India’s Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Sunday called for increased international coordination to safeguard global energy security, as escalating military tensions between the United States and Iran threaten fuel supply lines and drive volatility in global oil markets.
Speaking after emergency consultations with regional partners and oil suppliers, Puri said that while India has taken internal precautions to secure its domestic fuel needs, broader global efforts are essential to prevent disruptions that could harm vulnerable economies and drive up global inflation.
“Energy security is no longer a national issue—it is a shared global concern,” Puri stated in a public address in New Delhi. “At a time of geopolitical turbulence, we must act in concert to keep supply chains open, protect key maritime routes, and ensure that no country is left isolated.”
India is one of the world’s largest importers of crude oil and has increasingly diversified its suppliers in recent years. Puri reassured citizens that India’s domestic fuel inventories remain strong and its oil companies are maintaining regular shipments from alternative sources.
Still, he acknowledged that a prolonged crisis—especially involving a potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz—would have ripple effects far beyond South Asia. The strait remains a critical corridor for about 20 percent of the world’s oil exports, and any blockade could trigger a global energy emergency.
Puri emphasized the need for joint action among G20 countries, the International Energy Agency (IEA), and oil-exporting nations to stabilize markets and support developing economies that could suffer disproportionately from price shocks.
As oil prices begin to climb amid the uncertainty, international aid groups and global finance institutions are also expressing concern that rising fuel costs will strain food supply chains and humanitarian operations in fragile regions.
