As 2020 comes to an end, this week on the West Asia Post, Ghadi Francis takes a look at what this year meant for the region and the consequences it holds for 2021. From the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani to the Abraham Accords, we bring a comprehensive roundup of all the things that took the region by storm. For more such stories, keep watching the West Asia post with Ghadi Francis every Friday at 8:30 PM IST, only on WION.

The West Asia Post | Episode 14 | Your window to West Asia

The Swastika is an enduring symbol of well-being & good luck for millions of Indians. But it is reviled as a symbol of fascism in the west. In France, dozens of graves have been desecrated with the symbol. The act has reignited the debate on anti-Semitism. WION's Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: Why is the Swastika reviled by the west?

Qatar is home to over seven lakh Indians. The bilateral trade was USD 10.95 billion in 2019-20, according to official data.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on 2-day visit to Qatar

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has reached Qatar for a two-day visit that will see him meeting top leadership of the politically significant West Asian country.

Seventh high-level visit from India to West Asia begins as Jaishankar reaches Qatar

This week on the West Asia Post, Ghadi Francis talks about how West Asia has kicked off mass vaccination drives. Fears grow in the region over the new mutant strain. Also on the show, United States is now mulling immunity for Saudi crown prince MBS. Will this be Trump's parting gift for Mohammed Bin Salman?

The West Asia Post | Episode 13 | Your window to West Asia

In the past few years, Israel has acknowledged carrying out dozens of airstrikes in Syria, most of them aimed at suspected Iranian weapons shipments believed to be bound for Hezbollah.

Israeli jets fly over Beirut, explosions reported in Syria

Morocco has become the 4th Arab country to normalise ties with Israel in the last 5 months. The deal comes after U.S. recognised Moroccan sovereignty over the Saharan region. WION's Palki Sharma discusses these developments with Moroccan Ambassador to India Mohamed Maliki.

Morocco becomes 6th Arab country to normalise ties with Israel | Mohamed Maliki exclusively on WION

The pandemic has accelerated the shift away from oil. Several countries in West Asia are struggling to balance their budgets - due to their over-dependence on oil revenues.

Gravitas: Without reforms, West Asia's Oil Economies face a difficult future

Oil economies across West Asia have been hit by a novel coronavirus. The shift away from oil was already underway, and the pandemic accelerated it.

Arab monarchies could lose nearly $2 trillion in the next 15 years. Once the oil demand peaks this dire prediction from the international monetary fund came in February.

But -- as the coronavirus spread to more than 100 countries in the following months. The pandemic wiped out oil demand like never before.

By May, lockdowns and travel restrictions had wiped out almost a third of the global oil demand. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are set to lose 270 billion dollars in revenue this year.

Oil was the ultimate cash cow for the gulf. But, the pandemic has precipitated the end of the oil age.

Even the richest kingdoms are struggling to balance their books... Thanks to the fluctuations in oil prices. Saudi Arabia is the largest producer of oil. Going by one estimate --- 70 per cent of its budget comes from oil revenues.

To meet its expenses Saudi Arabia needs an oil price of 80 dollars a barrel. As of today --- oil is selling at less than 50 dollars per barrel.

Smaller oil producers are hurting more. In May, Algeria announced that it would cut its spending to half. Iraq, another leading oil producer, is staring at an economic collapse. For most of 2020, Iraq has been unable to pay salaries to government employees.

Oman has the widest budget deficit among Gulf Arab economies. The country has been rated junk by three major credit rating companies. Its deficit stands at almost minus 17 per cent of its GDP.

Its the over-dependence on oil --- that triggered this crisis of cash for the Gulf economies and the crisis is here to stay. Oil prices are expected to remain low in the future. Due to oversupply and the improving availability of clean energy resources. If the Gulf economies don't wean away from oil, their coffers could run dry. The IMF predicts oil demand to peak around 2040.

To account for this, oil economies must start substantial reforms now. Else, their financial wealth will deplete by 2034. West Asia runs the risk of running out of money, well before it runs out of oil.

Oil economies across West Asia have been hit by a novel coronavirus. The shift away from oil was already underway, and the pandemic accelerated it. Arab monarchies could lose nearly $2 trillion in the next 15 years.

