Adani: Energy and Intelligence Define 21st Century Independence

Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, stated on May 11, 2026, that energy and digital security constitute the twin foundations of national power. Speaking at the CII Annual Business Summit 2026, Adani argued that control over both energy and digital infrastructure will define the global powers of the 21st century.

Adani asserted that true independence in the current century requires a nation to own both its energy and its intelligence. He noted that as technology ecosystems and supply chains are reshaped by geopolitical conflicts, the ability to secure these two dimensions will determine a country’s position in the future global order.

During his address, Adani highlighted that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has exposed the fragility of assumptions that previously defined the era of globalization. He challenged the long-held belief that the world was flat, stating instead that the world is fractured.

Adani described a previous era of belief where supply chains were expected to remain open, energy was expected to flow predictably across oceans, and capital was believed to move without a passport. He further stated that there was a mistaken belief that the cloud would have no nationality.

According to Adani, supply chains are now being redesigned around national interests. He identified specific technologies that have transitioned from commercial assets to instruments of statecraft.

Adani specifically identified the following as factors of national intelligence rather than mere commercial assets:

• Semiconductors (chips)
• Cloud infrastructure
• Artificial intelligence models

He argued that energy security and digital security are no longer independent dimensions but are now inextricably linked as the basis of national strength.

Adani outlined a distinct division between the drivers of industrial and intellectual progress, stating:

The country that controls its energy will drive its industrial future. The country that controls its compute will drive its intelligence future.

Gautam Adani

He concluded that nations securing control over both computing infrastructure and energy systems will be the ones to shape the future global order.