The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned US Chargé d’Affaires Jason Meeks for the second time to lodge a strong protest against ongoing attacks on commercial vessels off the coast of Oman. This diplomatic move follows a recent incident where a commercial vessel with 20 Indian crew members came under attack.
Second Summoning Over Maritime Security
This marks the second time the US mission has been summoned by the MEA over escalating maritime security issues. The US envoy was called in by the Additional Secretary (Americas) to register India's serious concerns. The situation has turned fatal for Indian nationals at sea, with three Indian seafarers initially reported missing now confirmed dead.
First Public Acknowledgment of US Navy Targeting
This escalation marks New Delhi's first public acknowledgment of the US Navy directly targeting commercial ships carrying Indian seafarers. According to official data, the American military targeted three foreign-flagged merchant vessels operating with Indian crew members off the coast of Oman over a four-day period.
Timeline of Attacks
- June 8: US forces disabled the Palau-flagged oil tanker Marivex, carrying 24 Indian crew members. All personnel were safely rescued.
- June 10: US struck a second Palau-flagged tanker, Settebello, causing three fatalities among Indian seafarers.
India's Diplomatic Pushback
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal detailed India's sharp diplomatic pushback during an inter-ministerial briefing. "We attach high importance to the welfare and well-being of our seafaring community. When this particular attack on the ship MT Settebello occurred, we lodged a strong protest with the American side," Jaiswal stated. He added that the US Chargé d’Affaires was conveyed India's deepest concern and strong protest, emphasizing that these military actions "must stop" immediately.
Call for Diplomacy
New Delhi called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urged a return to diplomatic channels to safeguard vital global shipping lanes. "We further conveyed that dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward for the peaceful resolution of the conflict, and that there should be unimpeded access through the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with international law," Jaiswal asserted. He reiterated the importance of the lives, welfare, and safety of Indian seafarers.
Details of the Attacks
Jaiswal clarified that the strikes originated from US Navy units stationed in the region, though the targeted ships were not domestic vessels. "The three ships involved in these incidents were foreign-flagged vessels. Two were Palau-flagged, while the third was Guinea-Bissau-flagged. They were not Indian-owned ships," he said. The MEA spokesperson further revealed that the targeted operations were linked to regulatory enforcement, with two vessels under sanctions by the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the third classified as non-compliant.
Rescue and Relief Operations
Mukesh Mangal, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, confirmed that the evacuation of seafaring personnel on a third vessel, the Jalveer, has commenced. Regarding the Settebello, Mangal stated that the remaining 25 crew members—comprising 21 Indians, two Pakistanis, one Russian, and one Ukrainian—have been successfully evacuated to safety. To support the families of the victims, the Seamen Welfare Fund Society has been directed to release an ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of each deceased Indian sailor.
Indian Maritime Presence in the Region
The crisis highlights the massive footprint of Indian maritime professionals in the volatile zone. Government data shows that more than 18,000 Indian seafarers are currently deployed across the Gulf region. This includes 562 crew members working aboard 13 Indian-flagged vessels, with 329 personnel stationed on ships west of the Strait of Hormuz and 233 on vessels navigating the Gulf of Oman.
