EAM Jaishankar opposes targeting of commercial shipping in West Asia conflict, calls for safe and unimpeded navigation

Expressing deep concern over the developments in West Asia, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said India firmly opposes the targeting of civilians, of infrastructure and of commercial shipping while strongly demanding that navigation must remain safe and unimpeded.

‘’In these turbulent times, the situation in West Asia merits particular attention. All of us are deeply concerned about the conflict and would like to see an early return to normalcy,’’ he said addressing the 9^th Indian Ocean Conference in Mauritius.

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Noting that every participating country in the conference has felt the economic impact of the conflict, Jaishankar said that when energy is scarce and expensive, it has an overarching implication for the entire society.

‘’When trade is constricted, this goes beyond business to livelihoods in different sectors. When fertilizers are more difficult to procure, its food security consequence is obvious. These have become the immediate challenges as we meet here in this conference. But there are underlying issues that we also need to address because there is no guarantee that such scenarios will not recur,’’ he added.

Pointing out that the full-blown conflict in West Asia has deeply impacted all nations of the Indian Ocean, the Indian Minister said, ‘’Moreover, there are grey zone activities that span the spectrum between the traditional and the non-traditional. We all saw and we all felt the consequences when shipping in the Red Sea was disrupted in the last few years. So, the bottom line is that the spectrum of challenges has become wider and more seamless. And unfortunately, also more serious.’’

He was of the view that no single Indian Ocean state, however capable, can preserve and protect maritime space alone. The complex challenges demand a shared commitment. One that is rooted in cooperation, and transparency, and above all, in respect for international law.’

’We must view the Indian Ocean as a global commons, where not only the benefits are shared but so are other responsibilities. Our efforts must be pursued through strong institutional networks,’’ he added.

Jaishankar said India has consistently acted as a ‘First Responder’ in the Indian Ocean region. ‘’Whether in humanitarian crises or natural disasters, we have stepped forward with speed and with reliability. Be it disaster relief operations in Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Mozambique or responding to oil spills off the coasts of Mauritius or Sri Lanka, we have been there for the region,’’ he added and referred to joint defence exercises by some of the participating countries in the conference.

He was, however, of the view that all these efforts become meaningless without connectivity. ‘’Indeed it is connectivity, that is the thread which ties all together. Our approach to connectivity is clear. It must be transparent, it must be consultative, it must respect sovereignty and it must be a genuine partnership,’’ he added.

Jaishankar said that in this volatile era, the idea of collective stewardship calls for moving beyond narrow calculations and embracing the broader vision of shared responsibility. ‘’The Indian Ocean with all its promises and challenges, offers us an opportunity to demonstrate what such cooperation can actually achieve. By working together, we can ensure a free, stable and prosperous Indian Ocean region. Indian remains fully committed to that endeavour,’’ he added.