United Nations, September 19, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India has reiterated its call for strict adherence to international law, stressing that commercial maritime traffic must not become a target of geopolitical tensions amid disruptions and attacks affecting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and wider West Asia.
India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, P. Harish, said navigational rights must not be subjected to coercion, threats, unlawful restrictions or arbitrary interference.
“India is a major maritime nation, and we strongly support a free, open, secure and rules-based maritime domain,” Harish said while addressing an informal UN Security Council meeting convened by Bahrain under the Arria-Formula format to discuss the maritime security environment.
India has faced both human and economic consequences from the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. The crisis has affected oil and gas supplies and contributed to higher global petroleum prices, with wider implications for energy and food security, Harish said.
India has protested with Iran and the United States over incidents involving the deaths of Indian sailors. In April, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) gunboats fired warning shots at two Indian-flagged tankers. In July, an Indian sailor was killed and another injured in Iranian attacks on two UAE-registered vessels. India also summoned the US Embassy’s charge d’affaires in June to protest the deaths of three Indian sailors when the US attacked their Palau-registered ship.
Harish said the Indian Navy has also been contributing to maritime safety in troubled waters. As of Monday, Indian security operations had enabled more than 449 merchant ships carrying nearly 20.3 million tonnes of cargo and oil worth over $8.4 billion to transit the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea.
He said India launched Operation Urja Suraksha in March, deploying 11 naval ships in the Western Arabian Sea to safeguard maritime trade.
With several hundred Indian seafarers stranded aboard vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, Harish stressed that their safety must remain a priority.
“Seafarers must remain at the centre of our collective efforts,” he said, calling for effective contingency planning and international cooperation for their safety, timely evacuation, medical assistance, crew changes and repatriation.
Harish also highlighted emerging maritime threats involving unmanned systems, cyber risks and interference with navigation and communications. He said international cooperation, capacity-building and responsible use of technology would be critical to addressing these challenges.
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