India’s ascent as a major global actor over the past twenty years has been driven by a mix of statecraft, economic liberalisation, and corporate expansion. Among private enterprises, the Adani Group has become one of the most influential players advancing the country’s foreign policy priorities through infrastructure building, energy partnerships, and strategic investments across regions vital to New Delhi’s interests.

While Adani is associated with consumer goods such as cooking oil particularly mustard oil under its AWL Fortune brand in Indian households, its reach enables virtually every sector of the Indian economy to compete with its global competition. Initially recognised for its port and logistics business, Adani has transformed into a diversified multinational with operations spanning transport, energy, and commodities.

Since the early 2010s, a key pillar of India’s foreign engagement has been to enhance maritime connectivity and develop logistics corridors that serve both trade and strategic objectives. Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd, the country’s largest private port operator, oversees multiple facilities on India’s eastern and western coasts, anchoring this strategy.

The conglomerate’s growing role in developing and managing ports abroad, particularly around the Indian Ocean, has offered India both commercial benefits and geopolitical leverage. Its control of the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala positions it at the heart of India’s maritime ambitions in the Arabian Sea, a vital route for trade with the Middle East and Africa. Adani’s stakes in ports located along global shipping chokepoints also give New Delhi added influence over maritime routes that intersect with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, offering a counterweight to Beijing’s expanding footprint.

Energy access remains a central challenge for India’s foreign policy as it seeks to sustain rapid economic growth while meeting climate goals. The Adani Group’s ventures in renewable power, coal mining, and liquefied natural gas infrastructure directly underpin this effort. The conglomerate runs LNG terminals and operates large solar and wind power projects both domestically and overseas, extending India’s reach into key energy-producing regions.

Through investments in coal mining in Australia and gas assets in Qatar and Oman, Adani has strengthened bilateral links that India considers crucial for securing long-term energy supplies. The Carmichael coal mine in Australia, though contentious, reflects how corporate and diplomatic aims can converge when securing resources for national development. These cross-border ventures have evolved into instruments of “corporate diplomacy,” enabling India to deepen ties and foster interdependence with partner nations.

Adani’s growing footprint in Southeast Asia and the Pacific aligns with India’s “Act East” and Indo-Pacific strategies, which aim to bolster economic and security partnerships across the region while balancing China’s influence. In countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Maldives, Adani-led projects in ports, logistics, and renewable energy complement India’s diplomatic efforts by positioning it as a reliable development partner.

The Group’s entry into the Maldives’ port sector, for instance, strengthens regional connectivity and provides India with a strategic presence near critical sea lanes. These ventures not only promote infrastructure growth but also enhance India’s appeal as a provider of alternatives to China’s state-backed projects. For nations wary of Beijing’s debt-heavy development model, Adani’s investments represent a more commercially grounded option that advances both economic and strategic cooperation. In the modern global order, soft power increasingly blends with economic statecraft. The Adani Group demonstrates how private corporations can extend a nation’s influence beyond traditional diplomacy.

By creating joint ventures, funding infrastructure, and embedding Indian capital into global supply chains, Adani advances India’s commercial presence and geopolitical reach simultaneously. The Group’s partnerships with international firms and governments support broader trade and investment flows while aligning with global sustainability goals. Its work on renewable and sustainable infrastructure enhances India’s image as a responsible global player. Moreover, Adani’s projects complement initiatives such as the India-Africa Forum Summit and the International Solar Alliance, signalling growing coordination between the country’s public and private sectors in pursuing strategic objectives.

Through its expanding portfolio of international assets, the Adani Group has become emblematic of how India’s private sector is increasingly intertwined with its diplomatic ambitions. The convergence of business expansion and foreign policy underscores a new phase in India’s global engagement, where corporations operate not merely as profit-seeking entities but as instruments of national influence in an evolving geopolitical landscape.