India, March 18 -- The escalating conflict in West Asia and its ripple effects on global energy security figured prominently in External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's high-level talks with his counterparts from the 27 European Union (EU) member States in Brussels.

A day after the talks, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday that both sides underlined the need for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the crisis.

Global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas).

The West Asia has been a major source of India's energy procurement. Jaisha...