Oil economies across West Asia have been hit by a novel coronavirus. The shift away from oil was already underway, and the pandemic accelerated it. Arab monarchies could lose nearly $2 trillion in the next 15 years. Once the oil demand peaks this dire prediction from the international monetary fund came in February. But -- as the coronavirus spread to more than 100 countries in the following months. The pandemic wiped out oil demand like never before. By May, lockdowns and travel restrictions had wiped out almost a third of the global oil demand. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are set to lose 270 billion dollars in revenue this year. Oil was the ultimate cash cow for the gulf. But, the pandemic has precipitated the end of the oil age. Even the richest kingdoms are struggling to balance their books... Thanks to the fluctuations in oil prices. Saudi Arabia is the largest producer of oil. Going by one estimate --- 70 per cent of its budget comes from oil revenues. To meet its expenses Saudi Arabia needs an oil price of 80 dollars a barrel. As of today --- oil is selling at less than 50 dollars per barrel. Smaller oil producers are hurting more. In May, Algeria announced that it would cut its spending to half. Iraq, another leading oil producer, is staring at an economic collapse. For most of 2020, Iraq has been unable to pay salaries to government employees. Oman has the widest budget deficit among Gulf Arab economies. The country has been rated junk by three major credit rating companies. Its deficit stands at almost minus 17 per cent of its GDP. Its the over-dependence on oil --- that triggered this crisis of cash for the Gulf economies and the crisis is here to stay. Oil prices are expected to remain low in the future. Due to oversupply and the improving availability of clean energy resources. If the Gulf economies don't wean away from oil, their coffers could run dry. The IMF predicts oil demand to peak around 2040. To account for this, oil economies must start substantial reforms now. Else, their financial wealth will deplete by 2034. West Asia runs the risk of running out of money, well before it runs out of oil.

Coronavirus pandemic takes a huge toll on oil economies across West Asia

The triple threat of conflict, climate change and COVID-19 is driving the crises in nearly all Emergency Watchlist countries, threatening famine in several in 2021.

These countries face the biggest humanitarian crisis in year 2021

The festive season is right around the corner. But in the biblical town of Bethlehem, the COVID-19 pandemic is now dampening Christmas cheer. On this week's The West Asia Post, Ghadi Francis tells you how the town is gearing up for a dismal season.

The West Asia Post | COVID-19 robs Bethlehem of Christmas cheer

Israel and Morocco agreed on Thursday to normalize relations in a deal brokered with U.S. help.

Morocco joins other Arab nations agreeing to normalize Israel ties

The Yemen conflict is the world's worst humanitarian crisis. But it is the children of Yemen that are the worst-affected. Children malnutrition is soaring in the war-torn country. This week on the West Asia Post, Ghadi Francis decodes this growing crisis.

The West Asia Post | Child malnutrition soars in Yemen

That deal would have to be negotiated, but what is important now is to bring back Israelis and Palestinians to the negotiating table to work towards a fair deal

UAE and Israel made agreement to normalise relations | World News

Senior White House Adviser Jared kushner will be travelling to West Asia this week. The meeting is being seen as Trump's final diplomatic push to normalise ties between Israel & Saudi Arabia.

Gravitas: Jared Kushner to visit West Asia

History is not the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of young, energy-rich monarchies of the Gulf that often punch above their weight in geopolitics and geoeconomics. Yet, that is the rich, mostly unknown story of Qatar that Michael Quentin Morton tells in his book, Masters of the Pearl: A History of Qatar (Reaktion Books, 2020).

It is a story that sheds light on a country that is ruled by an autocratic family that has wielded power for centuries and that frequently dominates headlines with its grand and often controversial ambitions, including its hosting of the 2022 World Cup, as well as its predicaments, controversies, and idiosyncrasies. Michael Quentin Morton, author of nine books on the Gulf and oil, brings an understanding of Qatari history to the table based on extensive research and the fact that he lived in Qatar and UAE at a young age. His father worked there as a Geologist.

Morton puts into perspective Qatar’s differences with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE that exploded in 2017 with the imposition of a diplomatic and economic boycott that its detractors unsuccessfully hoped would force Qatar to fall into line with their designs for the Gulf and the Middle East at large. Morton draws the reader in by weaving a well-written tale of tribal intrigue, regional and historic animosities, and big power rivalry.

