West Asia: A Heavily Militarised Region

West Asia, often referred to as the Middle East, stands as a crucible of historical narratives, geopolitical complexities, and cultural richness. However, amidst its ancient allure and modern ambitions, one defining feature looms large: its pervasive militarization. Spanning from the shores of the Mediterranean to the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, West Asia is a region characterized by a dense network of military presence, both indigenous and foreign. The interplay of historical rivalries, territorial disputes, and resource competition has led to a perpetual state of tension, underpinning the region’s strategic importance on the global stage. From the Gulf monarchies’ formidable arsenals to the enduring conflicts in Iraq, Syria, and beyond, the specter of militarization casts a long shadow over West Asia, shaping its dynamics and influencing its trajectory in profound ways.

Tags:GS Paper – 2, Bilateral Groupings & Agreements — Groupings & Agreements Involving India – Effect of Policies & Politics of Countries on India’s Interests – International Treaties & Agreements

Prelims: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Iran, Israel, Middle East,1979 Islamic Revolution, Two State Solution, Gulf Cooperation Council, European Union, United Nations, Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)

Mains: Impact of recent conflict in West Asia in other regions of the world.

Table of Contents

Context:

Recently tensions are rising in West Asia, a region highly reliant on militarization, accounting for 30% of global arms imports. Despite being a major global supplier of extractive resources for energy consumption, West Asia faces increased instability due to various conflicts.
The Israel-Gaza conflict, hostilities between Iran and Israel, and ongoing attacks involving Iran-backed militias from Lebanon and Yemen are worsening tensions.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, West Asia is one of the most heavily militarised regions globally, with four of the top 10 arms importers located there.

The Reasons behind Recent West Asia Turmoil:

Israel initiated military actions against Gaza, while Hezbollah, supported by Iran, launched rockets at Israeli forces in the Shebaa Farms. These actions were in solidarity with the Palestinians.
Arab nations expressed dissatisfaction with Israel’s indiscriminate bombings and opted for diplomatic measures to exert pressure on Israel. Iran-backed militias expanded their operations against Israel.
Houthi militias from Yemen began targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea in mid-November, citing solidarity with the Palestinians. This led to the suspension of shipping operations by several major companies in the region.
Israel conducted multiple airstrikes in Syria and Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iranian commanders.
Iran conducted strikes on January 16 in Iraq’s Kurdistan, Syria, and Pakistan, claiming to have targeted a Mossad operations centre and Sunni Islamist militants.
Military expenditure in West Asia remains high relative to GDP, with countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Oman, Kuwait, and Israel consistently allocating significant portions of their GDP to defence.
Furthermore, West Asia has the highest proportion of its labour force employed in the military compared to other regions.

The Historical background behind West Asian Conflict:

Ottoman Empire’s Influence: Western Asia was predominantly under the dominion of the Ottoman Empire from the 14th century AD until the early 20th century. The empire effectively managed a diverse population with varying races, religions, and cultures through a successful administrative system.
Post-World War I Developments: Following World War I and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the region underwent significant transformations. The victorious Allied powers, primarily Britain and France, partitioned the former Ottoman territories among themselves, disregarding the aspirations of the local Arab population.
Sykes-Picot Agreement: The Sykes-Picot Agreement, an unofficial treaty from 1916 between the UK and France, along with the assent from the Russian Empire and Italy, aimed to delineate their spheres of influence and control in the anticipated partition of the Ottoman Empire. It effectively divided the Ottoman provinces outside the Arabian Peninsula into areas of British and French control and influence.
Balfour Declaration: The Balfour Declaration, issued by the British government in 1917 during World War I, expressed support for the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine. This declaration had significant and lasting repercussions on the region.
Creation of Israel: In 1947, the United Nations proposed a partition plan to divide Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem as an international city. In 1948, Israel declared its independence, leading to a war with neighbouring Arab states.
Arab-Israel War (1948): The declaration of Israel’s independence in 1948 prompted neighbouring Arab states to launch attacks. At the war’s conclusion, Israel controlled a larger territory than initially envisioned by the UN partition plan.
The 1979 Revolution: Iran underwent an Islamic Revolution in 1979, establishing a religious state after overthrowing the Shah. The revolution altered Iran’s stance on Israel, viewing it as an occupier of Palestinian land.
Shadow War after 1979: Subsequently, ties between Iran and Israel deteriorated, with both countries resorting to proxies and limited strategic attacks against each other. Israel targeted Iranian facilities and nuclear scientists to impede Iran’s nuclear weapons development, while Iran supported anti-Israel militant groups like Hezbollah and Hamas.
Recent Developments: Ongoing conflicts, including Iran’s military actions against Israel and Israel’s engagements in Gaza, contribute to the region’s volatility. Other conflicts, such as the Yemeni civil war, the Lebanese political crisis, the Syrian civil war, and the Turkey-Cyprus conflict, further exacerbate concerns in the international community.

