With the ongoing conflict in West Asia disrupting key maritime energy routes, Russia has offered to step in and support India’s energy supply, officials and industry sources say. The move comes after Iran’s actions effectively halted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global crude oil and gas shipments.
The Persian Gulf waterway normally handles roughly 20 % of the world’s oil exports and a significant share of India’s crude, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports. Recent hostilities, sparked by escalated strikes by the United States and Israel against Iranian targets, led Tehran to tighten control over the strait — disrupting tanker movements and pushing up global energy prices.
In response, Moscow has signalled its readiness to “fulfil India’s energy needs” should Gulf supplies remain constrained, potentially increasing crude oil and natural gas deliveries to New Delhi. A Reuters source said about 9.5 million barrels of Russian crude — previously headed elsewhere — could be diverted to India within weeks, helping buffer the impact of Middle East bottlenecks.
India’s reliance on the Hormuz route has made it vulnerable to such geopolitical shocks: roughly 40 % of the country’s oil imports pass through the strait, and disruptions have triggered heightened risk premiums on freight and war-risk insurance. Domestic reserves currently cover only a few weeks of demand, prompting authorities to explore alternative sourcing options.
Officials say India’s energy security strategy emphasises diversification, including increased purchases from Russia, West Africa, and the United States, alongside expanded strategic petroleum reserves. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has also underscored that India is monitoring global markets closely and is prepared to take necessary measures to ensure continuity of fuel supplies.
Analysts note that while tapping Russian supplies could provide short-term relief, broader uncertainties persist in global energy markets as the Middle East crisis evolves.
