Indian Navy Trying To Secure Sea Lanes: MEA

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the Indian Navy is patrolling the area to secure the sea lanes so that India's economic interests are not impacted.

Iran-backed Houthis are attacking cargo in the Red Sea to purportedly declare their support for Hamas in the Israel conflict.

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New Delhi: India is deeply concerned over the recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday. He said that the crisis will not only impact India but the entire world since it's an "important" shipping lane.

The remarks came days after the US and the UK attacked Houthi rebels in Yemen in retaliation for the attacks on their commercial ships in the Red Sea. Iran-backed Houthis are attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea to purportedly declare their support for Hamas in the Israel conflict.

During a weekly conference, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the Indian Navy is patrolling the area to secure the sea lanes so that India's economic interests are not impacted.

"We are deeply concerned about the whole situation. It does impact not just us, but it's an important shipping lane for not just India, but for the world. So we have our own interests there which are being impacted. But at the same time, we have the Indian Navy, which is patrolling the area. They're trying to secure the sea lanes and do their best so that our economic interests are not impacted," Jaiswal said.

#WATCH | MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "On the question of the Red Sea and discussion in Iran when the external affairs minister had visited. You would have seen he made a detailed joint press statement while he was there. This issue of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden,… pic.twitter.com/lg2jgng2NR

— ANI (@ANI) January 18, 2024

He also mentioned the recent visit of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to Iran last week and said that in conversation with the Iranian side, EAM discussed various regional and global issues including the unfolding situation in the region.

The MEA Spokesperson said, "On the question of the Red Sea and discussion in Iran when the external affairs minister had visited. You would have seen he made a detailed joint press statement while he was there. This issue of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the violence there, and the destabilized nature of things there were discussed."

India-Maldives Diplomatic Row

Speaking on India's ongoing diplomatic row with Maldives, Jaiswal said both countries held a core group meeting on January 14 in which both sides deliberated on finding a "mutually workable solution" to ensure the "continued operation" of Indian aviation platforms providing humanitarian and Medvec services.

During the core group meeting, both nations delved "on several aspects of the bilateral relationship," MEA spokesperson Jaiswal said.

When asked if India received a formal request from Maldives to withdraw the Indian military, Jaiswal said, "Whatever's discussed was put out in the press release. That is where the situation actually stands. It is an ongoing process. Both sides held discussions on finding mutually workable solutions...This is an ongoing discussion, so things will go forward or things will be discussed in the next meeting of the core group subsequently soon."

Ex-Indian Navy Personnel In Qatar Custody

Speaking on ex-Indian Navy veterans in Qatar custody, the MEA spokesperson said the Indian ambassador to Qatar and the embassy officials met with the eight detained veteran navy officials and a legal team is looking into the appeal aspect as 60 days have been provided to file an appeal, reported ANI.

"Our ambassador, along with our embassy officials, met the eight detained. As we had conveyed to you last time, the legal team is looking into the appeal aspect. There is a period of 60 days within which they have to file this appeal," Jaiswal said.

"On December 28, the court of appeal had given their verdict. Now, the matter is to go to the court of secession, which will be decided by the legal team...We still have some time. The consular access we had, our ambassador went and met and looked after their well-being," he said while addressing a press briefing, reported ANI.