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    COVER STORY                                                               MAY 22, 2026     |  The Indian Eye                    4

                                                      IRAN WAR SHOCK

                  PM’S 5-NATION

                                OUTREACH

              As the Iran war rattles energy markets and global supply chains, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s five-country
                 diplomatic tour reflects India’s urgent push to secure energy routes and deepen economic partnerships

            OUR BUREAU
            Dubai / Amsterdam / Copenhagen

                  rime Minister Narendra Modi’s
                  five-country  diplomatic  tour
            Pthis week comes at a moment
            of  extraordinary  geopolitical  turbu-
            lence. The conflict involving Iran has
            once again exposed the vulnerability
            of  global  energy  supply  chains,  sent
            strategic anxieties across Asia and Eu-
            rope, and revived fears about disrup-
            tions in the Strait of Hormuz — one
            of the world’s most critical oil shipping
            corridors.  For  India,  which  imports
            more than 80 per cent of its crude oil
            requirements, the crisis is not merely
            a foreign policy concern. It is a direct
            economic challenge with implications
            for  inflation,  growth,  shipping  costs,
            industrial  production,  and  domestic
            political stability.
                Against  this  backdrop,  Modi’s
            visits  to  the  United  Arab  Emirates,
            the  Netherlands,  Sweden,  Norway
            and Italy represent far more than cer-
            emonial diplomacy. The tour reflects
            a broader Indian strategy: diversify
            energy  partnerships,  strengthen  eco-  Prime Minister Narendra Modi poses for a picture with Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson, Crown Princess of Sweden, Victoria, External
            nomic linkages with Europe and the            Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval and others, in Gothenburg on Sunday. (@MEAIndia X/ANI Photo)
            Gulf,  secure  technological  coopera-
            tion, and build resilient supply chains
            in a world increasingly shaped by wars   instability  around  the  Strait  of  Hor-  The  agreements,  exchanged  in  the   wisdom” during difficult regional cir-
            and geopolitical fragmentation.   muz  immediately  impacts  India  be-  presence  of  UAE  President  Sheikh   cumstances.
                The  message  from  New  Delhi   cause a substantial portion of its crude   Mohamed  bin  Zayed  Al  Nahyan,   India’s  outreach  to  the  UAE  is
            throughout the tour has been consis-  oil imports passes through the region.   underscored  the  rapidly  expanding   deeply  tied  to  energy  calculations.
            tent — India wants to emerge not only   Rising freight charges, insurance pre-  security dimension of the India-UAE   The UAE has steadily become one of
            as  the  world’s  fastest-growing  major   miums for tankers, and fears of disrup-  relationship.     India’s most dependable energy part-
            economy but also as a reliable strate-  tion to maritime trade threaten to in-  More  importantly,  Modi’s  re-  ners.  Beyond  crude  oil  supplies,  the
            gic partner capable of contributing to   crease India’s import bill significantly.  marks in Abu Dhabi reflected India’s   relationship  now  includes  strategic
            global stability.                     This  explains  why  Modi’s  first   concern over regional instability. “We   petroleum reserves, renewable energy
                                              major stop in the region — the UAE   strongly condemn the attacks on the   investments,  logistics,  ports,  and  de-
               The Gulf Crisis and India’s    —  carried  immense  strategic  signif-  UAE.  The  way  the  UAE  has  been   fense cooperation. In recent years, In-
                     Energy Anxiety           icance.  India  and  the  UAE  signed   targeted is unacceptable in any way,”   dia has tried to reduce dependence on
                  he Iran conflict has sharpened   several  agreements  and  memoranda   Modi said during talks with the Emi-  any single energy source by strength-
                  India’s  long-standing  concerns   of understanding focused particularly   rati leadership. He praised the UAE   ening  ties  simultaneously  with  Gulf
            Tregarding energy security. Any   on defense and strategic cooperation.   leadership’s  “restraint,  courage,  and   Continued on next page... >>

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