It is a history that on the one hand illustrates the forces that have shaped Qatar and other Gulf states and on the other describes how much the region has and is changing as the result of economic and social development and wealth garnered from oil and gas. Masters of the Pearl constitutes a critical, yet compassionate contribution to an understanding of a small state that manages to punch above its weight and the stormy winds that it attracts.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do&nbsp;not represent the views of&nbsp;WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse&nbsp;the views of the writer)

History is not the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of young, energy-rich monarchies of the Gulf that often punch above their weight in geopolitics and geoeconomics.

History is not the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of young, energy-rich monarchies of the Gulf that often punch above their weight in geopolitics and geoeconomics. Yet, that is the rich, mostly unknown story of Qatar that Michael Quentin Morton tells in his book, Masters of the Pearl: A History of Qatar (Reaktion Books, 2020). It is a story that sheds light on a country that is ruled by an autocratic family that has wielded power for centuries and that frequently dominates headlines with its grand and often controversial ambitions, including its hosting of the 2022 World Cup, as well as its predicaments, controversies, and idiosyncrasies. Michael Quentin Morton, author of nine books on the Gulf and oil, brings an understanding of Qatari history to the table based on extensive research and the fact that he lived in Qatar and UAE at a young age. His father worked there as a Geologist. Morton puts into perspective Qatar’s differences with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE that exploded in 2017 with the imposition of a diplomatic and economic boycott that its detractors unsuccessfully hoped would force Qatar to fall into line with their designs for the Gulf and the Middle East at large. Morton draws the reader in by weaving a well-written tale of tribal intrigue, regional and historic animosities, and big power rivalry. It is a history that on the one hand illustrates the forces that have shaped Qatar and other Gulf states and on the other describes how much the region has and is changing as the result of economic and social development and wealth garnered from oil and gas. Masters of the Pearl constitutes a critical, yet compassionate contribution to an understanding of a small state that manages to punch above its weight and the stormy winds that it attracts. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer)

Masters of the pearl: Understanding Qatar critically

After a bitter border row that lasted for months. India and Nepal are working to get ties back on track. A flurry of high-level visits are set to take place in the coming months. Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla is already in Kathmandu at the invitation of the Nepal government.

He landed at Tribhuvan International Airport on Thursday morning, and was received by his Nepalese counterpart Bharat Raj Paudyal. Shringla is expected to be there for 2 days.

This is his first visit to the Himalayan Republic after becoming the foreign secretary. He will be visiting sites of developmental projects being carried out by India in the backdrop of the 2015 earthquake that rocked Nepal.

He is also expected to deliver a lecture at the Asian Institute of Diplomacy &amp; International Affairs in Kathmandu.

When asked about the importance of his visit the foreign secretary had this to say.

"We've a very strong relationship with nepal. Our endeavour will be to see how we can take the relationship forward. I would like to thank Government of Nepal, the foreign secretary for the warm hospitality extended to us. We have few very good meetings ahead of us, lets see how that goes"

India has had special military ties with Nepal for decades. Currently, there are 32,000 Nepalese Gurkha soldiers serving in the Indian Army.

In return New Delhi has been working to modernise Nepal Army by supplying equipment and providing training to soldiers.

In recent months the ties have been strained due to a boundary dispute. It began with Nepal asserting its claim over the Kalapani region in the Pithorgarh district.

Tensions escalated further when Nepal published a new map &amp; a new national insignia. The Indian side suggested that Kathmandu did so under pressure from China.

A bitter war of words ensued bilateral ties were at their worst until a few months back.

Now New Delhi &amp; Kathmandu have pressed the reset button. The visit by the Indian foreign secretary may go a long way in mending bilateral relations.

Meanwhile, India is also reaching out to its other neighbours in South Asia.

The Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is expected to travel to Colombo. On November 27th.

Once there he will be holding trilateral discussions with the Maldivian Defence Minister Mariya Ahmed didi and the Lankan Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne.

Reports say, the talks will largely revolve around reviving trilateral maritime security dialogue.

The last such dialogue was held in New Delhi in 2014. It was suspended after India's relations with the Maldives got strained under the previous Abdulla Yameen regime.

This time, Seychelles, Mauritius and Bangladesh are expected to be present as observers during The dialogue.

From West Asia to South Asia, India is reaching out to its extended and immediate neighbours. The back-to-back visits could set the ball rolling for greater co-operation in the coming months.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

After a bitter border row that lasted for months. India and Nepal are working to get ties back on track. A flurry of high-level visits are set to take place in the coming months.

