Key Facts
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday evening to protest the killing of three Indian seafarers in US naval attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf of Oman. The conversation came hours after India summoned US chargé d'affaires Jason Meeks for the second time in three days.
According to a US State Department readout, Rubio stressed that all commercial vessels must comply with orders from US forces and that violations of the US blockade of Iranian ports 'will not be tolerated.' The readout did not acknowledge India's concerns or the deaths of Indian sailors.
Details of the Incident
US forces targeted three foreign-flagged merchant vessels with Indian crew members off the coast of Oman this week: MT Marivex (June 8), MT Settebello (June 9), and MT Jalveer (June 11). The attack on MT Settebello killed three Indian sailors, including Aditya Sharma, a 23-year-old deck cadet from Himachal Pradesh. Oman's armed forces rescued over 60 Indian crew members from the three vessels.
The US Central Command said it took action to 'disable' the vessels for attempting to violate the US blockade of Iranian ports. A US combat aircraft fired two Hellfire missiles into Jalveer's engine room to disable it. None of the vessels were Indian-flagged; Marivex and Settebello were Palau-flagged, and Jalveer was Guinea-Bissau-flagged.
India's Strong Protest
In his social media post, Jaishankar stated, '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.' The External Affairs Ministry summoned Meeks and registered a strong protest, expressing deep concern over the 'use of lethal and deadly force' against civilian shipping. The ministry said such actions 'undermine the safety, security and stability of international maritime commerce.'
Impact and Reactions
The incident has triggered public anger in India and put a strain on US-India relations. The US State Department's terse readout, which ignored India's concerns, has further fueled tensions. India has asked US forces to take all necessary measures to prevent loss of civilian life.
What Readers Should Know
- Three Indian sailors were killed in US attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf of Oman.
- India has summoned the US chargé d'affaires twice and the foreign minister spoke directly to Secretary Rubio.
- The US insists on enforcing its blockade of Iranian ports and has not acknowledged India's protest.
- Over 60 Indian crew members were rescued by Oman.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did India summon the US chargé d'affaires?
India summoned US chargé d'affaires Jason Meeks twice in three days to protest US naval attacks on merchant vessels with Indian crew, which killed three Indian sailors.
What was the US response to India's protest?
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that commercial vessels must comply with US orders and that violations of the US blockade of Iranian ports will not be tolerated.
How many Indian sailors were affected?
Three Indian sailors were killed, and over 60 Indian crew members were rescued by Oman's armed forces from three vessels targeted by US forces.
What is the US justification for the attacks?
The US Central Command stated the vessels were trying to violate the US blockade of Iranian ports, and actions were taken to disable them.
Source: www.hindustantimes.com