Modi Dials Six Leaders in 24 Hours; India Pushes Diplomacy, Energy Security as West Asia Escalation Hits Fuel and Trade
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken with at least six global leaders across West Asia, Europe and Southeast Asia over the past 24 hours. This comes at a time when India is intensifying diplomatic push for de-escalation, protection of energy infrastructure, and uninterrupted global trade flows as the Iran war expands into critical economic systems.
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| File Photo of PM NaMo with French Prez Macron; Via: PMO |
In a series of coordinated calls, Modi engaged with King Abdullah II, Emmanuel Macron, Anwar Ibrahim, and Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, in addition to his earlier outreach to Kuwait’s leadership. This showed India's a multi-vector diplomatic effort aimed at stabilising a conflict now directly threatening energy supply chains and maritime routes.
With Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Modi “expressed concern at the evolving situation in West Asia” and “highlighted the need for dialogue and diplomacy for the early restoration of peace, security and stability,” while warning that “attacks on energy infrastructure in West Asia are condemnable and can lead to avoidable escalation.” The two leaders also “stood in support of unhindered transit of goods and energy” and Modi “deeply appreciated Jordan’s efforts in facilitating the safe return of Indians stranded in the region.”
The outreach to Oman carried a sharper strategic emphasis on maritime security. Speaking with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, Modi said both sides “agreed on the need to prioritize dialogue and diplomacy for de-escalation,” while reiterating India’s condemnation of “the violation of Oman’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Crucially, the two countries “stood for safe and free navigation” through the Strait of Hormuz, signalling India’s core concern over disruptions to one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.
Parallel conversations with France and Malaysia reinforced the same diplomatic line. Modi said he spoke with Macron about “the urgent need for de-escalation” and “a return to dialogue and diplomacy,” adding that both countries would continue “close coordination to advance peace and stability in the region and beyond.”
"India and France are working closely together to reduce tensions in the region and to keep diplomacy at the heart of our efforts for peace," Macron said.
With Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim, Modi described the situation as “deeply concerning” and said both sides had “reaffirmed [their] shared commitment to de-escalation and the early restoration of peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy.”
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, thanking him for Eid greetings and noting that both leaders discussed the “increasingly deteriorating” situation in West Asia during Ramadan, with Anwar reiterating Malaysia’s firm condemnation of Israeli strikes on Iran backed by the United States; he said both sides agreed to call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, uphold “peace, diplomacy and healthy dialogue,” and strengthen coordination across international platforms including the United Nations and BRICS, while also acknowledging the broader global economic and food security risks emerging from the conflict.
These calls reflected a consistent Indian position emerging across multiple bilateral channels. Condemnation of attacks on energy infrastructure, insistence on diplomatic resolution, and emphasis on keeping trade and energy flows uninterrupted.
The diplomatic activity comes as the conflict’s impact on global energy systems has intensified. As reported earlier, strikes on gas infrastructure in Iran and LNG facilities in Qatar, alongside attacks on energy assets in the UAE, have raised the risk of prolonged disruption to oil and gas supplies, with shipping routes through Hormuz under sustained pressure.
India, which depends heavily on the region for energy imports, has been forced to respond simultaneously on diplomatic, logistical and domestic fronts. At an inter-ministerial briefing earlier in the day, officials confirmed that nearly 90% of India’s LPG imports originate from the Middle East, while about 47% of LNG supplies come from Qatar, underscoring the country’s exposure to the conflict.
The government has moved to stabilise domestic supply by prioritising household consumption, pushing a rapid shift from LPG to PNG, and diversifying sourcing toward suppliers such as the United States and Australia. Officials said crude supplies have already been diversified significantly, with around 70% now sourced from outside the Gulf region.
At the same time, evacuation and transit efforts continue at scale. More than 2.8 lakh passengers have returned to India from the region since late February, with Indian missions operating 24/7 to assist stranded nationals. Countries such as Jordan and Oman have played a key role in facilitating safe transit, a contribution Modi explicitly acknowledged in his conversations.
Maritime monitoring has also intensified, with 22 Indian-flagged vessels carrying 611 seafarers still present in the Gulf region under close coordination between Indian authorities, shipping companies and missions abroad. The government has reiterated that ensuring “safe and free navigation” remains a top priority as tensions threaten commercial shipping lanes.
Officials say India’s diplomatic outreach is not limited to immediate crisis management but is aimed at preventing further escalation that could destabilise global markets. By engaging partners across regions — from Gulf monarchies to European powers and Southeast Asian states — New Delhi is attempting to build a broader consensus around de-escalation while safeguarding its own strategic interests.
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a telephonic conversation with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, where both sides “exchanged views on the ongoing West Asia conflict and its many repercussions,” even as Jaishankar separately met Reem Al Hashimy and “thanked the UAE Government for taking care of the Indian community,” with discussions also focusing on “the latest developments pertaining to the conflict in West Asia.” This shows India’s parallel diplomatic engagement with key regional stakeholders amid the escalating crisis.
During his Brussels visit earlier this week, Jaishankar met senior European Union leaders including António Costa, Ursula von der Leyen and Kaja Kallas, and held bilateral talks with foreign ministers Maxime Prévot (Belgium), Johann Wadephul (Germany), Tom Berendsen (Netherlands), Giorgos Gerapetritis (Greece), Juraj Blanár (Slovakia) and Constantinos Kombos (Cyprus). These talks focused on advancing India–EU cooperation in trade, technology, defence and connectivity, alongside discussions on the West Asia conflict and its implications for energy security and global stability.
The flurry of leader-level calls signals that India now sees the West Asia conflict not only as a regional security crisis but as a systemic economic risk, where attacks on infrastructure, disruptions to shipping, and volatility in energy markets are tightly interconnected.
UPDATE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke with Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, conveying Eid greetings while reiterating India’s solidarity with Qatar and “strong condemnation” of attacks targeting the region’s energy infrastructure; Modi expressed appreciation for Doha’s support to the Indian community and underlined that both sides stand for “safe and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz,” while emphasizing the need for peace and stability amid the escalating West Asia conflict.
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