India’s Gulf Gamble in a Fragmenting Middle East

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s five-nation diplomatic tour across the United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy from May 15-20, 2026 reflects India’s broader effort to establish itself as a consequential actor in an increasingly fragmented multipolar order. As geopolitical rivalries intensify, supply chains reorganize, and energy markets remain volatile, New Delhi is pursuing partnerships capable of supporting both economic modernization and strategic autonomy. India’s outreach to Europe and the Gulf is driven largely by economic and technological considerations. Access to semiconductor ecosystems, renewable energy cooperation, logistics infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and foreign investment has become central to India’s long-term development strategy. Negotiations surrounding the India-EU Free Trade Agreement and the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement illustrate New Delhi’s attempt […]