Persian Gulf 2026 India’s Relations with the Region

The Persian Gulf has been in the eye of the storm due to the conflict in the Middle East since the October 7 attacks in Israel. The Gaza crisis, war in Lebanon, Israel-Iran confrontation, civil war in Yemen, disruptions in the Red Sea, and the return of the Trump administration in the US kept the region on tenterhooks. The situation affected Iran internally due to sporadic attacks and growing discontent, while Yemen struggled to keep the fragile peace. A crucial election year meant internal political churn in Iraq. The GCC countries, though, avoided internal trouble; strains among member states became apparent. Tensions in the Persian Gulf, together with the Ukraine war, kept the international energy market boiling for much of 2025. Amidst the turbulence, India’s relations with the region remained steadfast, with a focus on a multialigned approach but a clear inclination towards the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Nonetheless, New Delhi kept its channels with Tehran open. The focus of India’s engagement remained on trade and commerce, energy security and investments along with strategic partnership, maritime security, and increasing defence cooperation. In this context, the Persian Gulf 2026 analyses the domestic, regional and international developments of 2025, and how these impacted the region as well as India’s relations with it.