Geopolitics Quarterly

Geopolitics Quarterly

India-Iran Relations in the Evolving Indo-Pacific: A Contemporary Geopolitical Analysis of Strategic Ambitions and Emerging Alliances

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Talha Latief Tantray 1
Shubham Singh Charak 2
Abhigya Langeh 2
R. Sudhakar 3
1 Research Scholar Department of National Security Studies, Central University of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir,India.
2 Research Scholar Department of National Security Studies, Central University of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir,India..
3 Associate Professor Department of National Security Studies, Central University of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir,India.
10.22034/igq.2024.473281.1932
Abstract
The Indo-Pacific region has become increasingly central to global politics, reflecting significant shifts in geopolitical dynamics. This paper investigates the evolving relationship between India and Iran, focusing on their strategic ambitions and the broader geopolitical implications within the Indo-Pacific context. Key attention in the study has been given to the strategic importance of Chabahar Port, which serves as India's crucial gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia, enhancing its connectivity and influence in the region. Additionally, the paper explores India's participation in emerging alliances, analyzing both the challenges and opportunities these partnerships present. The study has incorporateed SPSS regression analysis, examining the factors influencing India's strategic decisions and the impact of its alliances on regional stability and prosperity. By employing this statistical approach, the paper quantitatively assesses the correlations between various geopolitical and economic variables, offering a nuanced understanding of India's strategic posture with Iran in the Indo-Pacific region.
.
Keywords
Economic
Geopolitical
Indo-Pacific
Influence
Security
Subjects
  1. Abad, G (2022). “The Indo-Pacific and Southeast Asia: the impact of external strategies on Southeast Asia and ASEAN’s response”. UNISCI Journal, Volume 20, Number 59, pp. 9–24.
  2. Act East Policy (2015).
  3. Amirthan, S (2016). “What are India, Iran, and Afghanistan’s Benefits from the Chabahar Port Agreement?” Strategic Analysis, Volume 41, Number 1, pp. 87–93.
  4. Amrita Jash (2021). “The Quad Factor in the Indo-Pacific and the Role of India”. SSRN Electronic Journal.
  5. Azizi, H (2022). “Iran and multilateralism in the Middle East: Possibilities and constraints.”
  6. Bahrami, S; Gadai, A (2024). “Comparative Study of the Concept of Look East in the Foreign Policy of Iran and India”. Geopolitics Quarterly, Vol.20, No. 2.
  7. Baruah, D.M; Baruah, D.M (2020). “India in the Indo-Pacific: New Delhi’s Theater of Opportunity”.
  8. Basu, P (2023). “India in the Indo-Pacific: China, COVID-19, and the reconfigured regional order”.
  9. Belal (2020). “China-Iran Relations: Prospects and Complexities”. Policy Perspectives, Vol. 17, No.2, pp. 47.
  10. Blouet, B.W (2005). “Global Geostrategy”. Routledge.
  11. Doyle, T (2018). “Geo-economics and Geo-securities in the Indian Ocean Region”. Routledge.
  12. Full Text: China’s National Defense in the New Era (2019).
  13. Galistcheva, N (2023). “India and I2U2: Main Trends and Perspectives”. SSRN Electronic Journal.
  14. Gerace, M.P (1991). “Between Mackinder and Spykman: Geopolitics, containment, and after”. Comparative Strategy, Volume 10, Number 4, pp. 347–364.
  15. Gray, C.S (1989). “Geopolitics of super power”. S.L.: S.N.
  16. Haokip, T (2011). “India’s Look East Policy”. South Asian Survey, Volume 18, Number 2, pp. 239–257.
  17. Heiduk, F; Wacker, G (2020). “From Asia-Pacific to Indo-Pacific: significance, implementation and challenges”. Stiftung Wissenschaft Und Politik.
  18. Hosli, M.O; Garrett, T; Niedecken, S; Verbeek, N (2021). “The Future of Multilateralism”. Rowman & Littlefield.
  19. Hu, W; Meng, W (2020). “The US Indo-Pacific Strategy and China’s Response”. China Review, Volume 20, Number 3, pp. 143–176.
