(by Nirendra Dev)
India’s position — de-escalation without taking sides, open sea lanes as a global necessity, citizens abroad as a priority — reflects a careful strategic calculation.
There is a war on ... that has already shaken oil markets, fractured Western alliances, and left the Strait of Hormuz in contested waters. New Delhi now intends to be the country that everyone still talks to.
Trump rings Modi
"Hormuz closure a world crisis"
PM Narendra Modi tells Parliament fuel, fertiliser and trade routes are under threat, Indian sailors are stranded in the strait, and India will pursue peace with “patience, restraint and a calm mind”.
Narendra Modi has spoken directly with President Donald Trump about keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, then walked into Parliament to deliver one of his most candid assessments yet of how the Iran war is hitting India — fuel supplies, fertiliser chains, trade routes, and Indian sailors stranded in the world’s most contested waterway.
“Received a call from President Trump and had a useful exchange of views on the situation in West Asia,” Modi posted after the conversation. “Ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure and accessible is essential for the whole world. We agreed to stay in touch regarding efforts towards peace and stability,” he further added.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor confirmed the two leaders discussed the critical importance of keeping the strait open for global commerce.
Addressing Rajya Sabha, Modi did not soften the picture.
Three weeks of war, he said, have already produced consequences India cannot insulate itself from. “This war has created a serious fuel issue in the world. For India, too, this situation is concerning,” Modi told the Rajya Sabha.
He also stated that “the war has impacted our trade routes. With this, the routine supply of petrol, diesel, gas and fertilisers has been affected.”
He flagged a humanitarian dimension that has received little attention: a large number of Indian crew members are aboard ships now stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. India, he said, is working through diplomatic channels to secure their safe passage and push for de-escalation.
India’s three-word strategy: patience, restraint, calm
Despite the gravity of the situation, Modi set a deliberate tone — one that positions India as a stabilising voice in a conflict where most major powers have already chosen sides. “Any threat to human life in this war is not in the interest of humanity.
India is making constant efforts to encourage all sides to reach a peaceful solution,” he said, adding: “We have to face every challenge with patience, restraint and a calm mind.”
He warned that “the adverse impact of this war is likely to remain for a long time,” while assuring citizens that the government is “alert, prepared and working with full seriousness.”
The home front: no hoarding, Team India
Domestically, Modi called on state governments to act immediately against black marketeers and hoarders of essential commodities, and to protect the poor and migrant workers from the economic fallout. Drawing on the pandemic playbook, he invoked the “Team India” spirit that coordinated the Covid response — urging the same unity now.
“Strict action should be taken at the earliest to ensure smooth supply of essential commodities,” he said, adding that India’s economic fundamentals remain strong and that the government is monitoring every development with full seriousness.
(courtesy - The Raisina Hills)
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