Topic– India and its bilateral relations
3) India could find it difficult to maintain a ‘balancing’ approach between different West Asian powers. Discuss. (250 words)
Why this question
This article highlights India’s relations with Israel, Iran and Saudi Arabia and analyzes whether the approach of India is working. The article also highlights the risks ingrained in India’s strategy. The article provides a very good perspective on India’s tightrope diplomacy in West Asia.
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to bring out India’s relations with the major nations of West Asia and how India has so far managed to be less affected by regional and global politics in managing its relations with west Asian nations. The article expects us to bring out the risks ingrained in India’s strategy and discuss the way forward.
Directive word
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments
Structure of the answer
Introduction – briefly highlight the profile of west Asian nations and that over the past few years, the course of India’s relations with Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) suggests that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India finally appears to be moving away from its traditional “balancing” approach to West Asia.
Body
- Discuss India’s relations with each of the three significant West Asian nations whose politics are often at odds with each other. Explain how India has been maintaining a balancing approach so far. Give a brief historical perspective on the nature of India’s relations in the current times.
- Explain about the various push and pull factors in the region and how India has been negotiating with so many factors.
- Thereafter, highlight the pros and cons of India’s strategy and discuss the way forward for India
Conclusion – Give a fair and balanced view on the effectiveness of India’s strategy and what needs to be done.
