India Must Bolster Energy Security, Naval Strength Amidst Global Turbulence: Experts
New Delhi must rapidly build energy capacity, develop a skilled workforce, and leverage geopolitical strategies to navigate complex alliances and sanctions as global instability intensifies, experts warned today.
Speaking at the Military Literature Festival in Chandigarh, analysts highlighted the growing trend of “resource weaponization” by developed nations, linking ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia to the securing of oil supplies. India, the world’s third-largest energy consumer after the US and China, cannot afford to remain overly reliant on Russian oil, they cautioned. “Massive generation, assured fuel supply and storage, capacity-building and alternative sources of green energy are important,” stated Lt Gen Vinod G Khandare, former Director General of the Defence Intelligence Agency, advocating for exploration of space-based energy solutions and citing China’s success in reducing its oil bill through vehicle electrification – a move that cut demand by one million barrels per day.
Beyond energy, discussions centered on India’s maritime capabilities, with Admiral Arun Prakash, former Chief of Naval Staff, asserting the Navy’s advantage in the Indian Ocean region. “If there is a two-front war…the best that our gallant Army and very capable Air Force can do is to hold them there, create a stalemate,” he explained, adding that “we dominate the Indian Ocean” and “can certainly do harm, threaten anybody who starts a conflict with us in the waters of the Indian Ocean.” However, he cautioned that India’s maritime power extends beyond naval strength, noting deficiencies in port infrastructure and the shipbuilding industry, as detailed in reports by the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. This comes as geopolitical tensions rise, potentially impacting vital trade routes and energy supplies.
The festival also addressed the evolving dynamics in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region and Iran, as well as lessons from the 1965 India-Pakistan War, emphasizing their continued relevance to current security challenges. Officials indicated that further assessments of energy market vulnerabilities and naval readiness are planned in the coming weeks, with potential adjustments to strategic reserves and refinery upgrades expected.
