India diversifying energy sources, US emerging as reliable supplier: Jaishankar

New Delhi|May, 24 :  External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday said India has significantly increased energy imports from the United States as part of a broader strategy to “de-risk” supply chains and strengthen energy security amid growing geopolitical uncertainties, including concerns surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking during a Joint press conference following talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Jaishankar said India was pursuing a policy of diversified energy sourcing to reduce vulnerabilities in an increasingly uncertain global environment.
“There has been a significant uptick in our energy imports from the United States. It’s not new, it started many years ago, but I think it has really picked up in the last year,” he said.
Describing the current geopolitical landscape as an “era of de-risking”, the minister said energy security required countries to avoid overdependence on any single source.
“Energy more than anything else requires de-risking. A big country, if it is to do de-risking, looks at multiple sourcing,” Jaishankar said.
He noted that the United States had emerged as a “very significant and reliable source of energy” for India, alongside several other suppliers.
“For us, the United States has emerged as a very significant and reliable source of energy,” he said, adding that diversification would remain central to India’s strategy in dealing with current and future disruptions.
Referring to concerns over maritime security and potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, through which a substantial portion of global oil shipments pass, Jaishankar said India and the United States shared common interests in ensuring uninterrupted trade and stable energy markets.
“We both have a very strong interest in ensuring that there is safe and unimpeded maritime commerce,” he said.
The minister also stressed the importance of keeping global energy markets open and avoiding distortions that could harm economic growth.
“Energy markets should not be distorted, they should not be constrained. It is important to keep energy prices down for global growth,” he said.
Jaishankar said India and the United States were increasingly finding common ground on strategic issues linked to trade, maritime security and energy resilience.
“Safe and unimpeded commerce and predictable, affordable, accessible energy sources are two very important meeting points,” he said.
On ongoing diplomatic efforts involving Iran and regional security, Jaishankar declined to comment on the specifics of discussions referenced earlier by Rubio, saying it was for the parties directly involved to determine the outcome.
“As to who all are involved in the matter which Secretary Rubio addressed, I think it’s for the parties to work out,” he said.
The External Affairs Minister also highlighted the growing importance of the Indo-Pacific region and reaffirmed India’s commitment to the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or QUAD, comprising India, the United States, Japan and Australia.
Recalling that his first meeting with Rubio as Secretary of State had taken place at a Quad meeting, Jaishankar noted that the grouping had maintained a busy agenda over the past year.
“The Quad actually picked up during President Trump’s first administration and has continued to move forward,” he said.
Looking ahead, Jaishankar said the Indo-Pacific would become increasingly significant not only for security but also for trade and energy flows.
“The Indo-Pacific is going to become more and more important with the passage of time,” he said.
He added that expanding India-U.S. trade, including energy trade, would further increase maritime activity across the region.
“If you are going to see a much bigger India-U.S. energy trade and broader trade with countries across the Americas, I can see much more growth, much more trade and much more maritime activity,” he said.
Expressing confidence about the future of the Quad, Jaishankar hinted at further announcements during the upcoming foreign ministers’ meeting.