Strait of Hormuz situation ‘highly challenging’ – Modi

The Middle East conflict is a cause for significant concern, the Indian prime minister has told parliament

The movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz has become highly challenging since the Middle East conflict began, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said.

A large quantity of essential items such as crude oil, gas, and fertilizers comes to India through the strait, Modi told the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian parliament, on Monday.

“Despite this, our government’s effort has been to ensure that the supply of petrol-diesel and gas is not excessively disrupted, and that ordinary families in the country face as little trouble as possible – this has been our focus,” he said.

New Delhi has invoked special legislation to ensure adequate gas supplies.

❗️PM Modi: 'Continuous Efforts' Are Being Made To Ensure Energy Crisis Has 'Minimal Adverse Impact' On India

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India imports 85% of its oil and nearly half of its natural gas, and about half of the country’s oil supplies and 55% of liquefied natural gas shipments come through the Strait of Hormuz.

India has extensive trade relations with countries at war and affected by war, Modi said on Monday.

“The region where the war is taking place is also an important route for our trade with other countries of the world,” he added.

Modi pointed out the importance of the Middle East to India, saying, “Nearly ten million Indians live and work in the Gulf countries.”

“Among the commercial ships that sail in these seas, the number of Indian crew members is also very high. Due to these varied reasons, India’s concerns are naturally greater,” he added.

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The current conflict – triggered by US-Israeli attacks on Iran at the end of February – is having an adverse impact on the global economy and on people’s lives, Modi said, adding: “Therefore, the entire world is also urging all parties for the earliest resolution of this crisis.”

Noting that India has always raised its voice for peace in the interest of humanity, he said New Delhi believes that dialogue and diplomacy are the solutions to the problem.

“The crisis to anyone’s life in this war is not in the interest of humanity, therefore India’s effort is to encourage all parties to swiftly pursue a peaceful resolution,” the prime minister said.