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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EDUCATION, MODERN MANAGEMENT, APPLIED SCIENCE & SOCIAL SCIENCE (IJEMMASSS) [ Vol. 8 | No. 1 (III) Special Issue | January - March, 2026 ]

India’s Strategic Engagement in West Asia: Managing Iran–Gulf Power Dynamics, Addressing Middle East Geopolitical Challenges, and Crafting a Forward-Looking Foreign Policy Roadmap

Dr. Manju Gandhi

West Asia occupies a central position in India’s foreign policy due to its strategic importance in energy security, trade, diaspora welfare, and regional stability. The region’s complex geopolitical environment—marked by Iran–Gulf rivalries, protracted conflicts, sectarian tensions, and external power interventions—poses both opportunities and challenges for India. This research paper examines India’s strategic engagement with West Asia by focusing on its calibrated approach towards Iran and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, its response to evolving Middle East geopolitical challenges, and the formulation of a future-oriented foreign policy roadmap. The study argues that India’s policy is guided by strategic autonomy, pragmatic diplomacy, and economic rationality, enabling it to balance competing regional interests while safeguarding national priorities. The paper concludes by outlining a forward-looking roadmap emphasizing economic connectivity, energy diversification, multilateral engagement, and conflict-sensitive diplomacy.

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https://doi.org/10.1177/23477970221091245

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