotiations between the Syrian government and the Syrian opposition under the auspices of the United Nations. The warring sides did not get to face-to-face negotiations, but for eight days no party walked away, while Russia talked with the parties separately.
- Astana Process 2017: A new round of talks between the Syrian government and some groups of Syrian rebels concluded in 2017 in Astana, Kazakhstan, with Russia, Iran and Turkey supporting the ceasefire agreement brokered in late December 2016. Later, a memorandum was signed whereby four "de-escalation zones" in Syria would be established.
- Sochi Agreement of 2019: Russia also negotiated a renewal of a cease-fire between Kurds and Turkey to set up a Second Northern Syria Buffer Zone in northern Syria.
- Syria joined the China’s Belt and Road Initiative through an MoU to expand cooperation with China and other partner countries in areas such as trade, technology, capital, human movement and cultural exchange.
Way Forward:
- There is a need for stability in Syria after the defeat of ISIS in Syria and widespread destruction and displacement which led to the political and socioeconomic crisis in Syria and in the region. Need is for comprehensive rehabilitation, resettlement and reconstruction of Syria apart from repatriation of refugees as well. Global cooperation is essential to rebuild Syria in this time of crisis.
About Arab League:
It is a regional organization in the Arab world, which is located in Northern Africa, Western Africa, Eastern Africa, and Western Asia. The Arab League was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945, initially with six members: Egypt, Iraq, Jordan,
Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Currently, the League has 22 members.
The League's main goal is to "draw closer the relations between member states and co-ordinate collaboration between them, to safeguard their independence and sovereignty, and to consider in a general way the affairs and interests of the Arab countries".
The League consists of the Council, the Special Ministerial Committees, the General-Secretariat and the Specialised Agencies.
Through institutions, notably the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) and the Economic and Social Council of its Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU), the League facilitates political, economic, cultural, scientific, and social programmes designed to promote the interests of the Arab world.
Joint Arab Economic Action Charter, which outlines the principles for economic activities in the region. Joint Defence and Economic Cooperation agreement in 1950 committed the signatories to coordination of military defence measures.
The Arab Charter on Human Rights (ACHR), adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States on 22 May 2004, affirms the principles contained in the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights and the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam.
Being conferred observer status in 2007, India was the first member to enter the League although it does not have an Arab community, neither does it have an indigenous Arabic speaking population.