Washington, Dec 26 (NationPress) The Middle East and Africa are becoming pivotal as India broadens its global interests amidst increasing trade uncertainties and renewed tariff pressures from the United States, a recent report highlighted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent travels to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman embody India’s comprehensive strategic approach towards the Middle East, Africa, and the Indian Ocean. Instead of viewing these regions separately, New Delhi is acknowledging their geopolitical interconnectedness, particularly in light of disruptions to global trade routes, according to a report from the US-based think tank, 'Middle East Forum'.

The visit to Jordan, which commemorates seventy-five years of diplomatic relations, is particularly important as it follows a significant hiatus and occurs during a time of instability post the Gaza conflict. The ongoing conflicts in Yemen and Sudan have further destabilised the wider region, including the nations along the Red Sea littoral.

As highlighted in the report, Jordan is crucial for India due to its role as a moderate and stabilising entity in the volatile Middle Eastern landscape. By firmly opposing extremism and maintaining equitable diplomacy, Jordan has enabled India to engage in the Middle East without getting entangled in regional rivalries.

PM Modi’s warm reception in Amman and his discussions with King Abdullah II signify the strengthening ties between the two nations.

As India continues to enhance its global outreach and diversify its economic and strategic alliances, PM Modi characterized his visit as "highly productive," which has "fortified the India-Jordan partnership" across critical sectors such as renewable energy, water management, digital transformation, cultural exchanges, and heritage cooperation. He emphasized that the two countries "strongly reaffirmed their mutual stance against terrorism."

Engaging Jordan, as the report notes, communicates to New Delhi that stability in the Middle East is paramount for India’s energy security, diaspora protection, and regional strategy.

The report emphasized Ethiopia's role as India’s gateway to Africa; with over $200 billion of Indian trade flowing through the Red Sea annually, regional instability—encompassing piracy, trafficking, and recent shipping attacks—poses a direct threat to India.

During the visit, India and Ethiopia upgraded their bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership. Modi’s outreach underscores India’s ambition to consolidate its leadership among the Global South through development partnerships that prioritize transparency and capacity building, avoiding the pitfalls of debt dependency reminiscent of China’s approach, which Ethiopia previously experienced.

Oman remains one of India’s most reliable partners in the Persian Gulf, playing a crucial role in New Delhi’s energy and maritime security strategies.

Indo-Oman defense and naval cooperation is extensive, granting Indian naval access to ports like Duqm, thus enhancing India's reach in the western Indian Ocean. Oman is also integral to India’s Link West policy, MAHASAGAR vision, and extended neighborhood strategy.