In 2025, India finds itself at a crossroads when energy choices and defense policy are more closely intertwined than ever before. A decade ago, energy security was largely considered in terms of crude oil imports. Today, in a world torn apart by supply chain warfare, hybrid cyber threats, and climate-induced instability, energy has become both a weapon and a shield in the defense equation.
India has larger stakes than most. India is the world’s third-largest energy consumer, importing more than 85% of its crude oil, 50% of its gas, and over 20% of its coal. This dependency exposes New Delhi not only to market volatility but also to intentional strategic manipulation. Meanwhile, as the Indian military grows more networked and energy-intensive, flaws in fuel logistics and electrical infrastructure lead directly to flaws in warfighting capability.
The Hidden Energy Wars of 2025.
While much attention is placed on visible warfare, energy coercion has become the silent battlefield. The ongoing Middle Eastern shockwaves and flare-ups in the Red Sea, prompted by Houthi attacks on ships, have increased insurance premiums for oil tankers passing Bab el-Mandeb by around 40%. For India, which imports a significant amount of its oil through these conduits, this poses a strategic risk to energy supply lines. Further, Russian oil discounts are under pressure, though India’s skillful balancing act in purchasing discounted Russian crude post-Ukraine oil has already saved billions. However, the Western tightening of secondary sanctions in 2025 raises concerns about how long this energy-security cushion can last before operational hazards spread to Indian refineries and naval supply chains. Lastly, the Chinese rare earth monopoly by Beijing has secretly reduced export limitations for some rare earth elements required for radar and missile systems. India’s defense industrial base, which is increasing missile and UAV manufacturing, is already feeling the strain. What appears to be an “industrial issue” is actually a growing energy security chokehold.
Energy as a Defense Multiplier in Border Theaters
The energy-defense nexus is most obvious in India’s forward bases in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. Diesel convoys, which stretch across dangerous mountain roads, continue to be the principal energy source for border troops. These convoys are not only logistically costly but also obvious targets for enemy monitoring. The Army’s logistical briefing has reflected that India is accelerating the deployment of solar-diesel hybrid microgrids and battery storage at multiple forward bases. While these projects are small in scale, they reflect a philosophical shift: less reliance on risky supply convoys and greater resilience to both blockades and bad weather.
Similarly, the Indian Air Force has begun using biofuel blends in transport aircraft, not only for environmental reasons but also for operational flexibility. Unlike imported jet fuel, biofuel may be generated locally and scaled during emergencies, providing a buffer against maritime chokepoint delays.
Maritime Energy Security: The New Battlefield
The Indian Ocean has historically served as India’s strategic depth, but by 2025, it will be at the forefront of energy insecurity. Over 80% of India’s crude oil imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz and the Strait of Malacca, two chokepoints subject to geopolitical blackmail.
China’s naval deployments near Gwadar, Djibouti, and Hambantota are not abstract encirclement tactics but rather energy-security maneuvers intended to secure its own supply lines while endangering India’s. Exclusive naval analysis indicates three major hazards to India.
Hormuz Disruption: Any Iran-Israel escalation could cause oil prices to skyrocket by 50% in weeks, jeopardizing civilian and military fuel supplies.
Malacca Vulnerability: A conflict scenario, including Chinese naval control, might effectively limit India’s LNG imports from Qatar and Australia.
Deep-Sea Cable Attacks: An increase in reports of undersea activity near energy data cables demonstrates that energy is more than simply molecules and electrons.
In response, India has secretly increased navy patrols around the Andaman and Nicobar Command, integrating ISR satellites targeted on energy trade routes. The Navy is also developing hybrid propulsion systems for next-generation warships to reduce refueling risk during long-duration deployments.
Nuclear Energy’s Strategic Shadow
India’s nuclear energy sector is frequently discussed in terms of civilian electricity generation. However, in defense, the stakes are higher:
● Civil Nuclear Expansion provides the personnel and industrial resources necessary for India’s nuclear submarine program.
● Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are being studied for use on remote island bases because they provide stable, low-visibility power sources while decreasing reliance on fuel delivery lines.
● Nuclear fuel supply chains remain geopolitically vulnerable, with India’s reliance on Kazakhstan for uranium imports being reviewed in light of the turmoil in Central Asia.
The dual-use benefits of nuclear spending are increasingly influencing defense planning, but they are sometimes hidden behind the language of “clean energy.”
Cybersecurity: Energy Is the New Target
India’s 2020 Mumbai power outage, which was traced to malware linked to Chinese attackers, provided a glimpse into the future. Since then, defense planners have admitted—off the record—that energy cyber risks are now listed among traditional kinetic threats. Exclusive insights from the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) indicate that nearly 10 attempted breaches into Indian electricity systems were discovered in the first half of 2025, with the majority targeting northern transmission lines. The introduction of AI-based demand management into smart grids has presented new risks, such as the risk of cascading blackouts caused by algorithm manipulation.
The Indian Navy’s Western Command now holds regular “energy-cyber war games” to simulate attacks on oil refineries and LNG facilities. For the military, energy system cybersecurity is about battlefield preparation rather than civilian resilience.
Climate Stress as a Security Multiplier
The Indian military is facing climate shocks as operational threats. The Himalayan Glacial Retreat endangers not only hydropower but also the water supplies for military bases. Rising sea levels have already impacted naval facilities in Visakhapatnam and Kochi. Heatwaves are intensifying in Rajasthan and Central India, limiting troop and equipment endurance.
According to the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), studies show that heat-related attrition in forward-deployed soldiers is expected to rise by 12-15% by 2030 if energy and cooling systems are not updated. Energy-efficient infrastructure and climate-resilient grids are increasingly viewed as force multipliers by defense planners.
Strategic Roadmap: Making Energy Central to Defense Doctrine.
India’s ability to secure its energy future should be considered as a critical defense concept, not a policy afterthought. According to current estimations, six priorities have emerged. India’s strategic crude oil inventories, which currently cover over 9 days of use, should be increased to 30 days to protect military logistics against unexpected outages. Green military corridors are to lessen logistical hazards; there is a need to increase the number of renewable-powered microgrids near borders and islands. The Critical Mineral Diplomacy is to strengthen bilateral security cooperation with Australia, Argentina, and Africa to safeguard lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements.
Further, Maritime Energy Dominance involves working with QUAD partners and strengthening the Andaman and Nicobar Command as an energy chokepoint monitoring hub. Lastly, Cyber-Energy Defence Integration should aim to integrate cyber units directly into energy ministries and PSUs, seeing them as dual-purpose essential assets. Nuclear-SMR Deployment for Defense: Test SMRs in remote locations to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and provide long-term resilience.
Conclusion: Energy is the new Arsenal.
In 2025, energy challenges will be inextricably linked to India’s national security. Energy corridors, critical minerals, cyber-resilient grids, and climate-proofed locations are just as important to strategic autonomy as missiles and submarines.
The challenge for India is to avoid replacing one dependency with another, such as switching from Middle Eastern oil to Chinese solar panels or Russian petroleum to vulnerable LNG chokepoints. True energy security can only be achieved if the military, government, and industry view energy as a strategic weapon rather than a utility.
If the twentieth century was defined by oil wars, the twenty-first century will be defined by complex, hybrid energy battles. In that struggle, India’s preparedness—or lack thereof—will determine its place as a secure power in an unpredictable globe.
