Most sensitive region of IP. Intro - Alfred T Mahan - Advised Brit India to focus on west Asia to maintain British hegemony. CRM - 2nd Concentric circles- immediate neighborhood, extended neighborhood (Middle east, South East), external world. Hence Middle east is not just a gas station. Land of great games These critical Indian interests concerning the diaspora, energy and security have required India to maintain a delicate balancing act in the region between its major players, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and others(Dhruv Jaishankar) For India, a deeper, more normal relationship with Israel has been made easier by the thaw in Israel’s relations with Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies( Dhruv Jaishankar ) Abraham accord- 'New dawn in middle east' or 'slap of the century' Middle east plan "" US recognized Jerusalem and moved embassy. Nicholas Blare - India linked in the region through 3 Cs - Culture, commerce and coloniali...