| PYQ Relevance: Q) In what ways would the ongoing US-Iran Nuclear Pact Controversy affect the national interest of India? How should India respond to its situation? (UPSC CSE 2018) Q) The question of India’s Energy Security constitutes the most important part of India’s economic progress. Analyze India’s energy policy cooperation with West Asian Countries. (UPSC CSE 2017) Prelims Q) Which of the following is not a member of ‘Gulf Cooperation Council’? (UPSC CSE 2016) a) Iran b) Saudi Arabia c) Oman d) Kuwait |
Mentor’s Comment: Iran’s geographical position between the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea makes it a crucial link for India to access Central Asia and the Middle East. This is particularly important given India’s limited land connectivity to these regions due to tensions with Pakistan.
Strategically, Iran possesses one of the largest reserves of crude oil and natural gas in the world. Strengthening ties with Iran can help India secure its energy needs, especially as it seeks to diversify its sources of oil imports.
Security wise, both countries share concerns about regional stability, particularly regarding extremist groups.
Today’s editorial discusses the recent developments in the relationship between India and Iran, particularly in light of their interactions during the BRICS summit held in Kazan, Russia.
_
Let’s learn!
Why in the News?
The present 16th BRICS Summit (October 22-24, 2024) meeting marked the first interaction between Indian PM Narendra Modi and Iranian Prez Masoud Pezeshkian, since Pezeshkian took office following the death of former President Ebrahim Raisi.
| What were the key discussions? • On Bilateral Ties: Both leaders reviewed the full spectrum of India-Iran relations, emphasizing the potential for deeper cooperation across various sectors, particularly in connectivity and trade. • On Strategic Projects: The leaders discussed critical initiatives such as the Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which are vital for enhancing trade links with Central Asia and supporting Afghanistan’s reconstruction efforts. • On Regional stability: Given the ongoing conflict in West Asia, both leaders acknowledged India’s unique position to advocate for peace and de-escalation. Modi expressed concerns over escalating violence and emphasized the need for dialogue. History of Strong Civilization Ties: • Common Origins: Both civilizations are believed to have originated from a common Indo-Iranian ancestry, with linguistic and cultural exchanges dating back to prehistoric times. Historical trade routes facilitated exchanges between the Indus Valley Civilization and ancient Persia, with goods such as silver, copper, and precious stones being traded across the Persian Gulf. • Cultural Interactions: The spread of Buddhism from India to Persia significantly influenced Iranian culture. Later, Sufism fostered spiritual ties, leading to deep cultural exchanges in literature and philosophy. Persian literature became highly influential in India during the Mughal-Safavid Period. • Modern Diplomatic Relations: India and Iran formalized their relationship with a friendship treaty in 1950. The recent collaborations focus on energy security and regional stability, highlighted by projects like the development of Chabahar Port, which enhances connectivity between India, Iran, and Afghanistan. |
How does the inclusion of Iran in BRICS impact India’s strategic interests?
- Economic Opportunities: Iran’s membership can boost bilateral trade through initiatives like the Chabahar Port, enhancing India’s access to Central Asia.
- Strengthened ties may facilitate oil imports from Iran, helping India diversify its energy sources.
- Geopolitical Dynamics: BRICS provides a platform for India to promote a multipolar world, and balance Western dominance in global affairs.
- Including Iran could foster dialogue and reduce tensions in the Middle East, benefiting India’s regional interests.
- Complex Relationships: India must manage its relationship with Iran while maintaining ties with Western allies, which BRICS dynamics could complicate.
- Iran’s inclusion may enhance China’s leverage in the region, posing challenges for India’s strategic positioning.
What are the potential economic benefits for India from strengthened ties with Iran through BRICS?
- Increased Trade Opportunities: A Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) could boost trade in various sectors, enhancing exports of Indian goods like agriculture and machinery to Iran.
- Iran serves as a gateway for India to reach Central Asian markets via the Chabahar Port, facilitating trade routes that bypass Pakistan.
- Energy Security: Strengthening ties may allow India to resume importing oil from Iran, helping meet its growing energy needs.
- Potential projects like the Iran-Oman-India gas pipeline could provide India with a direct source of natural gas, diversifying its energy supply.
- Infrastructure Development: India’s investment in Chabahar Port enhances connectivity to Afghanistan and Central Asia, offering an alternative route for trade.
- This corridor aims to streamline trade between India, Iran, and Russia, reducing transit times and improving trade efficiency.
How does the BRICS summit reflect shifting geopolitical alliances and the future of multilateralism?
- Challenge to U.S.-led order: The expansion of BRICS, including new members like Iran, signals a desire among emerging economies to create a more balanced multipolar world that reduces reliance on Western powers.
- Geopolitical Fragmentation: The inclusion of countries with differing agendas, such as India’s ties with the West and Russia-China’s anti-Western stance, complicates the bloc’s unity and effectiveness.
- This fragmentation may lead to a division of global politics into competing alliances, potentially undermining existing multilateral platforms like the G20.
- Focus on South-South Cooperation: BRICS emphasizes cooperation among developing nations in trade and sustainable development, enhancing economic ties and addressing common challenges.
Conclusion: India and Iran can achieve a lot together. There is recognition that too much time has already been lost. India’s ability to de-hyphenate ties and engage independently with nations that are adversarial to each other, such as Iran and Israel, could be useful in driving the ties.
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-brics-summit-boost-to-india-iran-ties/article68826431.ece
