India on Thursday said it is “deeply concerned” over the evolving security situation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, noting that it is closely monitoring developments in the vital sea lanes. The comments by External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal came hours after an Indian warship intercepted a cargo ship with 22 crew members, including nine Indians, in a drone strike in the Gulf of Aden late on Wednesday (January 17).

“We are extremely concerned about the entire situation,” he said. It is an important shipping lane not only for India but for the world,” Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing while replying to a question on the situation in the Red Sea, adding that it is an area of ​​strategic importance as about 15 per cent of global trade takes place there. It passes through here. It passes through the Bab al-Mandab strait.

Houthi militants have been attacking merchant ships in the Red Sea since November, apparently in response to Israel’s military offensive in Gaza. Jaiswal said, “We are concerned about what is happening, the deterioration in the security situation.” He said that the Indian Navy is patrolling the major sea routes.

He said the Navy is doing its best to secure Indian shipping lanes and is also extending assistance to others, reaffirming India’s emphasis on freedom of navigation and commerce in the maritime domain. The US and Britain have already launched airstrikes targeting Houthi positions in Yemen.

“This is a matter of concern for us. We attach great importance to freedom of navigation and freedom of commerce in that region. Whatever is happening there impacts not only us, but it also impacts the economic interests and many other interests of so many people around the world,” Jaiswal said on the situation in the Red Sea.

He added, “We are closely monitoring the situation and continuing to monitor the situation as it unfolds.”

During his recent visit to Tehran, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed the situation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

Asked about Pakistan’s retaliatory missile strike on alleged Baloch separatist camps inside Iran, Jaiswal chose not to comment. On Wednesday, India supported Iran’s deadly missile attack targeting terrorist hideouts in western Pakistan, saying it understands actions that countries take in self-defense.

India also stressed that it has an “uncompromising” position of “zero tolerance” towards terrorism. Asked about South Africa accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians following Hamas attacks on Israeli cities on October 7, Jaiswal did not give a direct answer, but said India’s position on the Israel-Hamas conflict Has been consistent.

“Our position has been consistent and firm. We have condemned terrorism; We have called for the release of the hostages and demanded the protection of civilians. We also called for humanitarian assistance and we stand for a long-term two-state solution,” he said.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)