Amidst shifting geopolitical sands, a strategic alignment involving India, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Israel is quietly solidifying, presenting a potential counterweight to a perceived "Islamic NATO". This emerging bloc, characterized by robust economic ties, advanced technological collaboration, and increasing defense cooperation, reflects a recalibration of power dynamics in the Middle East and beyond.
The foundation of this alignment rests on converging interests and a pragmatic assessment of the current security landscape. For India, the UAE is not merely an energy partner or commercial hub but a crucial state for the security of the Indian Ocean and the Gulf, regions vital to India's trade, diaspora, and energy lifelines. The UAE, in turn, views India as a source of scale, technology, and strategic depth, free from the ideological constraints sometimes associated with Western security frameworks.
Israel's inclusion adds significant strategic weight to this axis. The UAE's normalization of relations with Israel, facilitated by the Abraham Accords, has transformed a bilateral dynamic into a regional force multiplier. India and Israel already share a strong defense technology relationship, encompassing missiles, drones, air defense systems, electronic warfare, and intelligence systems. Joint military exercises and counter-terrorism drills have further solidified their defense partnership.
This trilateral cooperation addresses overlapping security concerns, including state-sponsored militancy, the proliferation of drones and missiles, maritime security, and the weaponization of ideology by non-state actors. The cooperation is rooted in the shared belief that deterrence, technological superiority, and intelligence fusion are essential for regional stability.
The development of this India-UAE-Israel axis occurs against the backdrop of evolving relationships among Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey. Recent reports indicate a deepening nexus between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, with speculation that Pakistan has extended its nuclear umbrella to the Kingdom. Turkey's potential inclusion in this alliance, possibly through joining the Saudi-Pakistan Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement, could create a powerful bloc with a collective defense clause. Some analysts have informally dubbed this potential alignment an "Islamic NATO," aimed at greater autonomy from Western security structures.
The UAE, however, appears wary of this emerging Saudi-Pakistan axis. This wariness is fueled by diverging interests, particularly concerning the conflict in Yemen, where the UAE and Saudi Arabia have pursued different strategies. The UAE's deepening ties with India can be seen as a move to diversify its strategic options and hedge against the perceived encirclement by a Saudi-Pakistan bloc.
The India-UAE-Israel alignment does not seek to replicate the "Islamic NATO" but rather to establish a smart, networked security posture that safeguards Indian interests while preserving strategic autonomy. It also complements existing partnerships, offering redundancy and resilience in a volatile region. This alignment signals that Israel's future in West Asia is increasingly connected to Asia's rise, not solely to Western power.
Recent developments underscore the strengthening ties between India and the UAE. UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's visit to New Delhi resulted in a Letter of Intent to advance a Strategic Defense Partnership, formalizing cooperation in defense manufacturing, joint training, cyber security, and counter-terrorism. This move signifies a further militarization of what was previously considered a primarily economic relationship. The two countries also aim to increase bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032. Furthermore, India and UAE agreed to deepen nuclear cooperation in mega defence pact.
As geopolitical dynamics continue to evolve, the India-UAE-Israel axis represents a notable development with the potential to reshape the security architecture of the Middle East and beyond.
