What Happened
- PM Narendra Modi spoke by telephone with Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman and Crown Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, expressing concern over attacks on their territories during the West Asia conflict.
- Modi also spoke with Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani as part of the same diplomatic outreach wave.
- A key focus of the calls was the welfare and safety of Indian nationals residing in these Gulf countries, with millions of Indian diaspora members living and working across Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar.
- India condemned the violation of Kuwait's sovereignty and territorial integrity, pledging solidarity.
- Modi emphasised the need for sustained diplomatic engagement to restore regional peace and stability.
- The calls followed a day after Modi had spoken with leaders of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Jordan — suggesting a systematic outreach to all GCC members within a 48-hour period.
- EAM S. Jaishankar simultaneously engaged with foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Iran, and Israel.
Static Topic Bridges
India's Gulf Policy and the Indian Diaspora
India's foreign policy toward the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries is shaped by a combination of energy dependency, trade linkages, and diaspora welfare — what policymakers call the "three pillars" of the India-Gulf relationship.
- The six GCC countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman) are home to approximately 8.9 million Indian nationals — the largest concentration of Indian diaspora in any single region.
- Gulf-based Indians contribute approximately 38% of India's total inward remittances (~$118.7 billion in FY2023-24), though their share has been declining as diaspora in advanced economies has grown.
- India imports approximately 85% of its crude oil and 80% of its LPG, with West Asia supplying the largest share.
- The MEA's Pravasi Bharatiya Division and Indian embassies coordinate diaspora welfare, evacuation operations, and consular services across Gulf postings.
- Modi has actively cultivated personal relationships with Gulf heads of state, conducting multiple bilateral visits to Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and Oman since 2014.
Connection to this news: The diplomatic calls serve the dual purpose of expressing solidarity with GCC states under threat and securing host-country cooperation for the safety of Indian nationals — a primary obligation under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
India's "Strategic Autonomy" in West Asia Conflict
India has historically practised strategic autonomy in West Asian conflicts — maintaining equidistant relationships with Israel, Gulf Arab states, and Iran while avoiding formal alliance commitments. The current US-Israel-Iran conflict directly tests this doctrine.
- India voted in favour of multiple UN General Assembly resolutions calling for ceasefire in Gaza (2023-24), while maintaining defence and intelligence cooperation with Israel.
- India has comprehensive strategic partnerships with both the UAE (2017) and Saudi Arabia (2019), while also maintaining civilisational ties with Iran through the Chabahar Port Agreement.
- India's position typically calls for "peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy" — avoiding explicit condemnation of Israel or the US.
- In the current conflict, India condemned violations of Kuwait's sovereignty — a departure from absolute neutrality, reflecting the severity of Iranian retaliatory strikes on GCC territory.
- Operation Ajay (2023) and Operation Dost (2023) demonstrated India's capacity for diaspora evacuation from conflict zones, establishing institutional muscle memory.
Connection to this news: The diplomatic calls reflect India's immediate priority — securing its nationals — while managing relationships with all conflict parties simultaneously, consistent with strategic autonomy doctrine.
India-Oman Relations: Strategic Significance
Oman holds special significance for India beyond the broader Gulf relationship — it is the only GCC state that has historically maintained cordial relations with Iran, giving it a unique diplomatic bridging role.
- India-Oman relationship is governed by a Comprehensive Partnership Agreement (signed 2008, upgraded 2022).
- Oman's Port of Duqm hosts India's first military logistics facility in the Gulf — a key strategic asset for the Indian Navy's Indian Ocean operations.
- India-Oman bilateral trade: approximately $11.7 billion (FY2023-24).
- Approximately 665,000 Indian nationals reside in Oman; remittances to India from Oman amount to several billion dollars annually.
- Oman has traditionally served as a backchannel for US-Iran diplomatic engagement — a role that may be relevant in de-escalation efforts.
- Oman's neutrality in the GCC's Qatar blockade (2017-2021) demonstrated its independent foreign policy stance.
Connection to this news: Modi's call to Sultan Haitham reflects India's appreciation of Oman's unique diplomatic role and its potential as an interlocutor in any de-escalation process with Iran.
India's Consular Obligations Under International Law
India's diplomatic outreach on diaspora welfare is grounded in binding international legal obligations under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (VCCR), 1963, as well as domestic law.
- VCCR Article 36 requires host countries to notify consular authorities when a foreign national is arrested or detained.
- India's MEA has a dedicated Consular, Passport and Visa (CPV) Division managing approximately 33 million Indian passport holders abroad.
- The MEA's Emergency Evacuation Policy (2016) provides for tiered responses — from diplomatic advisories to full evacuations (Operation Sukoon, 2006 Lebanon; Operation Raahat, 2015 Yemen; Operation Ganga, 2022 Ukraine; Operation Ajay, 2023 Israel).
- Air India and IAF aircraft can be deployed for evacuation; MEA coordinates with embassies on ground logistics.
Connection to this news: The calls to Gulf leaders serve as a diplomatic underpinning for any potential consular or evacuation operations that India may need to mount if the West Asia conflict spreads further to GCC territory.
Key Facts & Data
- Indian nationals in Gulf: approximately 8.9 million (MEA estimate, 2024).
- Indian nationals in Oman: approximately 665,000; in Kuwait: approximately 1 million; in Qatar: approximately 830,000.
- India's remittances (FY2023-24): $118.7 billion total; GCC share: approximately 38%.
- PM Modi spoke with 8 West Asian heads of state within a 48-hour window during the crisis.
- EAM Jaishankar simultaneously engaged with counterparts from 7 countries including both Iran and Israel.
- India's Duqm Port facility (Oman): first Indian military logistics base in the Gulf region.
- India-Kuwait bilateral trade: approximately $11-12 billion; India-Qatar trade: approximately $15 billion (dominated by LNG).