India Condemns Drone Strike on UAE Energy Facility, Calls for Strait of Hormuz Access
New Delhi urges free and unimpeded navigation through the Strait of Hormuz after a drone attack injures three Indians.
India has condemned a recent drone strike on an energy facility in Fujairah that injured three Indian nationals.
The United Arab Emirates has accused Iran of being responsible for the attack on Monday.
Iranian state TV, however, claims there was no pre-planned program to target oil facilities in the UAE.
India's foreign ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, called for an immediate halt to these hostilities and urged an end to targeting civilian infrastructure and innocent civilians.
Given India's heavy dependence on imported energy, which has been disrupted since late February due to the Middle East war, this event highlights the country's vulnerability in the face of oil supply disruptions.
As the world's third-largest oil buyer, India typically sources around half of its crude through the Strait of Hormuz.
Jaiswal further emphasized the need for free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the Strait of Hormuz, adhering to international law.
Additionally, he stated that India stands ready to support all efforts towards a peaceful resolution of issues.
The situation underscores concerns about oil price hikes, especially considering India's modest oil reserves compared to major consumers like China.
To mitigate this risk, India has been diversifying its energy sources by turning to old allies, expanding promising ties, and reviving suppliers it had not tapped in years.
A significant portion of this diversification strategy involves importing crude oil from Russia, a move that India attempted to pivot away from last year due to US tariffs.
The United Arab Emirates has accused Iran of being responsible for the attack on Monday.
Iranian state TV, however, claims there was no pre-planned program to target oil facilities in the UAE.
India's foreign ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, called for an immediate halt to these hostilities and urged an end to targeting civilian infrastructure and innocent civilians.
Given India's heavy dependence on imported energy, which has been disrupted since late February due to the Middle East war, this event highlights the country's vulnerability in the face of oil supply disruptions.
As the world's third-largest oil buyer, India typically sources around half of its crude through the Strait of Hormuz.
Jaiswal further emphasized the need for free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the Strait of Hormuz, adhering to international law.
Additionally, he stated that India stands ready to support all efforts towards a peaceful resolution of issues.
The situation underscores concerns about oil price hikes, especially considering India's modest oil reserves compared to major consumers like China.
To mitigate this risk, India has been diversifying its energy sources by turning to old allies, expanding promising ties, and reviving suppliers it had not tapped in years.
A significant portion of this diversification strategy involves importing crude oil from Russia, a move that India attempted to pivot away from last year due to US tariffs.
