India's foreign policy in West Asia has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decade, delivering significant strategic and economic gains. This shift, marked by a landmark agreement with Oman in December 2025, underscores a fundamental reorientation of New Delhi's approach to the region under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.
The Pillars of a Transformed Policy
The cornerstone of this change has been a proactive and sustained diplomatic campaign. Since 2014, Prime Minister Modi has connected the region to India's broader civilizational, economic, and strategic interests through what became known as the "Think West" policy. This engagement expanded strategically beyond the six nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to include countries like Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and several African nations with significant Muslim populations.
A key driver has been the centrality of personal diplomacy. No previous Indian prime minister has invested as much time and political capital in the region. Modi has visited nine Middle Eastern states since taking office, a number exceeding the combined visits of his four predecessors. This direct outreach has built substantial goodwill and trust.
Economic Deepening and Strategic Realism
The diplomatic push has been powerfully complemented by rapidly growing economic ties. India's share of GCC trade, which stood at a mere 3% in 1992, rose to 11% by 2012 and has accelerated sharply in the last decade. By 2020, Saudi Arabia and the UAE had become India's third- and fourth-largest trading partners. In the 2023-24 fiscal year, total trade with the GCC reached an impressive $184 billion, while foreign direct investment from Gulf nations crossed the $20 billion mark.
The recent agreement with Oman, signed on December 18, 2025, exemplifies this trend. It is Oman's first bilateral trade pact since 2006 and offers zero-duty access on over 98% of its tariff lines for Indian exports. This economic partnership goes hand-in-hand with strategic realism. The Indian government has openly addressed concerns regarding China's expanding naval presence in the region. In response, India has positioned itself as a net security provider, conducting joint military exercises with partners like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, and deploying naval assets to protect crucial sea lanes.
Tangible Outcomes and a New Political Reality
The results of this multifaceted strategy are clear and impactful. One of the most striking changes is political. Nations that historically viewed India through the lens of its relationship with Pakistan, notably Saudi Arabia and the UAE, now regard New Delhi as a long-term strategic partner. This de-hyphenation is evident in regional reactions to India's internal matters and in high-level interventions, such as the release of Indian naval veterans from Qatar.
The Indian diaspora in the region has also seen its welfare become a central pillar of diplomatic engagement, reinforcing mutual dependence. Today, India is not neglected but actively courted, respected, and trusted across the Persian Gulf. Few of India's external relationships have evolved so dramatically in such a short period. This transformation, bearing the distinct imprint of Prime Minister Modi's strategic clarity and diplomatic energy, has firmly placed India at the heart of West Asia's evolving geopolitical landscape.