After a bitter border row that lasted for months. India and Nepal are working to get ties back on track. A flurry of high-level visits are set to take place in the coming months. Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla is already in Kathmandu at the invitation of the Nepal government. He landed at Tribhuvan International Airport on Thursday morning, and was received by his Nepalese counterpart Bharat Raj Paudyal. Shringla is expected to be there for 2 days. This is his first visit to the Himalayan Republic after becoming the foreign secretary. He will be visiting sites of developmental projects being carried out by India in the backdrop of the 2015 earthquake that rocked Nepal. He is also expected to deliver a lecture at the Asian Institute of Diplomacy & International Affairs in Kathmandu. When asked about the importance of his visit the foreign secretary had this to say. "We've a very strong relationship with nepal. Our endeavour will be to see how we can take the relationship forward. I would like to thank Government of Nepal, the foreign secretary for the warm hospitality extended to us. We have few very good meetings ahead of us, lets see how that goes" India has had special military ties with Nepal for decades. Currently, there are 32,000 Nepalese Gurkha soldiers serving in the Indian Army. In return New Delhi has been working to modernise Nepal Army by supplying equipment and providing training to soldiers. In recent months the ties have been strained due to a boundary dispute. It began with Nepal asserting its claim over the Kalapani region in the Pithorgarh district. Tensions escalated further when Nepal published a new map & a new national insignia. The Indian side suggested that Kathmandu did so under pressure from China. A bitter war of words ensued bilateral ties were at their worst until a few months back. Now New Delhi & Kathmandu have pressed the reset button. The visit by the Indian foreign secretary may go a long way in mending bilateral relations. Meanwhile, India is also reaching out to its other neighbours in South Asia. The Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is expected to travel to Colombo. On November 27th. Once there he will be holding trilateral discussions with the Maldivian Defence Minister Mariya Ahmed didi and the Lankan Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne. Reports say, the talks will largely revolve around reviving trilateral maritime security dialogue. The last such dialogue was held in New Delhi in 2014. It was suspended after India's relations with the Maldives got strained under the previous Abdulla Yameen regime. This time, Seychelles, Mauritius and Bangladesh are expected to be present as observers during The dialogue. From West Asia to South Asia, India is reaching out to its extended and immediate neighbours. The back-to-back visits could set the ball rolling for greater co-operation in the coming months.

India reaches out to neighbours from West to South Asia

For years India's ties with the Gulf have been anchored on oil. It's time to go beyond it and focus on numerous untapped avenues. As India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Tours West India, WION's Molly Gambhir tells you about the various areas where India and The Gulf can expand cooperation.

Gravitas: Untapped avenues in India, Gulf ties

PM Narendra Modi has been accorded with State Honours by leading Gulf Nations. The partnership has yielded diplomatic and political gains for the Indian Prime Minister. WION's Molly Gambhir tells you how India can help the Gulf, as the region tries to reinvent itself.

Gravitas: How Prime Minister Modi built an alliance with the Gulf

For decades, the relationship between India and the Gulf has been defined by oil. However, for firmer influence, the country is ready to its&nbsp;interests in West Asia beyond oil and&nbsp;gas.

India imports 53 per cent&nbsp;of its oil and 41 per cent of its gas from West Asia and over 8.5 million Indians work in the region.

In 2018, India's total remittances was around 78.6 billion dollars. Out of this,&nbsp;48.6 billion dollars had come from the 6 Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC).

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/how-a-structural-shift-in-west-asia-has-opened-up-opportunities-for-india-345388" hreflang="en">How a structural shift in West Asia has opened up opportunities for India</a>

While these numbers are big, India's ties with West Asia cannot be anchored on oil and diaspora alone. And because of the coronavirus pandemic it&nbsp;is the perfect opportunity to tap&nbsp;avenues and newer opportunities.

The pandemic has triggered a lot of turbulence in this region.&nbsp;While new alliances are being built&nbsp;Gulf nations are looking within too.

As per an estimate,&nbsp;Arab states of the Gulf could have a deficit of about 490 billion dollars between 2020 and 2023. Their government debt could surge&nbsp;by a record 100 billion this year.

Sovereign wealth funds

India should invest in&nbsp;sovereign wealth funds, which are worth billions. In such an investment&nbsp;government invests its surplus reserves in the country and outside.

