The Look West Policy is a strategic foreign policy concept of India aimed at significantly enhancing its political, economic, and cultural relationships with the countries of West Asia (often referred to as the Middle East). The policy was formally adopted in 2005 by the then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, reflecting India's desire for long-term engagement with the region. Its creation was driven by the need to diversify India's international partnerships following the end of the Cold War and the country's economic liberalisation in the early 1990s, which marked a shift away from dependence on traditional allies like the Soviet Union. The policy solved the problem of securing vital energy resources and leveraging the large Indian diaspora in the Gulf region for economic benefit.
The policy works through key mechanisms focused on three main axes: the Arab Gulf countries, Israel, and Iran. A critical component is Energy Security, as West Asia supplies over 70% of India's oil and gas requirements, with countries like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the UAE being major suppliers. Economic Engagement involves trade, investment, and joint ventures, with the region becoming one of India's largest trading partners. Security Cooperation includes collaboration on counter-terrorism and maritime security, with India signing defense agreements and conducting joint military exercises with nations like the UAE and Oman. The policy also focuses on the welfare of the estimated 8 million Indian expatriates in the Gulf, whose remittances are a significant source of income for India.
The Look West Policy connects to India's broader foreign policy framework, particularly the Look East Policy (later Act East Policy), by extending India's strategic outreach to its extended neighbourhood. Recently, the policy has been amended and intensified: Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized a shift from "Look West" to a more proactive "Link West" policy in 2014, and later to "Connection and Act West". This change focused on adding strategic content to relations and exploring new areas like clean energy, technology, and comprehensive economic partnership agreements. A notable recent development is the formation of the I2U2 minilateral forum in 2021, involving India, Israel, the UAE, and the US, which focuses on cooperation in areas like water, energy, and food security.