Dr. Stanly Johny is the International Affairs Editor of The Hindu. In this capacity, he runs the international news pages of the newspaper and writes opinions and editorials on geopolitics, Middle East and Indian foreign policy, besides doing special reports. He earned a PhD in international studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He has reported for The Hindu group from Brussels, Luxembourg City, Moscow, Singapore, Amman, Ramallah and Tel Aviv. He has written research papers as well as commentaries for various publications, including Economic and Political Weekly, The Hindu, The Hindu Business Line, Frontline and Business Standard. Dr. Johny is also an adjunct faculty member at the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. His first book, Baghdadi’s World is forthcoming from Penguin Random House.
This essay discusses India’s increasingly extensive relations with the Gulf Arab countries and its equally important interest in continuing to develop mutually beneficial ties with Iran. The author argues that as India’s regional profile rises and its economic prowess expands, New Delhi will come under pressure to take sides — pressure to which Indian leaders must try their utmost not to succumb.