  20. Iran in the Indian Ocean - Bing (2021).
  21. Jaishankar, D (2016). “Indian Ocean region: A pivot for India’s growth”.
  22. Koolaee, E (2013). “An Outlook on Energy Cooperation Approaches in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Region”. Geopolitics Quarterly, Vol. 8, No. 28, pp. 41–71.
  23. Krishnan, A (2023). “The View from India | A growing India-China divide in South Asia”.
  24. Kuo, M.A (2018). “The Origin of “Indo-Pacific” as Geopolitical Construct”.
  25. Leandro F.J.B.S; Branco, C; Caba-Maria, F (2021). “The Geopolitics of Iran”. Singapore: Springer Singapore: Imprint: Palgrave Macmillan.
  26. Liu, F (2020). “The recalibration of Chinese assertiveness: China’s responses to the Indo-Pacific challenge”. International Affairs, Volume 96, Number 1, pp. 9–27.
  27. MAASHI, H.A.A (2017). “From Security Governance to Geopolitical Rivalry: Iran-GCC Confrontation in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean”. Asian Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, Volume 11, Number 4, pp. 46–63.
  28. MEA (2022). “English Translation of Remarks by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at the Announcement of Indo-Pacific Economic Framework”.
  29. Mohan, C.R (2015). “From Looking East to Acting East”.
  30. Mohapatra, N.K (2022). “India and the Shifting Geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific”.
  31. Morady, F (2011). “Iran ambitious for regional supremacy: the great powers, geopolitics and energy resources”. Journal of the Indian Ocean Region, Volume 7, Number 1, pp. 75–94.
  32. Nasirpour, G (2019). “Iran-India Relations with Future Prospects”. Geopolitics Quarterly, Vol. 14, No.4, 165–187.
  33. Pandalai, S (2021). “Emerging trends in Indo-Pacific Geopolitics: Navigating the “India Way.”
  34. Pant, H. V (2023). “India and the Quad: Chinese belligerence and Indian resilience”.
  35. Peri, D (2019). “India starts sharing maritime data”.
  36. Rahman, M.M; Kim, C; De, P (2020). “Indo-Pacific cooperation: what do trade simulations indicate?” Journal of Economic Structures, Volume 9, Number 1.
  37. Rajagopalan, R (2020). “Evasive balancing: India’s unviable Indo-Pacific strategy”. International Affairs, Volume 96, Number 1, pp. 75–93.
  38. Sadrodin, S; Jashni, M. (2014). Persian Gulf-Indian Ocean Geopolitical Intertwinement. Geopolitics Quarterly, Vol.9, No.4, pp. 155–179.
  39. Sagar N (2020). “China and India in the Indo-Pacific”.
  40. Saha, P (2023). “India’s Role in the Emerging Dynamics of the Indo-Pacific”.
  41. Sayantani Sen Mazumdar (2024). “India’s Role in the Indo-Pacific Region: An Overview of Strategic Geopolitical Convergences. Geopolitics and International Security”, pp. 275–290.
  42. Shicun, W; Colombage, J (2019). “Indo-Pacific Strategy and China’s Response”. National Institute for South China Sea Studies.
  43. Siddiqui, H (2024). “India’s Concept of Indo-Pacific Is Inclusive and across Oceans”.
  44. Singh, S (2010). “China’s Quest for Multilateralism: Perspectives from India”. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, Volume 2, Number 5, pp. 7290–7298.
  45. Soltaninejad, M (2017). “Iran–India Relations: The Unfulfilled Strategic Partnership”. India Quarterly: A Journal of International Affairs, Volume 73, Number 1, pp. 21–35.
  46. Subramanian, N (2019). “The geopolitics of Indo-Pacific: How India and others interpret the term”.
  47. THE GEOPOLITICAL VISION OF ALFRED THAYER MAHAN (1840 – 1914)” (2015).
  48. The US, Iran and “maximum pressure (2019). Strategic Comments, Vol. 25, No. 4, iv–vi.
  49. Tsai, T.C (2014). “China and India: Comparisons of Naval Strategies and Future Competition”. Springer EBooks, pp. 123–137.
  50. Vakil, S (2018). “Iran and the GCC: Hedging, Pragmatism and Opportunism”.
  51. Yousefi, A.M.H; Narouei, H (2021). “Geopolitics, Geo-economics and the Prospect of Iran-India Cooperation in Chabahar”. Geopolitics Quarterly.
Geopolitics Quarterly
Volume 20, Issue 4
Autumn 2024
Pages 303-324

  • Receive Date 17 August 2024
  • Revise Date 21 October 2024
  • Accept Date 06 October 2024