India oils its Saudi Arabia ties

It has taken a half century for a Saudi monarch to visit India but the main guest for the country’s Republic Day celebrations on January 26 will be King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz.

..One important aspect is energy security. India’s engagement with Riyadh is the result of a well thought out process at a time when New Delhi’s relations with Iran are pegged on the way Washington perceives Tehran, and Iraq remains in tatters. India for a long time has enjoyed ties with Iran and Iraq, which have helped it meet its energy requirements. However, in the context of Tehran’s aggressive anti-Western tirades, independent nuclear program, and the occupation of Iraq, India has been looking to extend its influence beyond the Persian Gulf to the Saudi peninsula.

Asia Times