India in close consultation with Arab countries as West Asian conflict drags on

Sun Nov 17 23:45:40 UTC 2024: ## India Steps Up West Asian Diplomacy Amidst Gaza Conflict

**New Delhi, November 18, 2024** – India has significantly intensified its diplomatic engagement with key West Asian nations in the wake of the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Lebanon. The arrival of new ambassadors from Jordan and Egypt, both frontline states heavily impacted by the crisis, underscores this heightened activity. Jordan’s Ambassador Yousef Mustafa Ali Abdelghani and Egypt’s Ambassador Kamel Galal bring extensive experience, including expertise in Palestinian affairs and economic diplomacy, respectively. Their appointments signal India’s commitment to maintaining strong ties with the Arab world during this turbulent period.

Further highlighting India’s proactive role, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently held bilateral meetings with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and the UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Discussions focused on the large Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia and broader strategic partnerships. These meetings followed a summit of Arab and Islamic leaders hosted by Saudi Arabia, where an immediate end to the Israeli campaign in Gaza and Lebanon was demanded.

The escalating conflict has cast a shadow over the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), which was launched last year with the participation of Saudi Arabia and included the Israeli port of Haifa. While officials remain tight-lipped about IMEC’s future, experts suggest the ongoing conflict could significantly impact its viability, particularly given Saudi Arabia’s longstanding commitment to a two-state solution and its reservations about formal engagement with Israel until the Palestinian issue is resolved. Former Indian envoy to Palestine, Dr. Zikrur Rahman, emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s position is unlikely to change until a resolution is reached that includes the creation of a Palestinian state and a plan for the return of Palestinian refugees. India is also expected to host a high-level Egyptian minister in the coming days, continuing the flurry of diplomatic activity.