India seeks U.S. naval escorts and insurance for Middle East energy shipments amid Strait of Hormuz tensions.

India is negotiating with the U.S. for marine insurance and potential naval escorts to protect oil and gas shipments from the Middle East amid rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy chokepoint. The move comes as India, the world’s third-largest oil importer, faces supply risks due to conflict-related disruptions, force majeure declarations from Qatar, and the withdrawal of war risk coverage by major insurers. The U.S. has offered political risk insurance and may deploy naval escorts, while India diversifies energy sources, increases imports from the U.S. and Russia, and prepares to reprioritize gas allocations to prevent industrial shutdowns.