Kuwait in India’s Strategic Discourse: Cooperation, Commitment and Assertiveness
Dr. Devender Kumar
Prime Minister Modi's recent visit to Kuwait is historic and marks a change in India’s West Asia policy. Kuwait has assumed the presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), dialogue partner status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and participation in the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD)—it earmarks that ties are not centered on the UAE or any one state but on the entire Gulf.
Kuwait has extensive coastlines and is a significant energy supplier to India, providing nearly 3 percent of its energy, with total trade amounting to $184.46 billion alongside other GCC states. The country has also established a ‘strategic partnership’ focusing on coastal defence and maritime safety cooperation. Notably, around 1 million Indians are living in Kuwait, making up 30 percent of the Kuwaiti workforce and 21 percent of the total population.
India has gained momentum in Gulf West Asia at a time when the region is going through tumultuous phase with Israel-Hamas, Israel-Iran, Houthis, Syrian Debacle, and the possibility of a major war due to counter-strikes by Israel and Iran on each other.
New Delhi has increased cooperation with nearly all GCC states with four conferring the highest award to the Indian Prime Minister Kuwait recently conferred “the Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer” and signed the agreement on ‘training’, ‘military exercises’, ‘intelligence sharing’, ‘defence production’, science, and technology. Both sides have also joined hands in fighting terrorism and dismantling their finance network.
India can play a pivotal role in West Asian geopolitics due to the goodwill and trust India has attained in the region. Therefore, Prime Minister's visit is unique as it has come after 43 years and India has gained momentum in the defence, technology, and security sectors.
However, there are six major strategic areas for India-Kuwait for considerations.
First, Kuwait is a big country blessed with oil and is home to major ports such as Mubarak Al Kabeer, Doha, Shuwaikh, and Shuaiba with shipping facilities. These ports connect Kuwait to three major waterways i.e. Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman while Chabahar port also fall on the route of these strategic line hence India must connect its Kandla and Jawaharlal Nehru Port as they can receive ships from the Kuwaiti ports.
Second, India has signed a strategic partnership with Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and UAE and it is the fourth GCC state to confer the highest award to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra after Saudi Arabia (2016), UAE (2019), and Bahrain (2019). Such gesture are signs of goodwill and trust India enjoys with the GCC. Therefore, it must opt for the leadership role in West Asia despite turmoil in the region which is the enduring feature of West Asia. New Delhi has successfully maintained good ties with Israel, Iran, and GCC therefore it can influence peace and advise for global good in the conflicting geopolitical situations in West Asia.
Third, during the recent joint ministerial meeting of Inda-GCC, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar outlined that India considers GCC a “collective entity”. Hence it can be used to have cooperation in different areas via ‘collaborative initiatives’ to ‘Extended Neighbourhoods’ though policy arrangements for an ‘Extended Neighbourhood Plus Partnership’ which accommodates Caucasians States in India’s strategic calculus.
Fourth, Kuwait can also become a partner state in the “India-Middle East-Europe Corridor” IMEC, as it has a long coastal line and plays a major role in the import and export of global trade. Prime Minister also highlighted during this visit by stating that India and Kuwait “share same sea, affection and sensibilities”. It can play a significant role in connecting India with the Caucasian countries (Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Russia) via land and sea routes. India also imports oil from Iraq and opened a consulate in Erbil (Kurdistan) therefore strategic importance of ports in these areas will remain important to India in meeting energy needs.
Fifth, India must utilize the Council and its influence in countering Pakistan and its sponsored terrorism against India. It must obtain support of all GCC states in alienating Pakistan in all big platforms in the Muslim world to isolate Pakistan. India must highlight that it is home to the largest Muslim population in the world and attain full support from GCC for its Security Council membership.
Sixth, India must counter Chinese influence in the West Asian region as it recently mediated between Iran and Saudi Arabia. India has good ties with both Israel and other parties therefore prime minister must opt global leadership role in meditation as his seen as a global leader and harbinger of peace. India's cultural and civilizational ties will help in such efforts, unlike China which advances self-serving initiatives to secure smooth supply to China's energy market, rather than resolving West Asian crises. India can play an honest mediator role in the global conflicts.
Apart from this enhanced cooperation, it is yet to be seen how much these countries will be successful in eradicating terrorism and sea piracy from the region as non-state actors (Houthis) gain ground and support from regional players.
Dr. Devender Kumar is Assistant Professor at the Center of Excellence for Geopolitics and International Studies (CEGIS), REVA University.
