India’s generally subdued reactions to Israeli military actions in the region have changed significantly with its extremely harsh denunciation of Israel’s September 9 airstrikes in Doha, which killed dozens and sparked international condemnation. The raid was described by New Delhi as a “violation of sovereignty,” a phrase it has hardly used in prior West Asian crises, such as Israeli operations in Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza.
This harsher tone, according to officials and observers, is more about India’s practical interests in the Gulf than it is about a change in philosophy. In addition to being a significant employer of Indian expatriates, Qatar is a vital energy provider and an active participant in the defense and investment sectors. India’s economic security and regional influence depend on maintaining Doha’s stability and exhibiting unity with its Gulf allies.
India has reaffirmed the importance of its national interest and regional stability while responding cautiously to the Saudi-Pakistan mutual defense treaty, highlighting a careful analysis of its security and geopolitical ramifications. In sharp contrast, as worries over the Saudi-Pakistani axis develop, New Delhi’s relationship with Qatar has become noticeably warmer and more complex, strengthening its strategic and economic links.
With the goal of doubling bilateral commerce by 2030 and signing numerous agreements in the areas of investment, financial integration, and counterterrorism, India and Qatar raised their collaboration to a formal strategic level in 2025. A new double taxation avoidance treaty and UPI integration have streamlined economic flows, and Qatar is now planning to invest $10 billion in Indian technology and infrastructure. Qatar’s recent diplomatic actions toward India, such as the well-publicized pardon of Indian naval veterans, have made the strategic upgrading possible in part.
Qatar has solidified its position in India’s energy security by providing 45% of the country’s LNG needs. The significant number of Indian expatriates, who make up around 25% of Qatar’s population, highlights the need of mutual reliance, with remittances serving as a stabilizing economic link.
New Delhi is concerned about possible changes in regional deterrence and diplomatic alignments due to the Saudi-Pakistan defense pact, which views an assault on one as an attack on both. Indian leaders are adjusting their diplomatic and defense policies to reduce strategic vulnerabilities after realizing the material and symbolic risks, including the possibility of Saudi-sponsored improvements to Pakistan’s military posture.
In order to keep the Saudi-Pak agreement from tipping the scales against Indian interests, India plans to strengthen its defense ties with Israel, expedite military modernization, and increase diplomatic engagement with Gulf governments. Thus, additional Delhi’s calculations have given relations with Qatar, which is home to significant US military assets and plays a balancing role in Gulf politics, additional importance.
A notable counterbalance and hedge against emerging threats from the Saudi-Pakistan defense alliance is India’s assertive strengthening of its ties with Qatar. In a rebalanced Gulf environment, this policy uses oil, investment, and diplomatic capital to protect India’s security and strengthen its geopolitical position.
