Third ship attack sparks India fury
Second summons in two days to US envoy signals rising concern in New Delhi
India on Friday summoned the US’ Chargé d’Affaires, Jason Meeks, to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to register a strong protest against repeated strikes on commercial ships in the Gulf of Oman, endangering Indian seafarers.
The diplomatic demarche marks the second time in two days that New Delhi has called in the senior American diplomat over the safety of Indian crew members operating in the volatile region.
Additional Secretary (Americas) Nagaraj Naidu conveyed India’s deep concern over the use of lethal force against unarmed merchant vessels, describing such actions as “unacceptable” and a serious threat to the safety and stability of international maritime trade.
The MEA urged Washington to ensure that US forces in the area exercise maximum restraint to prevent any further loss of civilian lives and to safeguard the lives of Indian nationals serving aboard these ships.
The latest incident occurred on Thursday when the Guinea-Bissau-flagged bitumen tanker MT Jalveer, carrying 20 Indian crew members, came under attack near Shinas port in Oman. Indian authorities confirmed that all 20 seafarers were safely evacuated and are out of harm’s way.
According to reports, the vessel was targeted by US forces after allegedly attempting to breach a naval blockade related to Iranian oil exports. US Central Command (CENTCOM) acknowledged the action, stating that a military aircraft struck the engine room following non-compliance with warnings.
This was the third vessel with Indian crew to be hit in the past four days. Earlier incidents included the MT Settebello, where three Indian seafarers lost their lives, triggering widespread concern across India.
India has asked the US to convey its strong concerns to the highest levels in Washington and to take immediate steps to avoid recurrence of such dangerous confrontations in busy international sea lanes.
