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EYE ON INDIA JUNE 19, 2026 | The Indian Eye 8

Strait of Hormuz Crisis Poses

New Test for India-US Ties

The deaths of Indian seafarers and repeated attacks on commercial vessels in

the Gulf of Oman are turning one of the world’s most important shipping lanes into a dangerous

flashpoint with implications for India-US relations.

OUR BUREAU ating in the Gulf region.
Thousands of Indian seafarers
Muscat / New Delhi
work on ships passing through the
he escalating confrontation Strait of Hormuz, making the secu-
around the Strait of Hormuz rity of these waters a direct national
Tis emerging as a major chal- concern.
lenge not only for global shipping but The Indian government has
also for India’s relationship with the therefore focused its diplomatic re-
United States. As military operations sponse on principles rather than
linked to the US-led blockade of Ira- assigning blame. New Delhi has re-
nian oil intensify, Indian seafarers peatedly called for de-escalation,
are increasingly finding themselves protection of commercial shipping
caught in the middle of a geopolitical and restoration of safe navigation.
conflict that New Delhi has little con- Jaiswal reiterated India’s
trol over but significant stakes in. long-standing position that “dialogue
The latest incidents have high- and diplomacy is the way forward for
lighted the growing dangers facing peaceful resolution of the conflict”
commercial shipping in the Gulf of and emphasised that there should
Oman and the Strait of Hormuz, a be “unimpeded access through the
strategic maritime corridor through Strait of Hormuz in keeping with in-
which a substantial portion of the ternational law.”
world’s energy supplies pass. The government has also warned
India confirmed on Thursday that attacks on commercial ves-
that three Indian seafarers had died sels are a direct consequence of the
following an attack on the vessel MT broader regional conflict.
Settebello. The Ministry of External A visual of the commercial vessel MT Jalveer, with Indian seafarers reportedly on board, Political voices in India have
Affairs (MEA) said the identification attacked off the coast of Oman near the Shinas Port, on Thursday. Casualties feared and also reacted strongly. AIMIM chief
process had been completed and ef- Asaduddin Owaisi condemned the
forts were underway to bring their further details awaited (Forward Seamen’s Union of India/ANI Video Grab) attacks following the deaths of the
mortal remains back to India. three Indian sailors and criticised US
The deaths came amid a series been disabled. concerns regarding the safety of Indi- actions in the region.
of military actions by US forces en- For India, the incidents have an citizens working on international “Just think about how many of
forcing a blockade against Iranian oil raised concerns that ordinary com- commercial vessels. our people are dying. They are at-
shipments. According to US Central mercial sailors are paying the price Jaiswal said India had made its tacking our ships. Doesn’t CENT-
Command (CENTCOM), American for a conflict that is rapidly spreading position clear to the American side. COM know how many vessels are
forces have disabled multiple com- beyond military targets. “When this particular attack operating there?” he asked.
mercial vessels in recent days for al- MEA spokesperson Randhir happened on the ship Settebello, For India, the crisis presents twin
legedly violating the blockade. Jaiswal acknowledged that the attacks we lodged a strong protest with the challenges. The first is protecting its
The dangers were further un- were carried out by US forces operat- American side, we called in the Amer- large seafaring community operating
derlined on June 11 when the Guin- ing in the region. While noting that the ican Charge d’Affaires,” he said. in the region. The second is maintain-
ea-Bissau-flagged tanker MT Jalveer, ships involved were foreign-flagged “We conveyed that the welfare of ing strong relations with the United
carrying 20 Indian seafarers, was vessels, he stressed that the wel- our seafaring community is very im- States while simultaneously defend-
struck in the Gulf of Oman. CENT- fare of Indian seafarers remained portant, and the attacks that are hap- ing the principle of free and unim-
COM said the vessel was attempting a matter of paramount concern. pening must stop,” he added. peded navigation.
to transport Iranian oil and failed to The issue has quickly evolved India’s response reflects a diffi- As military operations continue
comply with repeated instructions into a diplomatic challenge between cult balancing act. The United States and commercial vessels remain ex-
from US forces. New Delhi and Washington. remains one of India’s most import- posed to potential attacks, the Strait
The attack on MT Jalveer Following the attack on MT ant strategic partners, particularly in of Hormuz is increasingly becoming
marked the third commercial vessel Settebello, India lodged a strong pro- areas such as defence cooperation, not just a geopolitical flashpoint but
targeted by US forces in the Gulf test with the United States and sum- technology and Indo-Pacific security. also a test of how India balances its
of Oman within a single week. Ear- moned US Charge d’Affaires Jason At the same time, India has a large strategic partnerships with its respon-
lier, the Palau-flagged vessels MT Meeks. Additional Secretary (Amer- maritime workforce employed on in- sibility to protect its citizens and eco-
Marivex and MT Settebello had also icas) Nagaraj Naidu conveyed India’s ternational commercial vessels oper- nomic interests.

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