Foreign Policy of India: West Asia & North Africa (WANA)

Abstract

West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region is socially vibrant, economically promising and geo-politically volatile. From the 1973 oil crisis to the Arab Spring and from the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) to the Islamic States of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) crisis, the region has seen it all. India's engagement with the region has been historically evolving. India shares strong cultural ties with the countries of the region. The trade and diplomatic relations between India and WANA countries are also witnessing an evolving trend. The Persian Gulf states have already been termed as our extended neighbourhood, while most of the African countries are becoming preferred destinations for Indian investments. In fact, India and WANA countries are mutually indispensable for each other in terms of natural resources, sea routes, maritime security, geo-economic co-operation, potential markets and participation in global value chains. Given this backdrop, the present volume contains 11 well-researched papers, authored by experts in the field of India's foreign policy.