India’s Humanitarian Diplomacy Efforts in the Middle East

Year 2023, Issue: 10, 3 - 22, 18.07.2023

Gökhan Tekir

https://doi.org/10.54722/iletisimvediplomasi.1299003

Abstract

India is among the first responders to Türkiye’s call for international help following the devastating earthquakes which occurred on February 6, 2023. India’s immediate and large-scale relief effort operation has been deliberately named as Operation Dost, which is a common word between Turkish and Hindi, meaning ‘friend.’ This relief operation is the latest example of India’s rising humanitarian aid to the Middle East region. India’s relief efforts in the Middle East include providing scholarships, healthcare services, and shelter for those affected by civil wars, conflicts, and disasters. Although one cannot rule out the moral side of this humanitarian effort, India’s increasing attention in responding humanitarian crises in the region also has strategic dimension. There is an undeniable connection between a state’s foreign interests and its engagement in humanitarian action. Humanitarian aid promotes diplomatic relations with recipient countries, enhancing donor country’s reputation. The Middle East region is a critical energy and remittances source for India. India aims to protect its interests in the Middle East especially after its regional rival the People’s Republic of China (PRC) also increases its presence. Humanitarian aid is an appropriate tool for India to boost its visibility among the countries and the peoples of the Middle East. In long-term, successful humanitarian aid builds up diplomatic capital, strengthening India’s position in the region.

Keywords

India, Middle East, Humanitarian Diplomacy

Humanitarian Diplomacy as a Tool for India's Middle East Strategy

Abstract

6 Şubat 2023 tarihinde meydana gelen yıkıcı depremden sonra, Hindistan Türkiye’nin uluslararası yardım çağrılarına ilk cevap verenler arasındaydı. Hindu ve Türkçe dillerinde ortak kelime olup arkadaş anlamına gelen Dost Operasyonu ismi Hindistan’un ivedi ve büyük çaplı yardım operasyonu bilerek verilmiştir. Bu yardım operasyonu Hindistan’ın Orta Doğu’da artan insani yardımlarının son örneğidir. Hindistan’ın Orta Doğu’daki yardım operasyonları iç savaşlar, çatışmalar ve felaketlerden etkilenenler için burs sağlama, sağlık hizmetleri ve barınmayı içermektedir. Bu insani yardımların ahlaki boyutu reddedilemezse de Hindistan’ın bölgedeki insani krizlere yaklaşımının stratejik boyutu vardır. Bir devletin dış ilişkileri ve insani yardım çalışmaları arasında inkar edilemez bir bağ vardır. İnsani diplomasi sağlayıcı ülkenin diplomatik saygınlığın artırıp alıcı ülkelerle olan diplomatik ilişkilerini geliştirmektedir. Hindistan Orta Doğu’daki çıkarlarını özellikle Çin Halk Cumhuriyeti’nin bölgedeki ağırlığını arttırmasından sonra korumak istemektedir. İnsani yardımlar Hindistan için bölge ülkeleri ve Orta Doğu halkları arasındaki görünürlüğünü arttırmak için uygun bir araçtır. Uzun vadede başarılı insani yardımlar diplomatik sermayeyi güçlendirip Hindistan’ın bölgedeki pozisyonunu güçlendirecektir.

Keywords

Hindistan, Orta Doğu, İnsani Diplomasi

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