Energy Power In India

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CHAPTER 3 INDIA’S ENERGY DIPLOMACY IN THE MIDDLE EAST Energy is vital for the growth and survival of all living beings and it plays a crucial role in the socio-economic development and human wellbeing of a country. It has come to be known as a `strategic commodity’ and any uncertainty about its supply can threaten the functioning of the economy, particularly in developing economies. Energy indicates national prosperity and also underwrites national security. States now desire energy security in the same sense that they desire military security and economic security. Energy independence, control over energy resources and security of the energy transportation routes have a great importance in terms of national security.” Thus in recent…show more content…
Rather energy has reoriented what constitutes political power and has heightened a new form of vulnerability. But it should be also taken into concern that the role of energy within the foreign policy generally features periodically. So clearly, the energy needs should be accommodated within the broad perimeters of foreign policy issues, but not to the detriment of other forms of national power. Energy is undoubtedly a key mediating factor through which national and regional power is affected and by which influence is made and…show more content…
In the first two decades after its’ Independence in 1947, India adopted a political approach towards the Middle East. One of the primary reasons driving India’s Middle East policy was the desire to cultivate good relations with the Muslim dominated countries of the Middle East to counter any Pakistani influence. Energy security didn’t play an important role during this period in India’s engagement with the Middle East. Though India was dependent on the Middle East for its energy imports, its requirement was very less. Furthermore most of India’s refineries were then owned by the Western oil companies as a result of country’s colonial past. These firms’ imported oil mainly from Saudi Arabia and Iran. From the 1970’s, economic factors and energy need s gradually replaced India’s political approach towards the Middle East. The oil crisis of the 1970’s and the economic boom in the gulf that followed caused India to look west diplomatically towards the oil rich countries of the Middle East. The new challenges developing from the complexities of the present day International system are forcing India to revaluate its ties to various parts of the world. And one region which is exercising the diplomatic energies of India in a significant way is the Middle
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