The Abu Dhabi investment authority is worth 579.6 billion dollars and the Kuwait investment authority- 533.6 billion dollars.

While&nbsp;West Asia has spending capacity, India on the other hand&nbsp;has investment opportunities and unmatched potential.

Saudi Arabia's 347 billion dollars sovereign wealth fund is very crucial to crown prince- Mohammad bin Salman's vision 2030.

As India eyes a 5 trillion dollar economy, it can attract sovereign wealth funds in several just growing companies-- across sectors&nbsp;

India can expand its cooperation with West Asia with trade.&nbsp;The total bilateral trade between India and the GCC&nbsp;stood at 121.34 billion dollars in 2018-19.

At 60 billion dollars, the United Arab Emirates was India's third-biggest trade partner in the year 2018-19.

Saudi Arabia was the fourth biggest trade partner with bilateral trade amounting to 34.03 billion dollars.

Energy trade

Energy trade&nbsp;is&nbsp;the anchor of India-West Asia economic relations but&nbsp;the&nbsp;trade basket needs to be diversified especially due to the Wuhan virus&nbsp;and the fall in energy demands.

Goods like precious metals, food and agriculture products, chemicals, gems and jewellery, textile must all be included in the trade basket.

Sector-specific investment

Major oil companies of West Asia are already developing a strategic partnership with the Indian companies both in the public and private sector.

A 15 billion dollar deal was announced between Saudi Aramco and Reliance industry.&nbsp;India's ONGC Videsh has acquired a 10 per cent stake in offshore oil concession in Abu Dhabi.

Sebacic Oman, which is an Indo-Oman venture, is setting up West Asia largest sebacic acid plant for 1.2 billion dollars.

A senior official from India's ministry of external affairs said&nbsp;India and the Gulf can explore forging of partnerships to develop oil and gas reserves in various parts of the country.

The official named- Kutch, Cauvery basin, Mahanadi basin, and offshore locations in the bay of Bengal as possible venues for joint hydrocarbon production.

The topic of expanding cooperation came up during the discussion between India's external affairs minister- s. Jaishankar, and his counterpart in Bahrain.

They agreed to further strengthen Bahrain-India ties in the areas of defence and maritime security, space technology, trade and investment, infrastructure, it, fin-tech, health, hydrocarbon and renewable energy. 
&nbsp;

For decades, the relationship between India and the Gulf has been defined by oil. However, for firmer influence, the country is ready to its interests in West Asia beyond oil and gas.

For decades, the relationship between India and the Gulf has been defined by oil. However, for firmer influence, the country is ready to its interests in West Asia beyond oil and gas. India imports 53 per cent of its oil and 41 per cent of its gas from West Asia and over 8.5 million Indians work in the region. In 2018, India's total remittances was around 78.6 billion dollars. Out of this, 48.6 billion dollars had come from the 6 Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC). Also read: How a structural shift in West Asia has opened up opportunities for India While these numbers are big, India's ties with West Asia cannot be anchored on oil and diaspora alone. And because of the coronavirus pandemic it is the perfect opportunity to tap avenues and newer opportunities. The pandemic has triggered a lot of turbulence in this region. While new alliances are being built Gulf nations are looking within too. As per an estimate, Arab states of the Gulf could have a deficit of about 490 billion dollars between 2020 and 2023. Their government debt could surge by a record 100 billion this year. Sovereign wealth funds India should invest in sovereign wealth funds, which are worth billions. In such an investment government invests its surplus reserves in the country and outside. The Abu Dhabi investment authority is worth 579.6 billion dollars and the Kuwait investment authority- 533.6 billion dollars. While West Asia has spending capacity, India on the other hand has investment opportunities and unmatched potential. Saudi Arabia's 347 billion dollars sovereign wealth fund is very crucial to crown prince- Mohammad bin Salman's vision 2030. As India eyes a 5 trillion dollar economy, it can attract sovereign wealth funds in several just growing companies-- across sectors India can expand its cooperation with West Asia with trade. The total bilateral trade between India and the GCC stood at 121.34 billion dollars in 2018-19. At 60 billion dollars, the United Arab Emirates was India's third-biggest trade partner in the year 2018-19. Saudi Arabia was the fourth biggest trade partner with bilateral trade amounting to 34.03 billion dollars. Energy trade Energy trade is the anchor of India-West Asia economic relations but the trade basket needs to be diversified especially due to the Wuhan virus and the fall in energy demands. Goods like precious metals, food and agriculture products, chemicals, gems and jewellery, textile must all be included in the trade basket. Sector-specific investment Major oil companies of West Asia are already developing a strategic partnership with the Indian companies both in the public and private sector. A 15 billion dollar deal was announced between Saudi Aramco and Reliance industry. India's ONGC Videsh has acquired a 10 per cent stake in offshore oil concession in Abu Dhabi. Sebacic Oman, which is an Indo-Oman venture, is setting up West Asia largest sebacic acid plant for 1.2 billion dollars. A senior official from India's ministry of external affairs said India and the Gulf can explore forging of partnerships to develop oil and gas reserves in various parts of the country. The official named- Kutch, Cauvery basin, Mahanadi basin, and offshore locations in the bay of Bengal as possible venues for joint hydrocarbon production. The topic of expanding cooperation came up during the discussion between India's external affairs minister- s. Jaishankar, and his counterpart in Bahrain. They agreed to further strengthen Bahrain-India ties in the areas of defence and maritime security, space technology, trade and investment, infrastructure, it, fin-tech, health, hydrocarbon and renewable energy.

