Iran war tests India's multi-alignment diplomacy
Key takeaways
- New Delhi is proud of its carefully balanced ties with rival nations in the Middle East.
- The Iran war, however, is pushing that formula to its limits.
- For New Delhi, the Iran conflict is more than an energy crisis unfolding in a distant region.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
New Delhi is proud of its carefully balanced ties with rival nations in the Middle East. But this diplomatic strategy might be reaching its breaking point.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Dl C2India has managed to obtain energy from Iran and its regional rivals, while also boosting defense ties with Israel and the USImage: Francis Mascarenhas/REUTERSAdvertisement India has long taken pride in doing what few major powers could manage. It bought oil from Iran, built defense ties with Israel, strengthened relations with the US and expanded economic links with the Gulf monarchies, while insisting it would not be drawn into regional camps or formal alliances.
The Iran war, however, is pushing that formula to its limits. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems to be feeling the pressure — he is set to embark on a diplomatic tour on Friday that will see him visit the United Arab Emirates and four European countries in seven days.