♤ Despite long historical ties, India’s links to the Gulf countries in the last few decades had come to be defined by the twin factors of energy imports and labour exports.

♤ In 2005 P.M. Manmohan Singh officially argued that

"the Gulf region, like South-East and South Asia, is part of our natural economic hinterland. We must pursue closer economic relations with all our neighbours in our wider Asian neighbourhood. India has successfully pursued a Look East policy to come closer to the countries of South-East Asia. We must, similarly, come closer to our western neighbours in the Gulf."

♤ This statement had the elements of the “Look West Policy” which further received momentum and shape through Prime Minister Modi’ trips to Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran and Israel since 2014.