The global energy landscape is intricately entwined with the dynamics of international geopolitics, and the role of petroleum resources stands as a pivotal force shaping these interactions. In this context, examining the critical nexus between petroleum energy resources and international geopolitics becomes imperative, with a special focus on India—a rapidly developing nation with a burgeoning appetite for energy. Petroleum, as a finite yet indispensable resource, not only influences economic structures but also plays a defining role in geopolitical strategies and alliances. India’s energy needs and its strategic positioning in the international arena underscore the significance of scrutinizing the multifaceted impact of petroleum on global power dynamics. This examination delves into the intricate interplay between petroleum energy resources and international geopolitics, shedding light on how these dynamics unfold in the specific context of India’s energy aspirations and geopolitical positioning.
Answer
After World War II – the increase in motorway transfer, mechanization of agriculture, and industrialization increased the demand for fossil fuel-related energy demand, and the global geopolitics swiftly from ideology-based to more energy-based, India is not far behind.
Initiation of Oil based geopolitics and India – Middle East relation:
As development and industrialization increase in India- the demand for oil & petroleum products increases. It started its dependence on India on Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and other West Asian countries.
The oil Boom in West Asia absorbed huge labor forces from India creating major diplomatic and cultural relations between India and these countries.
Due to these economic relations with India in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation(OIC)- these countries show reluctance in Pakistan favoring the Kashmir Issue.
India-Iran oil trade from the 1980s:
India’s Iranian Oil imports, which constitute more than 10% of total imports, resulted in US sanctions against India and India’s geopolitical stand stood far from the US. These result-
- Development projects by both the countries like Chabahar Port developed by India and Iranian companies invest in India Petrochemical projects.
- To counter China’s BRI these Iranian ports give a strategic advantage to India and also Iran is a major connectivity country in INSTC.
- In more recent times India’s Geopolitical stand changed and US sanctions made it impossible to payments for oil purchases, India stopped oil purchases from Iran. This resulted in a Negative impact in India Iran relations and its a result Iran dropped India from the Chabahar Rail project.
Gulf War and India Oil Import Diversification:
India purchasing US oil:
In the last decades India – and the US strong relationship in Defence, and technological trade and recently in QUAD, pacific, and I2U2 – India’s oil imports from from US have increased exponentially, and the US is the foyer largest importer of oil to India.
Russia- Ukraine Conflict and Indian purchase of cheap oil from Russia:
As Russia faces sanctions & total oil and gas blockade by the European Union and the USA- India purchased cheap oil from Russia and India did not face any sanctions from the EU and the USA due to its powerful global presence.
Increasing Usability of Renewable Energy:
As renewable energy use increases due to climate and the Paris Agreement- the demand for fossil fuel-based energy is decreasing. With these diplomacy changes from oil-based to renewable energy-based.
With these new multilateral organizations like –
- International Solar Alliance
- Global Biofuel Alliance
- Critical Mineral Alliance
In all of these India plays a founding and important player.
These initiatives help India to fill up the vacuum of energy providers in the African Continent and counter China debt-based development initiatives.
Petroleum Geopolitics Continued to be important shortly:
Petroleum oil will be important to fulfill India’s energy demand in its next development phase in the next decades.
These show – increasing development activity in the INSTC corridor, India- middle-east Europe Corridor, Indian Strategic oil reserve in Visakhapatnam, Mangalore, Padur, etc.
Petroleum-based Geopolitics decided many countries’ positions in the world for the last 6-7 decades and created many new global powerful regions economically, socially, and culturally like Dubai, Riyadh – one of the biggest economic destinations in the world. Even if the emergence of renewable energy takes a position still it will be prevalent due to the limited upscaling of renewable energy. India, as the 5th Largest Economy and with world’s largest population- petroleum energy still be very important to meet its demand, so this diplomacy relevance will be there.
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