Why is India suddenly buying more cooking gas from America?

India is shaking up its energy import strategy. State-owned refiners—Indian Oil, BPCL, and HPCL—are actively negotiating long-term contracts to purchase more liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from the United States. Traditionally, India has relied on West Asia for the vast majority of its cooking gas. However, persistent geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, including maritime threats in the Red Sea, have highlighted the danger of over-reliance on a single supply corridor. By purchasing more American gas, India not only secures a stable energy source but also addresses a major political headache: its trade surplus with Washington. Under ongoing trade talks, importing high-value US commodities helps narrow this surplus, making India less vulnerable to potential tariff actions from a protectionist US administration.