Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 13: India has sharply escalated its diplomatic response to the deaths of three Indian seafarers in a US military strike on a commercial oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar directly conveying New Delhi’s concerns to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Speaking with Rubio on Friday, Jaishankar reiterated India’s strong protest over the incident and stressed that the use of lethal force against commercial shipping was unacceptable. In a statement shared on social media, the External Affairs Minister said such actions against civilian maritime vessels were “not justified.”
The diplomatic move came hours after the Ministry of External Affairs summoned US Charge d’Affaires Jason Meeks and lodged a formal protest over what India described as continuing attacks by American naval forces on commercial vessels carrying Indian sailors in the Gulf region.
In its communication to the US diplomat, the MEA expressed deep concern over the loss of Indian lives and condemned the use of deadly force against civilian shipping. The ministry said such actions threaten the safety and stability of international maritime trade and called on US authorities to ensure that military operations in the region do not endanger civilian crews.
The protest follows confirmation that the three Indian crew members who had initially been reported missing after the attack were found dead. The victims were among the crew of the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello, which was carrying 28 personnel, including 24 Indian nationals. Twenty-one Indian sailors were rescued following the incident.
According to the US Central Command, the tanker was targeted after allegedly attempting to transport Iranian oil in violation of a US-enforced blockade and failing to comply with repeated instructions from American naval forces. US officials said military aircraft disabled the vessel after warnings went unheeded.
India, however, has maintained that attacks on merchant shipping are deeply troubling and linked to the broader conflict unfolding in West Asia. The government has called for immediate de-escalation and a return to dialogue, warning that continued hostilities pose a serious threat to civilian seafarers and global maritime commerce.
The deaths have sparked concern in India, one of the world’s largest suppliers of maritime manpower, and have intensified scrutiny of military operations affecting commercial shipping routes in the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz.