Md. Muddassir Quamar

Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Md Muddassir Quamar’s op-ed column ‘Biden's Dilemmas in the Middle East’ has been published in Financial Express on 04 July 2022.

The column explains the complex issues which are on the agenda of President Biden's forthcoming visit to Israel and Saudi Arabia. Dr Quamar argues that despite the shifts in US foreign policy with pivot to Asia and Indo-Pacific, and the complexities and inscrutable challenges in the Middle East, the region remains important for US foreign policy, and for Biden to achieve some of his stated goals, it would be important to avoid contentious issues, and focus on smaller deliverables that are a win-win for both the US and its regional partners.

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• Published: 4 July, 2022

The change in Turkey’s foreign policy approach in West Asia underlines a desire on part of Ankara to eschew confrontationist politics.

• Published: June 14, 2022
• IDSA Comments

Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Md. Muddassir Quamar’s commentary ‘Growing India-Saudi Naval Cooperation’ was broadcast by the External Service Division of All India Radio on 12 May 2022.

The commentary underlined the recent visit of Indian Naval and Coast Guard ships to Jeddah for exchange of training and discussions with the Royal Saudi Navy within the context of the strengthening of the India-Saudi defence and security cooperation.

• Published: 12 May, 2022

Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Md. Muddassir Quamar’s Issue Brief ‘India and the Persian Gulf: Bilateralism, Regional Security and the China Factor’ has been published by Institute for Security & Development Policy, Sweden.

The brief discusses how regional security in the Persian Gulf is vital for the international oil and gas market, and maritime security in the western Indian Ocean. For India, the region is additionally significant for the presence of its large expatriate population in the GCC and as an “extended neighborhood.” For three decades, India’s policy towards the Gulf and wider West Asia/Middle East region has been marked by bilateralism within the broader framework of a multi-aligned foreign policy. India eschews taking sides in regional disputes as it can harm its primary interests pertaining to trade, commerce, business, security and defense cooperation. However, the developments in the Indo-Pacific, deterioration of Sino Indian relations, the expansion of China threat perception to western Indian Ocean, and the convergence on the China factor with the US and European countries is pushing India to recalibrate its regional approach as noticeable from three recent events.

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• Published: 11 May, 2022

Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Md. Muddassir Quamar’s chapter ‘Demography, Governance and Reforms in Saudi Arabia: An Assessment of the Vision 2030’ has been published as part of the book ‘Youth Bloom in GCC’ (Knowledge World, New Delhi), edited by Dr. Sameena Hameed.

The chapter examines the Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 program within the broader context of the ongoing socio-economic reforms in the Kingdom. It underlines the relative success of the Kingdom's leadership in achieving some of the goals set in the Vision document in a short duration, especially in creating a more friendly public sphere for Saudi women, and in giving impetus to the recreational, entertainment and hospitality industry as part of the economic diversification plan.

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• Published: 9 May, 2022

The strategic partnership between Saudi Arabia and the US withstood the test of time despite occasional challenges. Even as the US dependence on Gulf oil weaned, the partnership continued due to foreign policy convergences and the security nexus. The Arab Spring uprisings challenged the partnership leading to foreign policy divergences. While the US looked for reducing its regional commitments, the Kingdom diversified relations with emerging powers.

• Published: May 2022
• Strategic Analysis

Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Md Muddassir Quamar’s op-ed piece ‘The Ukraine crisis and the middle east’ has been published in Financial Express Online, on 16 March 2022.

The Peace argues that ‘the responses of the Middle Eastern countries to the Russian invasion of Ukraine underline that regional countries are increasingly becoming independent in their foreign policy objectives and choices. This reflects the changing nature of international politics, their bilateral relations with the US, and the shifting focus of the US away from the region. However, to deduce this as weakening of US alliances in the Middle East or writing it off as the dominant regional power should be done at its peril.

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• Published: 16 March, 2022

Turkey is facing serious challenges in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Its response to the conflict could have far-reaching implications for its struggling economy, damaged relations with the US and EU, its complex partnership with Russia, and for the regional security architecture in the Black Sea.

• Published: March 14, 2022
• IDSA Comments

Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Md Muddassir Quamar’s article ‘The US deployment in the UAE and gulf security’ has been published in Financial Express on 07 February 2022.

For India, the news about the US decision to shore up UAE’s defense should come as a relief. India has vital interests in the Gulf region and has strong bilateral relations with the UAE as well as the US, says Dr. Quamar.

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• Published: 7 February, 2022

Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Md. Muddassir Quamar’s paper on ‘Islamic Movement in Israel’ has been published by Spring Reference Work on ‘The Palgrave International Handbook on Israel’ on 01 February 2022.

The paper discusses the origin, evolution and current status of the Islamic Movement in Israel underlining the division within the group and ideological adaptability shown by the pragmatist members.

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• Published: 1 February, 2022