VOI World/ Desk
The US response to Indian sailor deaths has triggered fresh diplomatic tensions after Washington defended its military actions in the Gulf of Oman while offering no expression of regret for the deaths of three Indian seafarers.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar raised the issue directly with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a phone conversation following repeated protests by New Delhi over attacks on merchant vessels carrying Indian crew members. After the call, Jaishankar said India had reiterated its strong objection to strikes on commercial shipping and stressed that such lethal actions against merchant vessels were not justified.
The controversy stems from a US strike on the Palau-flagged merchant vessel MT Settebello on June 9, which resulted in the deaths of three Indian sailors. Indian authorities have since summoned the acting US envoy in New Delhi twice within a week to register formal protests over attacks on foreign-flagged commercial ships with Indian crew on board.
However, the US State Department’s official readout of the Jaishankar-Rubio conversation contained no acknowledgement of the Indian sailors’ deaths. Instead, Rubio reportedly emphasised that all commercial vessels must comply with US directives linked to its blockade of Iranian ports and shipping routes. The statement further noted that violations of the blockade and the transport of Iranian oil would not be tolerated.
The omission of any condolence or expression of regret drew criticism from Indian political leaders and former diplomats. Several observers argued that civilian mariners navigating international trade routes should not become casualties of wider geopolitical conflicts. Critics also questioned how vessels carrying multinational crews could be treated as legitimate military targets.
The issue comes amid broader strains in India-US relations, including recent trade disputes and tariff disagreements. As the Gulf region remains volatile due to tensions involving Iran, India is expected to continue pressing for greater protection of its citizens working aboard commercial vessels operating in conflict-prone waters.
