India-US ties strained after attack kills 3 Indian sailors

India-US ties have been significantly strained after a US attack on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz resulted in the deaths of three Indian sailors. The incident has ignited grief and outrage across India, with public anger amplified by the US's perceived lack of regret or apology.

This event has exacerbated existing tensions between the two nations. Recent months have seen a deterioration of the relationship due to tariff disputes, closer US ties with India's rival Pakistan, stricter US immigration policies, and restrictions on India's access to affordable Russian oil. The killings have added a "major irritant" to what was once a robust partnership, according to retired Indian ambassador Anil Trigunayat.

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I think the killings have definitely created a very major irritant in the relationship.

Further complicating the relationship, the US Indo-Pacific Command recently reverted to its former name, US Pacific Command. This move, reversing an eight-year-old decision, has been interpreted by commentators as undermining India's significance in US security strategy and potentially signaling a shift in focus towards China. The Indian government has not officially commented on this change, but it has been seen by some as "one more nail in the coffin of the Quad."

With nearly one in five seafarers worldwide being Indian, these sailors are at high risk of being caught in geopolitical crossfire. India has condemned previous US attacks on vessels in the Persian Gulf and has summoned US diplomats to demand an end to the targeting of commercial shipping. New Delhi is also advocating for "free and unimpeded navigation and commerce" in international waterways, aligning with international law.

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This does not augur well for the kind of confidence you would like to have in a global comprehensive strategic partnership (that India and the US claim to have).