Energy diplomacy: Jaishankar to visit UAE, Hardeep Singh Puri in Qatar
India’s diplomatic push is closely tied to its growing vulnerability to supply shocks emanating from the Gulf
With global energy markets on edge and supply chains under strain due to ongoing tensions in West Asia, India has intensified high-level diplomatic outreach to key Gulf partners, dispatching Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to Qatar even as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar prepares to visit the UAE in the coming days.
The back-to-back visits underscore New Delhi’s calibrated strategy to secure energy supplies, stabilise partnerships and hedge against disruptions in one of the world’s most volatile regions.
Puri arrived in Doha on Thursday for a two-day visit, where he was received by senior Qatari officials, including representatives from Qatar Energy and India’s Ambassador to Qatar, Vipul.
The visit comes at a critical juncture, just days after a fragile two-week ceasefire was announced between the US and Iran -- a development that has provided temporary relief but little long-term certainty.
India’s diplomatic push is closely tied to its growing vulnerability to supply shocks emanating from the Gulf. The country imports nearly 60 per cent of its LPG requirements, a majority of which has traditionally come from Gulf nations such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait.
More critically, 80-85 per cent of these LPG imports transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokepoint that has remained at the centre of the current conflict.
Recent developments have already highlighted the fragility of this dependence. Disruptions linked to the conflict have tightened global LNG supplies, impacted shipments from Qatar and pushed Indian energy firms to scramble for alternative cargoes.
Qatar remains one of India’s most crucial energy partners, particularly in LNG and LPG supplies. The Doha visit is expected to focus on ensuring continuity of supplies, addressing logistical bottlenecks and exploring ways to cushion India from market volatility.
Separately, Jaishankar will travel to the UAE from April 11-12, where he is expected to hold high-level talks with Emirati leadership to review bilateral cooperation and deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership.
The visit is likely to go beyond energy, encompassing trade, investment, diaspora ties and regional security, but energy security will remain a central pillar of discussions.
The EAM is currently in Mauritius, where he is participating in the 9th Indian Ocean Conference. His engagements there, including bilateral meetings, reflect India’s broader push to position itself as a leading voice of the Global South and a key player in Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean geopolitics.
