"Energy security constitutes the dominant kingpin of India's foreign policy, and is linked with India's…

Question

"Energy security constitutes the dominant kingpin of India's foreign policy, and is linked with India's overarching influence in Middle Eastern countries." How would you integrate energy security with India's foreign policy trajectories in the coming years?

Ghissu Editorial · Accepted Answer

India should integrate energy security into its foreign policy by moving from oil buyer to stakeholder in the Gulf, securing reserves, corridors and sea lanes, diversifying suppliers and leading the clean-energy transition. India imports over 85% of its crude, much of it from the Gulf.

**Introduction**

India imports over 85% of its crude, and the Gulf has long supplied the bulk of its oil and LNG. Energy anchors its Middle East policy, yet its influence there also rests on a diaspora of about 9 million and trade ties, and dependence is as much a risk as a lever.

**Integrating Energy with the West Asia Trajectory**

1. **Buyer to Stakeholder**: ONGC Videsh's Lower Zakum stake (2018) and Petronet's 20-year Qatar LNG renewal (2024) show the shift from purchases to ownership.
2. **Reserves and Corridors**: ADNOC crude in the Mangaluru reserve, IMEC (2023), the Chabahar contract (2024) and rupee-settled UAE crude (2023) tie supply to connectivity.
3. **Securing the Sea Lanes**: Operation Sankalp and the 2024 Red Sea crisis make chokepoint security part of energy policy.

**Integrating Energy with Diversification and Transition**

SKETCH: flow | Energy Diplomacy Trajectory
- Oil buyer
- Upstream investor
- Reserves and corridors
- Supplier diversification
- Clean-energy partner

1. **Multi-alignment in Supply**: Russian crude since 2022 diversified sources, but the extra US tariff of August 2025 shows each choice carries a diplomatic price.
2. **Minerals and Green Leadership**: KABIL's Argentine lithium deal (2024), the International Solar Alliance and the Global Biofuels Alliance (2023) turn India from an importer into a shaper of clean-energy rules.

**Way Forward**

1. **Whole-of-Government Diplomacy**: MEA, the petroleum ministry and public sector firms should work from one supplier-risk map.
2. **Deeper Reserves and Naval Reach**: Expand storage with producer partners and sustain deployments around Hormuz.

**Conclusion**

Integrated this way, energy security becomes the connecting tissue of strategic autonomy, powering Viksit Bharat 2047 and a stabilising role in West Asia.

"Energy security constitutes the dominant kingpin of India's foreign policy, and is linked with India's overarching influence in Middle Eastern countries." How would you integrate energy security with India's foreign policy trajectories in the coming years?

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