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🇮🇳 India /Conflict & Security

EAM raises sailor deaths with Rubio, US unmoved

From Hindustan Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • India's foreign minister protested the deaths of three Indian sailors in U.S. attacks on merchant vessels to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
  • The U.S. readout of the call did not mention the sailors' deaths or express regret, instead stressing compliance with U.S. naval orders.
  • The incident highlights ongoing strains in India-U.S. relations, drawing criticism from Indian political figures.

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar lodged a strong protest with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken over the deaths of three Indian seafarers in recent U.S. strikes on merchant vessels. Jaishankar stated that the lethal actions against commercial shipping were unjustified and reiterated India's stance on unimpeded freedom of navigation.

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.

— S JaishankarFollowing his call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated his position on social media.

However, a readout from the U.S. State Department following the call made no mention of the Indian sailors' deaths or any expression of regret. Instead, it emphasized that commercial vessels must comply with U.S. forces' orders in the Strait of Hormuz and that violations of the U.S. blockade and illicit transport of Iranian oil would not be tolerated.

stressed that all commercial vessels should immediately comply with orders from US forces as they seek to uphold peace and security in the Strait.

— U.S. State Department readoutThe U.S. State Department's official account of the conversation between Jaishankar and Blinken.

The starkly different accounts of the conversation underscore lingering tensions between India and the U.S. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from Indian political circles. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor expressed shock at the U.S. readout's insensitivity, questioning why non-compliant vessels couldn't be stopped with non-lethal means and highlighting the significant presence of Indian crew on merchant ships in the region.

underscored that violations of the US blockade and the illicit transport of Iranian oil will not be tolerated.

— U.S. State Department readoutThe U.S. State Department's official account of the conversation between Jaishankar and Blinken.
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Originally published by Hindustan Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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