Middle East crisis: Abnormality is becoming the new normal, says Rajnath Singh

Speaking in Kolkata while addressing the maritime conclave ‘Sagar Sankalp’, Singh said the world is witnessing a rapid shift in long-standing geopolitical assumptions.

“Old ideas, old global order, and old perceptions are changing rapidly. These are the uncertainties we need to understand. The current situation in the Middle East is one prime example. What is happening there is quite unusual,” he said.

He added that it is difficult to make concrete predictions about how events in the Middle East or India’s neighbourhood may unfold.

“The Strait of Hormuz or the entire Persian Gulf region is crucial for global energy security. When there is disturbance in the region, it directly impacts the supply of oil and gas,” Singh said.

The defence minister also pointed to broader economic implications, noting that geopolitical tensions are increasingly disrupting global supply chains.

“Moreover, we are witnessing supply chain disruptions in other sectors as well. These uncertainties have a direct impact on the economy and global trade. The global scenario is an abnormal situation, and what is more worrying is that this abnormality is becoming the new normal,” he added.

Tensions in the Middle East escalated after military operations launched by Washington and Tel Aviv last weekend targeted Iran’s missile infrastructure and nuclear facilities.

The campaign reportedly resulted in the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who had ruled the country for decades.

Iran has since responded with missile and drone attacks on Israeli and American bases across the region. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has suggested that removing the Iranian government could become one of the objectives of the campaign.

However, officials have repeatedly shifted their descriptions of the operation’s goals and timeline, raising the possibility that the conflict could evolve into a prolonged confrontation.