What Happened
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi held separate telephone conversations with Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman and Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, to express concern over the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
- The calls follow a US-Israel military offensive against Iran that resulted in the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, and Iran's subsequent retaliatory missile and drone strikes across the Gulf, targeting countries including Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and UAE.
- Modi condemned the violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the affected nations and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
- A central concern during both calls was the welfare and physical security of the Indian community in these countries — India has approximately 9 million nationals living across the Gulf region.
- Both Oman and Kuwait leadership reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of the Indian diaspora, which Modi publicly appreciated.
- In total, PM Modi spoke to leaders of 8 West Asian countries within a 48-hour window, reflecting the scale and urgency of India's diplomatic engagement during the crisis.
Static Topic Bridges
India's Policy of Non-Alignment and Strategic Autonomy in Conflicts
India has historically maintained a posture of strategic autonomy, avoiding formal military alliances and preferring dialogue and diplomacy over taking sides in conflicts involving major powers. In the context of the West Asia crisis, this manifests as India condemning attacks on sovereign nations while refraining from explicitly designating aggressors, and simultaneously maintaining engagement with all parties including Iran, Israel, and the US.
- India abstained on several UN Security Council resolutions related to the earlier phases of the Israel-Gaza conflict
- India maintains active diplomatic and economic ties with both Iran (Chabahar port, oil imports) and Israel (defence cooperation, technology)
- The principle of "strategic autonomy" allows India to maintain relations across opposing blocs — described as part of its "multi-alignment" foreign policy
Connection to this news: Modi's calls with Gulf leaders — condemning attacks without naming Iran explicitly as the aggressor in all cases — reflect India's calibrated approach to balancing relationships across a conflict zone critical to its energy and diaspora interests.
The Indian Diaspora in the Gulf — Scale and Strategic Significance
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries host the largest concentration of the Indian diaspora globally. The Indian community in the Gulf — comprising workers, professionals, and long-term residents — is a critical economic and strategic asset for India.
- Estimated 9 million Indian nationals in the Gulf region (UAE: ~3.5 million, Saudi Arabia: ~2.5 million, Kuwait: ~1 million, Oman: ~700,000, Qatar: ~750,000, Bahrain: ~350,000)
- Gulf remittances account for over 50% of India's total inward remittances — India is the world's largest remittance recipient (~$125 billion in 2024)
- Ministry of External Affairs' e-Migrate system and the Emigration Check Required (ECR) category protect vulnerable workers
- Operation Ganga (2022, Ukraine) and Vande Bharat Mission (2020, COVID) are precedents for large-scale evacuation planning
Connection to this news: The safety of the Indian diaspora was the primary consular dimension of Modi's calls, reflecting how diaspora welfare directly shapes India's diplomatic priorities in crisis situations.
India-Gulf Relations — Bilateral Framework
India's relationship with Gulf nations extends beyond diaspora and energy to encompass trade, investment, and strategic partnerships. The India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), signed in 2022, was the first such deal with a Gulf nation. India's engagement with the GCC as a bloc has been deepening through regular high-level summits.
- India-GCC bilateral trade exceeds $160 billion annually
- India-UAE CEPA (2022): covers goods, services, investment — a landmark in India-Gulf economic ties
- Oman has historically served as a backchannel for India-Pakistan diplomatic communication
- Kuwait signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement with India in 2024 during PM Modi's visit — his first to Kuwait in decades
Connection to this news: Modi's prompt outreach to both Oman and Kuwait — the latter with a freshly-signed Strategic Partnership — reflects the upgraded institutional framework governing India's Gulf diplomacy, and the heightened stakes for both energy supply and diaspora safety.
Key Facts & Data
- Indian nationals in Gulf region: approximately 9 million
- Gulf remittances: over 50% of India's total remittance receipts
- India is the world's largest remittance-receiving country (~$125 billion in 2024)
- PM Modi spoke to 8 West Asian leaders within 48 hours of crisis escalation
- Kuwait: Strategic Partnership signed with India in 2024
- Oman: historical role as diplomatic backchannel; Sultan Haitham in power since January 2020
- Iran retaliated with missiles and drones against multiple Gulf states following US-Israel strikes
- India's position: condemns violation of sovereignty; calls for dialogue and diplomacy; no explicit blame attribution