Strategic Gateways and Geopolitics: India’s Chabahar Agreement and Access to Central Asia (2003–Present)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31305/rrjiks.2024.v1.n2.017Keywords:
Chabahar Port, India–Iran Relations, Central Asia Connectivity, Geopolitics, Geoeconomics, INSTCAbstract
From 2003 to the present, India’s Chabahar Agreement has been crucial in improving access to Central Asia. This study analyses the agreement’s geopolitical, geoeconomic, and strategic importance. To overcome geographical and political obstacles, especially the lack of direct land access through Pakistan, the article contends that Chabahar is more than just a port development project; it is an essential tool of India’s connectivity strategy. The research places the project in the context of growing geopolitics of connectedness, which is characterized by the influence of infrastructure and trade corridors on the distribution of power and the degree of economic integration between regions. According to the literature that is already out there, the Chabahar project is of “immense economic and geopolitical value” and is an essential part of the INSTC, which connects Europe, Central Asia, and India. Examining its geoeconomic significance in easing trade, decreasing transit costs, and connecting landlocked countries to global markets, the article follows the initiative’s historical development, showcasing its progressive shift from diplomatic ideal to operational reality. In particular, it delves into the project’s geopolitical aspects, namely how it will shape India’s regional influence and how it will compete with other connectivity frameworks like China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The report also takes a close look at the obstacles that have slowed down and limited the initiative’s reach, such as regional instability, international sanctions, and a lack of necessary infrastructure. Examining both past and present events, the article proves that Chabahar is an investment in regional influence and connection with a long-term strategic perspective. It finds that the project could reshape India’s relationship with Central Asia and add to a more linked and multipolar regional order, even with the limitations that are already in place.
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