West Asia at War: Implications for India and the Indian Ocean Region

The Stepwell Centre for Asian Futures at Ahmedabad University, and The Learning community, an initiative of the the Office of the Dean of Students at Ahmedabad University, invite all students, faculty and staff for ‘The Briefing’ – an incisive presentation and discussion on the political, strategic and geo-economic implications of the US-Israel war with Iran for India and the Indian Ocean Region.

The conflict has reestablished West Asia as a central theatre of global contestation. Even if hostilities de-escalate in the near term, the conflict will produce lasting geo-economic and strategic repercussions for India, South Asia, and the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). These range from reimagining energy policies and a recalibration of regional and global relations, to managing supply chains and stressed political economies in an already stressed region.

South Asian economies depend heavily on imported fuel, and face secondary shocks through rising energy costs, inflationary pressures, and slower trade growth. The conflict also risks fragmenting regional connectivity initiatives by heightening security anxieties, resulting in a consequent ramping up of defence expenditure. In the maritime domain, the crisis could result in greater naval presence of extra-regional powers across the northern Indian Ocean and adjacent chokepoints.

Overall, the conflict underscores a structural reality: instability in West Asia will continue to shape India’s strategic calculus with energy, maritime governance, and regional diplomacy. Equally, it provides India the opportunity to leverage its position as a stabilising force in the region.

Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Time: 3:30 - 5:00 PM IST
Venue: Room 113, School of Arts and Sciences, Central Campus

Speakers