October 22, 2026: India, the United States and the United Arab Emirates have stepped up diplomatic consultations on regional energy security as escalating tensions in West Asia threaten global oil supplies and international maritime trade.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan held trilateral talks in Mumbai on Tuesday, focusing on energy security, economic cooperation, regional connectivity and the deteriorating security situation in West Asia.

Rubio arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday afternoon, while the UAE foreign minister began his two-day India visit on Monday evening.

“It was great to meet with Indian External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar and UAE Foreign Minister @ABZayed to discuss regional energy security and advance our shared economic priorities,” Rubio said in a social media post.

Jaishankar described the discussions as a “useful exchange of perspectives on energy, connectivity and contemporary developments.”

Hormuz blockade raises concerns

The meeting comes amid severe disruptions to global energy supplies following Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important oil transit routes.

Nearly 20 percent of global petroleum flows normally pass through the narrow waterway, making any prolonged disruption a major concern for oil-importing economies, including India.

(Source: PSU watch)