Malé, April 9 — Ministry of External Affairs has stated that several neighbouring countries, including the Maldives, have approached India for petroleum supplies as regional pressures mount amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Speaking on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India continues to meet existing energy commitments while responding to fresh requests from regional partners.
“India has been supplying energy to Bangladesh since 2007. Recently, 38,000 metric tonnes of petroleum products were supplied to Sri Lanka following a request. Engagements with Nepal and Bhutan are also ongoing,” he said.
Jaiswal confirmed that the Maldives government has requested petroleum supplies from India for both short-term and long-term needs.
“These requests are currently under examination, taking into account India’s own availability and domestic requirements,” he noted.
The developments come as tensions in the Gulf region continue to escalate, raising concerns over energy security and supply chains, particularly through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Jaiswal also provided an update on the safety of Indian nationals in the region, noting that approximately 10 million Indians reside across Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
“All Indian nationals in the region are safe, and we remain in constant contact with them. However, it is unfortunate that eight Indian nationals have lost their lives in the conflict, while one individual remains missing,” he said.
He added that the MEA, in coordination with relevant authorities and Indian missions abroad, is closely monitoring the evolving situation and taking steps to safeguard its citizens.
On evacuation efforts, Jaiswal said 204 Indian nationals have exited Iran via land routes into Azerbaijan.
“Some have already returned to India, while others are expected to arrive in the coming days. We appreciate the support extended by the Azerbaijani government in facilitating this process,” he added. (Source: news syndicate)
