India and the Persian Gulf: Locked out or staying out?

Abstract

The Persian Gulf is a crucial strategic space for India. Given India's size, its growing economic and military power, and its proximity, one might expect that India would be a natural regional security provider or even a hegemon in the gulf. But India's ability to project its influence in the area is severely constrained by ideological factors, domestic politics, and longstanding patterns of alignment and rivalry. This article explores India's contemporary security relationships with the gulf in light of these structural constraints. Show more