Washington, October 31, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India has an opportunity to strengthen its role in maritime security and diplomacy in the Middle East as growing threats to key shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait raise concerns over regional stability, according to a report.
The report, published by RealClearDefense (RCD), said New Delhi could pursue greater maritime cooperation with Gulf partners, examine competing proposals for Gaza, oppose diplomatic efforts to isolate Israel and reconsider the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) in light of available funding and concrete political commitments.
Highlighting the impact of insecurity on commercial shipping, the report said threats around the Strait of Hormuz put Gulf energy supplies relied upon by Indian refineries at risk. Houthi attacks near Bab el-Mandeb, meanwhile, increase the cost of Indian exports to Europe when shipping companies divert vessels around Africa.
Higher insurance premiums and delivery delays also affect manufacturers negotiating contracts with European buyers, it noted.
The report pointed out that although Saudi Arabia can transport oil westwards through its East-West Pipeline to Yanbu, insecurity in the Red Sea also threatens shipping from that port. Consequently, India cannot depend on either route as a consistently secure alternative while both remain exposed to threats.
It said Indian warships had already assisted merchant vessels in the western Indian Ocean and suggested that New Delhi could expand maritime intelligence-sharing with Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, coordinate escorts when necessary and deploy its P-8I surveillance aircraft to help identify suspicious shipping movements.
India could also raise concerns with Tehran over attacks affecting Indian crews and cargo while working with Gulf partners to protect port facilities and oil shipments. Continued attacks, the report added, could prompt discussions on stronger collective measures to safeguard commercial navigation.
India’s longstanding relations with Tehran provide New Delhi with a channel to discuss attacks on shipping while protecting its interests at Chabahar, the report said. Saudi Arabia and the UAE could also share intelligence on suspected weapons shipments with Indian agencies.
Aden’s historic trade links with India offer another avenue for cooperation with legitimate Yemeni authorities on port security. The report also called for closer scrutiny of possible links between the Houthis and Al-Shabaab across the Gulf of Aden, citing concerns that trafficking routes and technical exchanges could threaten Indian commercial shipping.
On IMEC, the report argued that the original proposal faced significant challenges even before the Gaza war. It said Saudi Arabia had shown limited willingness to bear the substantial infrastructure costs, while normalisation between Saudi Arabia and Israel had never been assured.
The report also highlighted competing regional interests, noting that Saudi Arabia and the UAE were vying to attract logistics investment and influence trade routes. Egypt had objected to a corridor that could divert traffic from the Suez Canal, while Bahrain had expressed resentment over its exclusion despite its links with Saudi Arabia and its normalisation agreement with Israel.
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