Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri met US Ambassador Sergio Gore on Wednesday to discuss the thriving energy partnership between the two countries. The meeting focused on enhancing strategic cooperation and ensuring long-term energy stability.
In a post on X, the US ambassador highlighted the importance of the engagement, saying: “Great meeting with Minister @HardeepSPuri to strengthen US-India energy partnership. We discussed enhancing energy security and opening new opportunities to accelerate growth.” He further noted that “expanding access to reliable American energy will further deepen our economic ties and support long-term energy security and diversification for both countries.”
Responding to this interaction, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri expressed satisfaction with the progress of the bilateral talks held at his office. He said: “I am very pleased to welcome His Excellency the US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gore, to my office today. We had fruitful discussions on bilateral energy cooperation between our two countries and discussed ways to strengthen our comprehensive energy relationship.”
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This push to strengthen the US-India partnership comes at a time when India has reaffirmed its broader strategy of maintaining a flexible energy policy. The government confirmed on Wednesday that it “continues to purchase oil from various sources” to protect its energy security interests amid evolving global market conditions and regional instability.
This position was further detailed during an inter-ministerial press conference that addressed the turbulent situation in West Asia. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “…We continue to procure oil from various sources, keeping in mind the energy security needs of 1.4 billion people, the current situation in the international market, and the global situation that we have to deal with.”
Beyond source concerns, the government is actively monitoring strategic sea lanes that are vital for these energy imports. Jaiswal noted that India is currently engaged in discussions with several countries regarding the conditions prevailing in the Strait of Hormuz, with a special focus on the safety of Indian ships.
“We are trying to first ensure that our remaining ships there return safely,” Jaiswal added, stressing the government’s priority to protect Indian naval assets amid regional turmoil.
The focus is increasing on this region as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, known as one of the world’s most important trade routes, faces major disruptions. The ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran has hampered movement through the waterway, raising serious alarms about the stability of global energy supplies and trade flows.
The seriousness of the situation was underscored at the highest diplomatic level, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussing the West Asia crisis during a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
According to the Middle East News Agency, the Prime Minister stressed the need to “keep the Strait of Hormuz open and safe,” while the two leaders also took the opportunity to review the broader scope of bilateral relations. These diplomatic efforts remain crucial as Iran’s blockade of the strategic waterway continues to put significant pressure on international supply chains.
