‘Humanity facing major challenges’: PM Modi warns world must act swiftly amid wars, energy crisis

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday warned that the world is entering a “decade of disasters” as wars, energy shocks and economic instability threaten to reverse decades of global progress.

Addressing the Indian community in The Hague during his visit to the Netherlands, Modi said India’s growth and stability are increasingly important for global prosperity.

“Whenever India succeeds, the entire humanity benefits from it,” Modi said, while cautioning that the world is facing “new challenges one after another.”

Referring to the lingering impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, global conflicts and the ongoing energy crisis triggered by tensions in West Asia, Modi said the current decade risks becoming defined by continuous disruptions.

“First came the coronavirus pandemic, then wars began erupting, and now the world is facing an energy crisis. If these conditions are not changed swiftly, many achievements of past decades could be undone and millions could again fall into poverty,” he said.

Highlighting India’s growing strategic partnership with the Netherlands, Modi said both countries are working together to create “trusted, transparent and future-ready supply chains” at a time when nations are increasingly prioritising resilience in trade and energy networks.

The Prime Minister’s remarks come amid mounting economic pressure caused by surging global crude oil prices following the US-Israel conflict with Iran and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz.

Days before beginning his European tour, Modi had urged Indians to adopt voluntary austerity measures, including reducing unnecessary travel, conserving fuel and cutting avoidable imports to help ease pressure on foreign exchange reserves.

Calling fuel conservation an act of “patriotism,” he encouraged greater use of public transport, carpooling and work-from-home practices wherever possible.

The remarks were followed by India’s first major retail fuel price hike in more than four years. State-run oil companies recently increased petrol and diesel prices by Rs 3 per litre, pushing fuel costs in Delhi to Rs 97.77 for petrol and Rs 90.67 for diesel.

Industry experts have warned that higher fuel prices could increase transportation costs, manufacturing expenses and household inflation over the coming months.