Historic Diplomatic Outreach: PM Modi’s Landmark Visit to Kuwait After 43 Years

23 Dec Historic Diplomatic Outreach: PM Modi’s Landmark Visit to Kuwait After 43 Years

This article covers “Daily Current Affairs,” and the topic details related to Historic Diplomatic Outreach: PM Modi’s Landmark Visit to Kuwait After 43 Years

Syllabus mapping:

GS-2: International Relations: India’s relations with the Gulf nations.

For Prelims:

What are GCC its members, and Location of the Kuwait and its bordering countries?

For Mains:

What are the various areas of the India-Kuwait relationship, Significance of Kuwait for India? What are the areas of contention and ways to resolve these areas of contention?

Why in the News?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a two-day visit to Kuwait, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Kuwait in 43 years. The visit comes at the invitation of Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of the State of Kuwait. This visit is significant for strengthening bilateral ties in energy, trade, investment, and cultural exchange.

India-Kuwait Bilateral Relations

India and Kuwait share traditionally friendly relations, which are rooted in history and have been strengthened over time. India has long been a natural trading partner for Kuwait, with the Indian Rupee even serving as legal tender in Kuwait until 1961. Before the discovery of oil, Kuwait’s economy was centered around maritime activities such as shipbuilding, pearl diving, and fishing. Indian traders, traveling on wooden dhows, exchanged dates, Arabian horses, and pearls for goods like wood, cereals, clothes, and spices.

India-Kuwait Areas of Cooperation

1. Bilateral Agreements and MoUs: India and Kuwait have signed 26 bilateral agreements/MoUs across various sectors, with 14 more in different stages of finalization.
2. Hydrocarbon Sector: Kuwait plays a vital role in India’s energy security, being a reliable supplier of crude oil and LPG.
3. Medical Cooperation: An MoU on Medical Cooperation was signed in 2012, leading to the establishment of a Joint Working Group (JWG) on Medical Cooperation. The third meeting is planned for 2024 in New Delhi to enhance collaboration in the healthcare sector further.
4. COVID-19 Cooperation: An Indian medical team was deployed to Kuwait in April 2020, and 200,000 doses of Covishield vaccines were supplied in 2021. During India’s second wave, Kuwait established an air/sea bridge to send over 425 metric tons of liquid oxygen.
5. Manpower Cooperation: Indians form the largest expatriate community in Kuwait, with approximately 1 million citizens residing there. Labor and manpower issues are addressed through a Joint Working Group (JWG), which meets regularly.
6. Science and Technology: India and Kuwait have established strong ties in science and technology through various agreements. The S&T Agreement was signed in 2009.
7. Economic Relations
Bilateral Trade: Trade relations are robust, with bilateral trade reaching $10.47 billion in FY 2023-24. Indian exports grew by 34.7% YoY, with Kuwait being the 6th largest supplier of crude oil to India, meeting 3% of India’s energy needs.
Investments: Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) has invested over $10 billion in India, primarily in liquid assets.
Indian Businesses: Numerous Indian public and private sector companies, such as L&T, Tata, and Wipro, operate in Kuwait.
BIPPA: A new Bilateral Investment Treaty is under negotiation, with discussions ongoing since 2018.
8. Civil Aviation: The two countries have a seat-sharing arrangement of 12,000 seats per week.
9. Cultural Relations: Over 200 cultural programs were organized in 2021-22 to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties. The Festival of India held in Kuwait in March 2023.
10. Education: There are 26 CBSE schools in Kuwait with over 60,000 students, primarily Indian. Efforts are underway to include Indian universities in Kuwait’s accreditation system to encourage higher education exchanges.

Significance of Kuwait for India

Challenges to India-Kuwait Cooperation

1. Migration and Labour Rights: Issues related to the protection of migrant workers’ rights, especially blue-collar workers, are strained bilateral ties. Disputes over wages, working conditions, and contractual violations occasionally arise, impacting the welfare of Indian expatriates.
2. Land Acquisition: Prolonged delays in the allocation of land for the construction of Indian diplomatic residences in Kuwait and reciprocal arrangements for Kuwait’s consulate in Mumbai remain unresolved.
3. Protection of Indian Diaspora: Despite forming the largest expatriate group in Kuwait, Indians often face challenges in legal protection and emergencies.
4. Domestic Political Dynamics in India: Domestic policies and narratives within India, including laws affecting minorities, could potentially influence Kuwait’s perception of India’s inclusivity.
5. Kuwait’s Relations with Pakistan: Kuwait’s growing economic and political engagement with Pakistan can occasionally create conflicting priorities for India.
6. Divergent Strategic Priorities: While India seeks closer ties with Kuwait for energy security and trade, Kuwait’s alignment with GCC policies could sometimes diverge from Indian interests.
7. Regional and Geopolitical Instabilities: Instabilities in the Gulf region, including tensions between Iran and GCC countries, can disrupt India-Kuwait relations.

Way Forward for Strengthening India-Kuwait Cooperation

1. Continuous Bilateral Engagement: Foster regular communication and collaboration through mechanisms like Joint Working Groups (JWGs) in key areas such as hydrocarbons, labour, medical cooperation, and culture.
2. High-Level Meetings and Leadership Engagement: Organize frequent high-level visits and meetings between the leadership of both countries to strengthen trust and strategic alignment. Build on the momentum created by events like the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties to deepen bilateral relations.
3. Resolving Land Acquisition Issues: Expedite the allocation of land for Indian diplomatic residences in Kuwait and reciprocal arrangements for Kuwait’s consulate in Mumbai.
4. Managing Migrant and Diaspora Issues: Address the challenges faced by Indian expatriates through enhanced dialogue and diplomacy with Kuwait’s authorities.
5. Consistent Support for Kuwait’s Sovereignty: Reiterate India’s historical support for Kuwait’s sovereignty and independence, as demonstrated during the Gulf War.
6. Collaboration on Mutual Priorities: Work together on critical global and regional issues such as climate change, energy security, urban development, and water conservation practices.
7. Expanding Economic and Technological Ties: Promote investment opportunities for Kuwait in India’s infrastructure and technology sectors. Enhance collaboration in science and technology, building on partnerships between institutions like CSIR and KISR, while exploring innovative solutions for shared challenges.
8. Counter-Terrorism, Cybersecurity, and Prevention of Radicalization
1. Strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism operations by sharing intelligence, conducting joint training, and enhancing security frameworks.
2. Develop partnerships in cybersecurity to combat emerging threats and ensure the safety of digital infrastructure.
3. Work on de-radicalization strategies to prevent the spread of extremist ideologies and ensure regional peace and stability.

Conclusion:

A holistic approach that integrates security cooperation with economic, cultural, and diplomatic efforts will ensure that India-Kuwait relations remain strong and resilient in addressing both opportunities and challenges.

PRELIMS QUESTIONS:

Q. Consider the following countries:
1. Kuwait
2. Saudi Arabia
3. UAE
4. Iran
5. Iraq
6. Qatar
7. Bahrain

How many of the above are Gulf Cooperation Council Members?
A. Only two
B. Only three
C. Only four
D. Only five

ANSWER: D

MAINS QUESTION:

Q. “India shares special diplomatic relations with Kuwait and other Gulf countries”. In this light discuss the significance of the Gulf countries for India.

(150 words)

Munde Dhananjay Navnath