Modi Heads to UAE as India Eyes Energy Security Amid Hormuz Fears

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New Delhi: In light of growing tensions in the Gulf, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming journey to the United Arab Emirates is seen as a significant strategic move to bolster India's defence cooperation and energy security.

Concerns about instability related to the US-Iran conflict and potential interruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital conduit that about a fifth of the world's oil supply travel through, are growing at the time of the visit. Securing reliable energy supply has become a top priority for India, which imports more than 80% of its crude oil requirements.
Building on a letter of intent agreed earlier this year, India and the UAE are expected to move forward with negotiations on a Strategic Defence Partnership framework during Modi's visit to Abu Dhabi. Maritime security, cybersecurity, defence manufacturing, intelligence sharing, and counterterrorism collaboration are predicted to be the main topics of discussion.

The programme is thought to be dominated by energy cooperation. According to reports, the two nations may enter into agreements pertaining to strategic petroleum reserves and LPG supply, with the goal of shielding India from protracted volatility in the world's energy markets.

The visit, according to analysts, is part of a larger re-evaluation of India-UAE relations, which have developed from a conventional oil-and-trade partnership into a more comprehensive strategic alliance encompassing defence, technology, logistics, renewable energy, and regional security.