India Sends Ministers to Qatar, UAE on Energy, Ties Mission

India has dispatched two senior ministers to key Gulf nations to safeguard its energy supplies and strengthen diplomatic ties, following a fragile ceasefire in the ongoing West Asia conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri arrived in Qatar on April 9, 2026, for a two-day visit, while External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is scheduled to travel to the United Arab Emirates on April 11 and 12.

Puri's trip marks the first official visit by an Indian minister to the Gulf since the conflict erupted in late February, disrupting vital shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz. He was greeted upon arrival by India's ambassador to Qatar and officials from QatarEnergy, the state-owned energy company. Discussions are expected to focus on ensuring the continuity of liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas supplies, which faced interruptions after Qatar declared force majeure on several long-term contracts. Iranian strikes damaged key facilities at Qatar's Ras Laffan complex, reducing the country's LNG export capacity by about 17 percent, with full repairs potentially taking three to five years. Qatar has...