Jaishankar speaks to Marco Rubio, voices strong protest over death of Indian seafarers
New Delhi, June 13
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said he spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to convey India's strong protest over US Navy attacks in the Gulf that killed three Indian mariners.
He described such actions against commercial shipping as unjustified.
In a post on X, EAM Jaishankar said, "Spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio this evening. I reiterated India's strong protest at the attacks by the US Navy in the Gulf that killed three Indian mariners. Such lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified."
His remark came after the death of three Indian sailors in a US military strike on a commercial tanker in the Gulf of Oman.
The vessel, MT Settebello, came under fire on Wednesday after US forces accused it of violating the ongoing naval blockade on Iranian ports. Of the 24 Indian crew members on board, 21 were rescued, while the three others were later confirmed deceased.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday summoned the US Charge d'Affaires, Jason Meeks, to lodge a strong protest against the ongoing attacks on commercial vessels off the coast of Oman.
The diplomatic move follows yet another incident yesterday, where a commercial vessel with 20 Indian crew members on board came under attack in the region. This marks the second time that the US mission has been summoned by the MEA over the escalating maritime security issue.
MEA on Thursday said that the three Indian seafarers who lost their lives in the attack on the vessel MT Settebello have been identified, and efforts are underway to bring their mortal remains to India at the earliest.
"These attacks came from the US Navy that is stationed there. As you would have seen in the various reports, as also in what was clarified through our statements and otherwise from this podium, the three ships that have been involved in the incidents are foreign-flagged," Jaiswal said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As an American, I'm deeply saddened to hear this. Maritime safety should never be compromised, especially with civilian crews. The US needs to cooperate fully with India to prevent such tragedies. My condolences to the families of the deceased seafarers.
The way these incidents keep happening, it feels like Indian lives are being treated as collateral damage in someone else's geopolitical games. We need our Navy to protect our merchant vessels in these dangerous waters. Enough is enough, yaar.
This is a tragic situation all around. The US Navy needs to clarify their rules of engagement - commercial vessels should never be targeted without clear verification. India has every right to be furious, and I hope diplomatic channels resolve this without further escalation.
I feel terrible for the families who lost loved ones. But let's be honest - this is the result of India not having enough influence in global maritime security. We need to strengthen our naval presence and reduce dependence on foreign powers for protection of our seafarers. 🙏
Disheartening to see this. Indian seafarers are the backbone of global trade, and they deserve better protection. The MEA summoning the US diplomat is a good first step, but we need concrete actions - maybe escorting Indian-crewed vessels in high-risk zones. What will it take for our government to act decisively?
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