The protection of neutral shipping during maritime conflicts relies on UNCLOS and the San Remo Manual. Recent attacks in critical chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz highlight gaps in global governance, threatening India’s energy security, seafarers, and international trade routes.
Click to View MoreThe UAE's 2026 exit from OPEC and OPEC+ signifies a major shift from cartel-managed oil supplies to strategic autonomy. For India, which imports 85% of its crude, this fragmentation presents opportunities for independent negotiation but requires immediate expansion of strategic reserves and alternative payment mechanisms amidst Middle Eastern conflicts.
Click to View MoreThe US and Iran agreed to a 14-point peace framework in June 2026 to halt hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The deal establishes a 60-day negotiating window, releases $25 billion in Iranian assets, and revives vital nuclear diplomacy.
Click to View MoreThe 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis threatens India's energy security and the lives of Indian seafarers in the Gulf. In response, India escalated diplomatic protests, issued safety circulars, and deployed naval task forces under Operations Sankalp and Urja Suraksha.
Click to View MoreThe India-Oman CEPA, operationalized on June 1, 2026, eliminates tariffs on 99.38% of Indian exports. It strengthens India’s energy security, boosts services and MSMEs, and provides a strategic, conflict-free trade gateway bypassing the volatile Strait of Hormuz.
Click to View MoreLaunched in May 2026, Project Freedom was a US-led military naval mission aiming to reopen the blockaded Strait of Hormuz. It was swiftly halted after Saudi Arabia denied airspace access and Iran launched retaliatory drone strikes on UAE oil hubs.
Click to View MoreExternal Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently highlighted the gravity of the situation in West Asia. He described the attacks on merchant shipping as a matter of grave concern, emphasizing that the safety of vital waterways like the Strait of Hormuz is non-negotiable for global economic stability.
Click to View MoreThe RELIEF scheme (₹497 crores) provides risk coverage and reimbursements to MSMEs facing West Asia's logistical disruptions. Long-term resilience requires operationalising IMEC/INSTC routes and building a domestic shipping fleet for true Atmanirbhar maritime logistics
Click to View MoreU.S. airstrikes on Kharg Island and the Hormuz closure have spiked oil past $100, threatening India’s macro-stability. India must expand strategic reserves, diversify suppliers, and accelerate green energy to ensure long-term economic and energy resilience.
Click to View MoreAs the 2026 BRICS Chair, India has transitioned from a passive observer to a proactive mediator in the West Asia crisis. Navigating the 11-member bloc, India leverages its "Link West" policy to facilitate consensus through the Sherpa channel. Its role is critical in stabilizing global energy supply chains—particularly the Strait of Hormuz—while balancing strategic ties with the U.S. and the Global South.
Click to View MoreBy co-sponsoring UNSC Resolution 2817, India prioritised energy security and its Gulf diaspora over traditional neutrality. This "Think West" shift strengthens GCC ties through realpolitik but risks alienating Iran, potentially jeopardising the Chabahar Port and Indian interests in Eurasia.
Click to View MoreRecent tensions in the Strait of Hormuz highlight India’s LPG vulnerability. While PMUY expanded access to over 10 crore households, import dependence reached 60–67%. With LPG storage for under 22 days, experts urge strategic reserves, including salt cavern storage in Rajasthan, and a national gas reserve policy.
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