03075nam a22002537a 4500999001700000020001800017041000900035082002000044100002800064245012200092260005500214300001700269504004000286520215600326546001202482650003702494650002202531650004302553650002802596650001602624650004402640942001202684952012502696  c39604d39604  a9789382445660  aeng-  a327.101 bGUR-G  aGurjar, Sankalpeauthor  aGeopolitics of the Northwest Indian ocean : bexploring the strategic presence of West Asian states /cSankalp Gurjar  aNew Delhi :bIndian Council World Affairs, c2022.  a72p.e21.5cm  aIncludes bibliographical references  aIn the last few years, West Asian states such as Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Israel and United Arab Emirates (UAE) have emerged as key players in the geopolitics of the Northwest Indian Ocean (NWIO). The region is located in proximity to the energy-rich West Asia and resource-rich East and Central Africa and is home to key maritime chokepoints like Bab-el-Mandeb and the Suez Canal. The presence and activities of West Asian states in the Red Sea region have intensified in the wake of the Arab Spring of 2010-11 and the war in Yemen (2015 onwards). These states are engaging with the region through economic, political and military instruments and seek to expand their influence. In the process, the geopolitics of the NWIO is being reshaped.

The paper attempts to analyze and map the growing presence of West Asian states in the NWIO. The paper begins by defining the NWIO region and explaining the strategic importance of the NWIO. It explains the presence of major global powers in the region. In particular, India's stakes in the NWIO are considered. The paper identifies four key drivers that are driving the engagement of the West Asian states with the NWIO: the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran, political Islam, power projection in the Red Sea, and food and maritime security. The paper focuses on the engagements of six West Asian players (Qatar, Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Israel) in the NWIO. The engagement of these players with the NWIO is most visible and intense. The paper takes into account two major fault lines in West Asia: first, between Qatar and Turkey against Saudi Arabia and UAE; second, the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran. These fault lines have been played out in the NWIO as well and are reflected in the paper.

Overall, the growing role of West Asian players in the NWIO is an important development in the evolving geopolitics of the Indian Ocean. It is reshaping the strategic milieu of the Horn of Africa as well as the Red Sea region. With the growing military presence of global powers in the region, intensifying regional rivalries add an interesting dimension to the evolving geopolitics.  aEnglish  aGeopoliticszIndian Ocean Region  aStrategic aspects  aForeign relationszIndian Ocean Region  aPolitics and government  aMiddle East  aMilitary relationszIndian Ocean Region  2ddccBK  00104070aNASSDOCbNASSDOCd2024-03-26eGratisg0.00iNAl0o327.101 GUR-Gp54698r2025-07-23 00:00:00w2024-03-26yBK