India on Thursday noted that it was the only country to have lost citizens in the conflict-hit Strait of Hormuz, as it attended a multilateral meeting convened by the UK for the reopening of the strategic waterway, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). New Delhi also emphasised the importance of principles of freedom of maritime navigation, it added.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri represented India at the virtual gathering, which was attended by more than 60 countries. The foreign secretary reiterated India’s official stance about diplomacy being the most viable path for resolution of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
“He also underlined that the way out of the crisis consisted of de-escalation and a return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue among all concerned parties,” the MEA said.
Misri further “emphasised the impact of the crisis on India’s energy security and the fact that India remains the only country to have lost mariners in attacks on merchant shipping in the Gulf,” the ministry said in a statement cited by news agency ANI.
So far, at least three Indian sailors, all of whom served on foreign-flagged merchant vessels, have been killed in attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, per India’s Directorate General of Shipping.
INDIA ENGAGING WITH IRAN, OTHER COUNTRIES
The UK-led meeting came as countries stepped up coordination to ensure stability in one of the world’s most vital energy corridors. India, too, is engaging with regional players in the Middle East, including Iran, to keep shipping lanes open, according to the MEA.
“We are in touch with Iran and other countries there to see how best we can get unimpeded transit and safe transit for our ships,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said ahead of the summit while addressing a press briefing.
He had said that the outreach was already yielding results.
“Through this conversation that we have had over the last several days, we have had six Indian ships which have been able to safely cross the Strait of Hormuz, and we continue to be in touch with relevant parties,” Jaiswal stated, as quoted by news agency ANI.
Iran has been highly selective in imposing its blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, with India being one of the very few nations whose cargo ships, carrying fuel supplies, have been granted passage through the strategic waterway amid the current war in the Middle East.
The MEA, in its press interaction, also dismissed reports of toll-like arrangements with Iran for Indian-flagged ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
US NOT PART OF MEETING
The meeting convened by the US was not attended by the US. This came after US President Donald Trump made clear that he believed securing the waterway, closed as a consequence of the war triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran, is not Washington’s job.
The leader has also disparaged US’ European allies for failing to support the war and renewed his threats to pull his country out of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato).
According to UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, the talks were meant to show “the strength of our international determination” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“We have seen Iran hijack an international shipping route to hold the global economy hostage,” she said at the start of the meeting, according to the Associated Press.
The British foreign minister said “unsustainable” spikes in oil and food prices were “hitting households and businesses in every corner of the world.” The meeting was convened with a focus on political and diplomatic solutions rather than military ones.
– Ends
(With inputs from agencies)
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