During the 1990s India did not show much of an interest in Central Asia and its response to join multilateral organisations in the region had been lukewarm. However, in the last decade or so India＇s approach towards ...During the 1990s India did not show much of an interest in Central Asia and its response to join multilateral organisations in the region had been lukewarm. However, in the last decade or so India＇s approach towards the region has changed substantially and some important landmarks signify this shift. As a scholar interested in the region, the author looks at the reasons for India＇s changing approach to the Central Asian region. With this objective, this paper seeks to highlight the significance of Central Asia for India and defines the strategic interests of India in this region. It also discusses the changing geopolitics of Central Asia from India＇s perspective, various phases in India＇s engagement with the region, including the key dynamics and changing approaches. A proactive Central Asia policy also represents another instance of India＇s shift from being an idealist to a realist power. This paper enables us to understand the extent to which India as an emerging power is prepared to pursue its strategic objectives in the region. At the same time, India＇s willingness in recent years to participate in a multilateral regional organization such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization （SCO） demonstrates that it is willing to work in a cooperative framework with other key players in the region--Russia and China.展开更多
In the competition among the great powers as well as Middle Eastern regional actors the Horn,especially with its background of the Red Sea,has become the scene of two regional overlapping rivalries,namely between Saud...In the competition among the great powers as well as Middle Eastern regional actors the Horn,especially with its background of the Red Sea,has become the scene of two regional overlapping rivalries,namely between Saudi Arabia/the United Arab Emirates/Egypt and Qatar/Turkey on the one hand,and Saudi Arabia and Iran,on the other.While Iran seems to be far from the Horn of Africa,its participation in the war in Yemen as well as its strategic position both along the land route and the maritime route of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative make it an unavoidable party.Iran is operating on the Horn of Africa to extend its strategic depth,resist the pressure of rival powers and counterbalance their activi-ties,and increase its political and economic gains.Compared to other Gulf states,Tehran started its campaign relatively late,and Iran’s economic potential is more limited as well.The lack of signif-icant Shi’a presence in East Africa is also an obstacle for expansion.Therefore,Iran is still a secondary actor on the Horn of Africa.展开更多
文摘During the 1990s India did not show much of an interest in Central Asia and its response to join multilateral organisations in the region had been lukewarm. However, in the last decade or so India＇s approach towards the region has changed substantially and some important landmarks signify this shift. As a scholar interested in the region, the author looks at the reasons for India＇s changing approach to the Central Asian region. With this objective, this paper seeks to highlight the significance of Central Asia for India and defines the strategic interests of India in this region. It also discusses the changing geopolitics of Central Asia from India＇s perspective, various phases in India＇s engagement with the region, including the key dynamics and changing approaches. A proactive Central Asia policy also represents another instance of India＇s shift from being an idealist to a realist power. This paper enables us to understand the extent to which India as an emerging power is prepared to pursue its strategic objectives in the region. At the same time, India＇s willingness in recent years to participate in a multilateral regional organization such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization （SCO） demonstrates that it is willing to work in a cooperative framework with other key players in the region--Russia and China.
文摘In the competition among the great powers as well as Middle Eastern regional actors the Horn,especially with its background of the Red Sea,has become the scene of two regional overlapping rivalries,namely between Saudi Arabia/the United Arab Emirates/Egypt and Qatar/Turkey on the one hand,and Saudi Arabia and Iran,on the other.While Iran seems to be far from the Horn of Africa,its participation in the war in Yemen as well as its strategic position both along the land route and the maritime route of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative make it an unavoidable party.Iran is operating on the Horn of Africa to extend its strategic depth,resist the pressure of rival powers and counterbalance their activi-ties,and increase its political and economic gains.Compared to other Gulf states,Tehran started its campaign relatively late,and Iran’s economic potential is more limited as well.The lack of signif-icant Shi’a presence in East Africa is also an obstacle for expansion.Therefore,Iran is still a secondary actor on the Horn of Africa.
