India Protests to US After Strikes Kill Indian Sailors

India's Foreign Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, has escalated diplomatic efforts by calling US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to protest recent American strikes that resulted in the deaths of three Indian sailors. The strikes targeted three merchant vessels, significantly increasing diplomatic pressure over the incident.

The call followed New Delhi's second summoning of a senior US diplomat in as many days. Jaishankar stated on social media platform X, "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."

On June 10, three Indian sailors lost their lives in a US strike on the Palau-flagged MT Settebello off the coast of Oman. This incident followed a June 8 strike on the MT Marivex, another Palau-flagged tanker, from which 24 Indian sailors were rescued by Omani authorities. A third strike on June 11 hit a Guinea-Bissau-flagged tanker, whose crew, including 20 Indian sailors, were also rescued.

India's Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that US Deputy Chief of Mission Jason Meeks was summoned twice to convey India's strong objections. While the US State Department had not immediately commented on the call between Jaishankar and Rubio, it previously stated it was in "direct contact" with the Indian government regarding the issue. India, a major contributor to the global maritime workforce, has advised its sailors to exercise extreme caution when transiting through conflict zones.

“

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.