India’s interests in West Asia to go beyond oil, gas for firmer influence

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is&nbsp;visiting&nbsp;Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates on a six-day tour of West Asia.

Jaishankar's visit is crucial as it is the perfect opportunity for India to enhance its outreach with the Gulf region which is a key strategic partner of the country.

Jaishankar held talks on bilateral issues as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest with his Bahraini counterpart Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani.

He also conveyed condolences on behalf of the government and people of India to the Bahraini leadership on the sad demise of Prime Minister of Bahrain Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa on November 11.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Discussed our historical ties and cooperation in diverse sectors. Exchanged views on regional and international issues. Thanked Bahrain for taking special care of the Indian community during COVID times.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1331305960615370759?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

He&nbsp;visited Gulf's oldest temple - the Shreenathji (Shree Krishna) Hindu Temple - in Bahrain built by the Thattai Hindu community which had arrived from the Sindh, undivided India.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/external-affairs-minister-jaishankar-visits-200-year-old-hindu-temple-in-bahrain-345224" hreflang="en">Foreign minister Jaishankar visits 200-year-old Hindu temple in Bahrain</a>

The 200-year-old Shree Krishna temple was built in 1817 and situated in Bahrain's capital Manama.

Jaishankar also&nbsp;interacted virtually, with members of the Indian community in Bahrain.

From Bahrain, Jaishankar will travel to UAE where he is scheduled to meet his counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

During his UAE trip, Jaishankar will discuss ways for Indian workers to resume their jobs in UAE in the post-COVID scenario. More than 3 million Indians live and work in the UAE, the MEA had said in a statement before the commencement of the minister's journey.

In the last leg of his tour, the external affairs minister will travel to Seychelles on November 27 and 28.

In Seychelles, Jaishankar will call-on the newly elected President, Wavel Ramkalawan, to present greetings of Prime Minister Modi and will discuss with him the priorities of the new government and avenues for further strengthening of bilateral relations, the MEA said.

Jaishankar will also hold bilateral consultations with the newly appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Sylvestre Radegonde, it said.&nbsp;

Why is India reaching out to its Gulf partners right now?

India's regional influence is growing. It&nbsp;no longer wants to look at the Gulf&nbsp;just as a source of oil but also as a key strategic partner.

The visit is seen as important as it comes in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

The pandemic has triggered a lot of turbulence in this region.&nbsp;While new alliances are being built&nbsp;Gulf nations are looking within too.

As per an estimate,&nbsp;Arab states of the gulf could have a deficit of about 490 billion dollars between 2020 and 2023. Their government debt could surge&nbsp;by a record 100 billion this year.

Proposals are being floated around&nbsp;that could limit the entry of foreign workers. India&nbsp;urged the Gulf countries to facilitate the return of Indian workers and professionals who are now eager to resume their work following the easing of coronavirus-related restrictions.

The gulf is diversifying by&nbsp;making big-ticket investments to open up other sectors of the economy&nbsp;to generate income.&nbsp;India can offer many investment opportunities to the region.

