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Introduction

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Persian Gulf 2019

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Abstract

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s engagements with the Persian Gulf and the broader Middle East took exciting turns in the light of regional concerns and upheavals, especially over Iran and Saudi Arabia. If the former demanded a nuanced fine-tuning, the latter witnessed a firmer political message. The year 2018 saw a renewal of importance that India attaches to the UAE, its traditional friendship with the Sultanate of Oman, dehyphenation of Israel and Palestine and recognition of the crucial role that the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan plays in the Israeli-Palestinian dynamics. The year witnessed the highest number of political visits and contacts with the region since Modi became prime minister in May 2014. He visited Palestine, Jordan, Oman and the UAE and hosted leaders of Israel, Iran and Jordan and continued his G20 outreach with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These visits and exchanges continue to highlight the ascendance of the Persian Gulf in India’s strategic calculations. At the same time, 2018 saw India adapting to challenges over which New Delhi had little control or influence. In the political realm, Iran continues to be a significant concern for India.

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Notes

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Kumaraswamy, P.R., Quamar, M.M. (2020). Introduction. In: Persian Gulf 2019. Persian Gulf. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1432-6_1

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