India’s Search for Energy Security: Diversifying External Sources and Promoting Green Transition

Abstract

India’s growing economy and population create immense energy demands, making its heavy reliance on a concentrated set of traditional suppliers a significant strategic vulnerability. To enhance its energy security, India is pursuing a dual strategy: mitigating short-term geopolitical risks by diversifying its external fossil fuel suppliers while simultaneously accelerating a long-term domestic transition towards renewable energy. The first prong of this strategy involves forging new energy partnerships with resource-rich countries in the Indo-Pacific, such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Mozambique, to secure alternative supplies of fossil fuels and reduce dependency on any single bloc. This diversification effort is being pursued within the Indo-Pacific, a region increasingly defined by geopolitical competition and strategic rivalry. In parallel, the second prong focuses on reducing long-term import dependency through ambitious domestic initiatives, including the National Solar Mission and the National Green Hydrogen Mission, aimed at fundamentally shifting India’s energy mix. Findings indicate that while these domestic green initiatives show significant promise, India’s external strategy is complicated by the geopolitical competition inherent to the Indo-Pacific. Furthermore, the green transition faces internal hurdles related to infrastructure and technological gaps. Ultimately, strengthening regional partnerships to manage import dependency and scaling renewable energy deployment are the critical, parallel paths India must navigate to achieve sustainable growth and energy security.