Both the UAE and Bahrain have&nbsp;normalised ties with Israel, another ally for India.&nbsp;There is now an opening for all four countries&nbsp;to work together on areas of mutual interest.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi&nbsp;received state honours in all four countries. His foreign policy has been to elevate&nbsp;the Gulf and the Indian Ocean as the countries strategic priorities.&nbsp;

Gulf has sided with India in against Pakistan as well. Before Jaishankar's visit, the United Arab Emirates stopped issuing new visas to citizens of 13 mostly Muslim-majority countries, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/remember-abbottabad-india-slams-pakistan-for-presenting-dossier-of-lies-at-un-345189">Pakistan</a>, Iran, Syria and Somalia, according to a document issued by a state-owned business park.

&nbsp;

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is visiting Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates on a six-day tour of West Asia. Jaishankar's visit is crucial as it is the perfect opportunity for India to enhance its outreach with the Gulf region which is a key strategic partner of the country.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is visiting Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates on a six-day tour of West Asia. Jaishankar's visit is crucial as it is the perfect opportunity for India to enhance its outreach with the Gulf region which is a key strategic partner of the country. Jaishankar held talks on bilateral issues as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest with his Bahraini counterpart Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani. He also conveyed condolences on behalf of the government and people of India to the Bahraini leadership on the sad demise of Prime Minister of Bahrain Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa on November 11. Discussed our historical ties and cooperation in diverse sectors. Exchanged views on regional and international issues. Thanked Bahrain for taking special care of the Indian community during COVID times. — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) November 24, 2020 × He visited Gulf's oldest temple - the Shreenathji (Shree Krishna) Hindu Temple - in Bahrain built by the Thattai Hindu community which had arrived from the Sindh, undivided India. Also read: Foreign minister Jaishankar visits 200-year-old Hindu temple in Bahrain The 200-year-old Shree Krishna temple was built in 1817 and situated in Bahrain's capital Manama. Jaishankar also interacted virtually, with members of the Indian community in Bahrain. From Bahrain, Jaishankar will travel to UAE where he is scheduled to meet his counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. During his UAE trip, Jaishankar will discuss ways for Indian workers to resume their jobs in UAE in the post-COVID scenario. More than 3 million Indians live and work in the UAE, the MEA had said in a statement before the commencement of the minister's journey. In the last leg of his tour, the external affairs minister will travel to Seychelles on November 27 and 28. In Seychelles, Jaishankar will call-on the newly elected President, Wavel Ramkalawan, to present greetings of Prime Minister Modi and will discuss with him the priorities of the new government and avenues for further strengthening of bilateral relations, the MEA said. Jaishankar will also hold bilateral consultations with the newly appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Sylvestre Radegonde, it said. Why is India reaching out to its Gulf partners right now? India's regional influence is growing. It no longer wants to look at the Gulf just as a source of oil but also as a key strategic partner. The visit is seen as important as it comes in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic has triggered a lot of turbulence in this region. While new alliances are being built Gulf nations are looking within too. As per an estimate, Arab states of the gulf could have a deficit of about 490 billion dollars between 2020 and 2023. Their government debt could surge by a record 100 billion this year. Proposals are being floated around that could limit the entry of foreign workers. India urged the Gulf countries to facilitate the return of Indian workers and professionals who are now eager to resume their work following the easing of coronavirus-related restrictions. The gulf is diversifying by making big-ticket investments to open up other sectors of the economy to generate income. India can offer many investment opportunities to the region. Both the UAE and Bahrain have normalised ties with Israel, another ally for India. There is now an opening for all four countries to work together on areas of mutual interest. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi received state honours in all four countries. His foreign policy has been to elevate the Gulf and the Indian Ocean as the countries strategic priorities. Gulf has sided with India in against Pakistan as well. Before Jaishankar's visit, the United Arab Emirates stopped issuing new visas to citizens of 13 mostly Muslim-majority countries, including Pakistan, Iran, Syria and Somalia, according to a document issued by a state-owned business park.

How a structural shift in West Asia has opened up opportunities for India

Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia said they have signed a deal with to end the military conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region after more than a month of bloodshed.

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia sign deal to end Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

West Asia is no stranger to radical terrorism. This week, on the West Asia Post, Ghadi Francis takes you to the heart of Syria where hate crimes and acts of terror often further political violence. Also on this week's episode, a massive earthquake rips through Turkey and Greece. For more such stories, keep watching the West Asia post with Ghadi Francis every Friday at 8:30 PM IST, only on WION.