The Key Players and Their Divergent Objectives:

Israel: Aims to dismantle Hamas, release hostages, and neutralise threats to its security. Its military actions in Gaza and strikes in other regions reflect this objective.
Hamas: Seeks to challenge Israeli policies and actions in Gaza and the West Bank. As a Palestinian Islamist political organisation and militant group, it has been involved in a long-standing conflict with Israel.
Iran: Backs various anti-Israel non-state actors in West Asia (Hamas, the Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, Houthis or the Shia militias of Iraq and Syria). Iran aims to extend its influence in the region, often opposing U.S. and Israeli interests.
Hezbollah and Other Militias: These groups, often backed by Iran, have engaged in the conflict, primarily in opposition to Israel and in support of Palestinian causes.
United States: Supports Israel and seeks to maintain regional stability and protect its interests. The U.S. has three objectives:
Ensure the security of Israel
Ensure the security of America’s troops and assets deployed in the region
Preserve the U.S.-led order in the region
Other Regional Actors: Countries like Pakistan have their own strategic interests in the conflict, often influenced by religious, political, and regional dynamics.

The Geopolitical Impact of the Conflicts in West:

Humanitarian Crisis: Continued military actions risk significant civilian casualties and worsening humanitarian conditions, particularly in Gaza.
Regional Instability: Prolonged conflict can destabilise the already volatile West Asian region, affecting neighbouring countries. As the conflict persists, Israel’s offensive in Gaza shows little sign of winding down, prompting continued attacks from Hezbollah and the Houthis.
Global Economic Impact: Disruptions in major shipping routes (like the Red Sea) and oil supply can have global economic repercussions.
Spread of Extremism: Ongoing conflict can fuel radicalization and give rise to extremist groups, further destabilising the region.
International Relations: The conflict strains diplomatic relations among global powers and regional states, complicating international efforts for peace and stability.
Security Breakdown: Unlike past conflicts in West Asia, which often involved nation-states or state and non-state actors, the current crisis is marked by a widespread security breakdown.

The Possible Impacts on India:

Impact on Energy Security: India’s dependence on imported oil from West Asia makes it vulnerable to price volatility and supply disruptions. The increasing competition for energy resources in West Asia can lead to higher prices and greater competition for supplies, making it more difficult for India to secure the energy it needs. India is the world’s third-largest consumer and importer of oil, with more than 40% of its oil coming from West Asia.
Indian Diaspora: Indians residing in West Asia may face impacts on their wages and incomes due to the turmoil in the region.
Remittances: Non-resident Indians (NRIs) annually send about USD 40 billion back home, accounting for more than 55% of India’s total remittance inflows. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) indicates that 82% of these remittances originate from seven West Asian countries: the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United States (US), Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Kingdom, and Oman.
Trade and Investment: According to the UN Comtrade database, Iran and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states accounted for a 15.3% share of India’s cumulative two-way merchandise trade from 2017 through 2021.

India’s Approach toward West Asia:

Middle East Quad (I2U2) Initiative: India, Israel, the U.S., and the UAE collaborate for economic, technological, and diplomatic purposes, aiming to connect South Asia, the Middle East, and the United States.
Medical Diplomacy: India’s Vaccine Maitri initiative provides COVID-19 vaccines to West Asian countries. For instance, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain benefited from this humanitarian effort.
Downstream Projects: India invites West Asian countries to invest in downstream projects in its hydrocarbon sector. An agreement on oil storage and management between Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited was signed in January 2017, highlighting significant steps in building strategic partnerships in the energy sector.
Strategic Partnership in Energy Sector: Abu Dhabi awarded a major oil concession to an ONGC-led consortium from India in Lower Zakum. A High-Level Ministerial Taskforce has been established to monitor various high-level promises and agreements.
Tech Diplomacy: India strengthens its relations with West Asian countries through technology. For example, the RuPay card, a digital payment system initiative by India, was launched in Abu Dhabi.
Cultural Diplomacy: India inaugurated the first Hindu temple in Dubai as a special gift to the Indian community by the UAE. Additionally, yoga, Bollywood, and music serve as dimensions of India’s soft power in the region.

