Behind the 'Robust Partnerships': A History of Selective Alliances
The timing is notable, coinciding with a broader, often unremarked shift in global alliances, particularly impactful for nations historically aligned with Western powers. The narrative of 'robust defense' often masks deeper strategic and economic imperatives. FIRST INSTANCE: The Cold War Calculus (1970s onwards) The groundwork for such 'robust partnerships' often begins not with declared shared
values, but with strategic vulnerabilities and resource needs. While Saudi Arabia and India weren't direct Cold War adversaries, their respective alignments and non-alignments created distinct paths. Saudi Arabia, a steadfast US ally and oil power, consistently used its energy resources as leverage, particularly after the 1973 oil embargo. India, a leader of the Non-Aligned Movement, nevertheless
leaned heavily on Soviet military hardware and diplomatic support throughout the Cold War. However, even then, nascent economic ties, particularly Indian labor migration to the Gulf, began to create interdependencies. Which raises the question: what changed to elevate defense cooperation from nascent economic ties? The answer lies in the evolving energy landscape and shifting global power blocs.
By the 1970s, India was increasingly reliant on Gulf oil. (OPEC data, 1970s) This created an underlying strategic imperative for stability in the region, even as overt military cooperation remained limited. REPETITIONS: Post-9/11 Geopolitics and 'Look East' (2000s-2010s) The 9/11 attacks and the subsequent 'War on Terror' brought a new dimension to US-Saudi relations, revealing the strains even in