The West Asia Post | Episode 6 | Your Window to West Asia

Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, but is populated and controlled by ethnic Armenians.

Armenia, Azerbaijan agree to defuse Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Iran is the worst-affected country by COVID-19 in West Asia. Health authorities say that they are recording a death from the virus every four minutes & the bodies are piling up. Watch the report to know more.

Your Story: COVID-19: Iran reports a death every four minutes

In a recent interview, Saudi Prince Bandar Bin Sultan accused the Palestinian leaders of failing its people. The scathing remarks signalled a first for Saudi Arabia and raised an important question. Is Saudi Arabia's support for the Palestinian cause slowly eroding? For more such stories, keep watching the West Asia post with Ghadi Francis every Friday at 8:30 PM IST, only on WION.

The West Asia Post: Is Saudi Arabia's support for Palestine eroding?

Watch this week's West Asia Post as Ghadi Francis talks to Ali Hamdan, an adviser to the Lebanese Parliament Speaker for more on the Lebanon-Israel maritime talks. Also on the show, we explore how autocrats are hijacking mega sporting events to expand their soft power? For more such stories, keep watching the West Asia post with Ghadi Francis every Friday at 8:30 PM, only on WION.

The West Asia Post - Episode 3

Wildfires fuelled by high temperature ravage several regions of Syria, Lebanon & Turkey. The wildfires triggered by heatwaves hitting the region have killed at least 3 people and burned swaths of land.

Wildfires ravage parts of West Asia, forest fires claim at least 3 lives in Syria

Political tensions between Turkey and Saudi Arabia are spilling over into trade with Saudi business leaders calling for a boycott of Turkish goods. On this week's The West Asia Post, Ghadi Francis talks about how this boycott could mean trouble for president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. For more such stories, keep watching the West Asia post with Ghadi Francis every Friday at 8:30 PM, only on WION.

The West Asia Post: 'Boycott Turkey' campaign in Saudi Arabia

In September 2015, Russia formally entered the Syrian civil war with President Bashar al-Assad's rule increasingly under threat..... 5 years since then, Moscow has managed to save the Syrian regime, but at what cost? Ghadi Francis tells you more on this week's The West Asia Post. For more such stories, keep watching The West Asia post with Ghadi Francis every Friday at 8:30 PM IST, only on WION.

THE WEST ASIA POST: 5 Years of Russian Intervention in Syria

Watch this week's West Asia Post as Ghadi Francis takes you to the heart of a border conflict between Israel and Lebanon. For more such stories, keep watching the West Asia post with Ghadi Francis every Friday at 8:30 PM, only on WION.

The West Asia Post: Lebanon-Israel Border Conflict, An Exclusive Ground Report from the Blue Line

west-asia-0

West Asia, News on West Asia, stories on West Asia, articles on West Asia, West Asia stories at Wion, West Asia news, West Asia latest news

west asia-0

The West Asia Post | Episode 14 | Your window to West Asia

Gravitas: Why is the Swastika reviled by the west?

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on 2-day visit to Qatar

Seventh high-level visit from India to West Asia begins as Jaishankar reaches Qatar

The West Asia Post | Episode 13 | Your window to West Asia

Israeli jets fly over Beirut, explosions reported in Syria

Morocco becomes 6th Arab country to normalise ties with Israel | Mohamed Maliki exclusively on WION

Gravitas: Without reforms, West Asia's Oil Economies face a difficult future

Coronavirus pandemic takes a huge toll on oil economies across West Asia

These countries face the biggest humanitarian crisis in year 2021

The West Asia Post | COVID-19 robs Bethlehem of Christmas cheer

Morocco joins other Arab nations agreeing to normalize Israel ties

The West Asia Post | Child malnutrition soars in Yemen

The West Asia Post | Child malnutrition soars in Yemen

UAE and Israel made agreement to normalise relations | World News

Gravitas: Jared Kushner to visit West Asia

Masters of the pearl: Understanding Qatar critically

India reaches out to neighbours from West to South Asia

Gravitas: Untapped avenues in India, Gulf ties

Gravitas: How Prime Minister Modi built an alliance with the Gulf

India’s interests in West Asia to go beyond oil, gas for firmer influence

How a structural shift in West Asia has opened up opportunities for India

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia sign deal to end Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

The West Asia Post | Episode 6 | Your Window to West Asia