What are the Approaches proposed to address the conflict?

Negotiations and Two-State Solution:
Advocacy for a two-state solution by international actors, aiming for independent states for Israel and Palestine with clear borders, addressing issues like Jerusalem’s status and providing security guarantees.
Previous attempts at negotiation, such as the Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), and peace plans proposed by the United States, United Nations, and Arab League.
Ceasefire and Humanitarian Assistance: Immediate ceasefire agreements brokered by regional actors like Egypt and Qatar, along with international humanitarian organisations providing aid to affected populations. Temporary halts in hostilities during intense conflicts, supported by regional mediation and international assistance.
International Mediation: Involvement of neutral international mediators or organisations like the United Nations to facilitate negotiations and peace talks.
Addressing Core Issues: Tackling root causes of the conflict like land disputes, resource access, and refugee rights for long-term stability.
People-to-People Initiatives: Encouraging dialogue and cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians at grassroots levels through organisations like Seeds of Peace and OneVoice. Joint ventures in business, education, and culture to foster cooperation between the two communities.
Human Rights and International Law: Upholding international humanitarian law and human rights standards, with the International Criminal Court investigating alleged war crimes and UN resolutions condemning illegal settlements.
Regional Cooperation: Engaging neighbouring countries and regional actors in peace efforts, such as the Arab Peace Initiative offering normalisation of relations with Israel.
Economic Development: Supporting economic growth in the region through organisations like the Palestinian Investment Promotion Agency (PIPA) and international donor conferences.
Security Measures: Implementing measures for the security of both Israelis and Palestinians, including UN peacekeeping missions and confidence-building measures.
Educational Initiatives: Promoting education and awareness about both sides’ history and culture to foster understanding and tolerance through bilingual schools and cultural exchange programs.

Conclusion:

Thus, resolving the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, including those in Syria and Yemen, remains challenging. Political efforts to initiate negotiations require significant diligence, with initiatives like the West Asia Peace Plan often favouring one party over another, hindering comprehensive resolutions.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims

Q:1 Which one of the following countries of South-West Asia does not open out to the Mediterranean Sea? (2015)

(a) Syria

(b) Jordan

(d) Israel

Ans: B

Q:2 The term “two-state solution” is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of (2018)

(a) China

(b) Israel

(d) Yemen

Ans: B

Mains

Q:1 “India’s relations with Israel have, of late, acquired a depth and diversity, which cannot be rolled back.” Discuss. (2018)

Source: (TH)

FAQs

Q1: Why is West Asia considered a heavily militarized region?

A1: West Asia’s geopolitical landscape is characterized by longstanding conflicts, territorial disputes, and geopolitical rivalries. As a result, many countries in the region invest heavily in their military capabilities to safeguard their interests and assert their influence.

Q2: Which countries contribute most to the militarization of West Asia?

A2: Major contributors to the militarization of West Asia include Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Turkey, and the Gulf States. These nations engage in extensive arms procurement, military exercises, and alliances with global powers to enhance their security posture.

Q3: How does militarization impact the socio-economic dynamics of West Asia?

A3: The heavy emphasis on military expenditure in West Asia diverts resources away from socio-economic development, exacerbating issues such as poverty, unemployment, and inadequate infrastructure. Moreover, militarization perpetuates regional tensions, hindering cooperation and stability.

Q4: What role do external powers play in the militarization of West Asia?

A4: External powers, notably the United States, Russia, and European countries, play a significant role in fueling the militarization of West Asia through arms sales, military aid, and strategic alliances. Their involvement often exacerbates regional tensions and perpetuates conflicts.

Q5: How does the militarization of West Asia impact global security?

A5: The militarization of West Asia poses significant challenges to global security, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the spread of extremist ideologies, and the risk of regional conflicts escalating into broader conflagrations. Addressing these issues requires concerted international efforts to promote dialogue, diplomacy, and conflict resolution in the region.

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West Asia: A Heavily Militarised Region – UPSC