External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday informed that he conveyed India’s strong protest to the United States over attacks by their Navy on commercial vessels in the Gulf that resulted in the deaths of three Indian mariners, asserting that the use of lethal force against civilian shipping was “unjustified”.
Jaishankar said he spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio last evening and reiterated New Delhi’s concerns over the attacks, which have escalated tensions between the two countries and raised alarm over the safety of Indian seafarers operating in the region.
“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,” Jaishankar said.
The minister’s intervention came hours after India summoned US Chargé d’Affaires Jason Meeks and lodged a formal protest over the continuing attacks on merchant vessels carrying Indian crew members in the Gulf of Oman.
The Ministry of External Affairs had earlier described the deaths of the three Indian sailors as “tragic and avoidable” and expressed deep concern over the use of deadly force against civilian shipping, warning that such actions undermine the safety and stability of international maritime commerce.
Friday’s conversation between Jaishankar and Rubio marks the highest-level diplomatic engagement so far on the issue and underscores the seriousness with which New Delhi views the attacks.
India has consistently maintained that commercial shipping and freedom of navigation must be protected and has called for all parties to ensure the safety of civilian vessels traversing the strategically vital waters of the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz.
The deaths of the three Indian mariners have triggered mounting concern in New Delhi and intensified pressure on Washington to prevent further loss of civilian life amid the worsening maritime crisis in the region.
Interestingly, even as India blamed US forces for the attacks and lodged a formal protest, US President Donald Trump sought to pin responsibility on Iran.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “Also, their totally rebuffed Drone attack last night against Indian Ships leaving the Hormuz Strait is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. They better get their act together, and FAST!”, referring to Iran.
The remarks came despite the US military itself having publicly acknowledged carrying out operations against commercial shipping in the Gulf of Oman.
In a statement issued earlier, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) had said that the American forces had disabled the Guinea-Bissau-flagged oil tanker M/T Jalveer at 11.20 pm ET on June 10 after the vessel allegedly violated the blockade against Iran by attempting to transport Iranian oil.
The apparent contradiction between Trump’s latest accusation against Tehran and the US military’s own acknowledgement of direct action against merchant vessels is likely to add to questions surrounding responsibility for the attacks that have triggered sharp protests from New Delhi.
