Asia’s dependence on Middle East oil and gas — and its relatively slow shift to clean energy — make it vulnerable to disruptions in shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic weakness highlighted by the war between Israel and Iran.

Iran sits on the Strait of Hormuz which handles about 20 per cent of shipments of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas

India would be at a significant geopolitical disadvantage if the U.S is preoccupied with the Middle East, causing it to deemphasize Asia and its relationship with New Delhi.