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Neighbors first of all: the Iranian war reconciled India with the countries of South Asia
India's neighbors, who were hostile to it until recently, were forced to turn to New Delhi for help amid the energy crisis that erupted as a result of the war between the United States and Israel with Iran. Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka have asked Indian authorities to supply fuel. They did not recall old grievances and extended a helping hand, confirming their foreign policy course. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.
They asked for help
The war between the United States and Israel with Iran has affected India's relations with neighboring states. Shortly before the escalation of the conflict, anti-Indian sentiments prevailed in them. In some countries, in particular, an active "India away!" campaign has been launched.
However, the energy crisis that followed the escalation in the Persian Gulf has demonstrated how vulnerable energy importing countries are. In Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, lack of resources threatened to paralyze normal life.
The states had to forget about the hostility and seek help from the Indian authorities, asking for urgent fuel supplies. In New Delhi, they did not recall past grievances and helped the countries by confirming their "neighbors come first" foreign policy.
According to Randir Jaiswal, an official representative of the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, decisions on supplies to neighbors are made on a case-by-case basis after assessing domestic reserves and production volumes. At the same time, he added, currently "India is not in a state of panic, as there is enough fuel for almost two months."
Earlier, Iran allowed oil and LNG tankers to pass the "friendly India" through the Strait of Hormuz. And, as India Today notes, 90% of the crude oil supplied through this waterway is destined for Asia.
"Geographical location is crucial, not rhetoric. India remains indispensable for South Asia's energy security in times of crisis," the publication notes.
Why did the countries ask for help
Bangladesh, which imports 95% of its oil and 30% of its gas, has been hit hardest in the current energy crisis. The country has already faced massive power outages. Due to the lack of fuel, the textile and clothing industries, which are the backbone of the country's economy, are also under threat.
In the face of the crisis, the country turned to India. New Delhi has promptly increased the volume of high-speed diesel fuel supplies via the India-Bangladesh Druzhba pipeline, commissioned in 2017.
Maldives, which a year ago was India's fiercest critic and focused on China, was also forced to ask New Delhi for help. The country's economy, focused on tourism, has been severely affected by disruptions in the supply of diesel fuel and LNG.
The authorities of Sri Lanka, which has largely relied on Chinese investments and allowed Chinese reconnaissance vessels to enter its ports, also called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the midst of the crisis. As a result, he promptly sent diesel fuel and gasoline to the country.
Don't criticize anyone
India itself prefers to stay away from the conflict between the United States and Israel with Iran. New Delhi has recently established relations with Washington in the field of trade, but it is also trying not to spoil relations with its difficult partner Tehran.
At the same time, the opposition inside the country attacked the authorities for not criticizing their American colleagues. In her opinion, India, being an important player in the Global South, has not taken a firm position on this conflict. Some experts even regarded Narendra Modi's silence as a sign of weakness.
However, India did not interfere, even when an American submarine sank the frigate IRIS Dena of the Southern Fleet of the Iranian Navy near its borders. The incident occurred in international waters, about 20 nautical miles off the southern coast of Sri Lanka. The Iranian warship was returning from the international exercises MILAN-2026, held in India, in an area where New Delhi claims maritime leadership and supremacy.
The restrained reaction to the incident is consistent with India's foreign policy principle of avoiding direct criticism of strategic partners, even in the event of unpleasant incidents. In the current war between the United States and Israel with Iran, New Delhi is calling for dialogue and de-escalation.
A challenge for India
At the same time, Narendra Modi, speaking in parliament at the end of March, said that the war around Iran had created "unprecedented" challenges for India. The consequences of the Middle East conflict, in his opinion, will be long-term.
In mid-March, due to the war in Iran, the Indian rupee reached its historic low, falling to 92.63 rupees per dollar. In addition, economists reported an outflow of investments from the country in the amount of $ 8 billion and rising prices in various industries, in particular, in the production of plastics.
Especially acute due to the energy crisis in large cities of the country, there was a shortage of gas in cylinders used by local residents to cook food. In some places, commercial enterprises were closed. At the same time, the Indian industry has not been affected, although if the situation does not improve, then in the future the production of fertilizers and conductors, as well as metallurgy, may still be under attack.
New Delhi imports 60% of its gas (most of the LNG is supplied by the Persian Gulf countries through the Strait of Hormuz) and 85% of its crude oil. The country's authorities were forced to lift the ban on the use of kerosene and coal as fuel in large cities. The situation with oil is a little simpler — it is easier to compensate for its supply.
Nothing has changed in relations with the Russian Federation
India mainly imports energy resources, but thanks to well-established supply channels, it was able to quickly replace the part of oil imports that came from the Persian Gulf, Alexey Kupriyanov, head of the Center for the Indian Ocean Region of the IMEMO RAS, confirmed in an interview with Izvestia.
— There was no economic collapse, temporary difficulties were overcome, and India can now even help its neighbors. In general, the war in Iran has not fundamentally changed anything for India," the political scientist said.
According to him, New Delhi, as before, adheres to a neutral position, calling on countries for peace and at the same time trying to ensure its economic interests.
Russia is one of the key suppliers of energy resources to India, providing a significant share of its needs, the source recalled. The main exports are crude oil, petroleum products, liquefied natural gas and mineral fertilizers.
"Nothing has changed in India's relations with Russia, except that there is no need to demonstrate to Trump his willingness to reduce oil supplies from Russia," the expert concluded.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
