Houthi attacks in Red Sea: India seeks free movement of commercial ships

The attacks, targeting a route that allows East-West trade, especially of oil, to use the Suez Canal to save time and cost of circumnavigating Africa, have forced some shipping companies to reroute vessels.

Maritime authorities and shipping ministries, including those of Norway and Greece, also warned against sailing in the area.

Responding to questions, the MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “India has always, of course, we have vested interests…we have been supportive of the free movement of commercial shipping. So that is something that we are interested in. We are monitoring the developments there. We are also part of international efforts to ensure free shipping, whether it be piracy or otherwise. India has been involved in it. So we will continue to monitor that.”

“Let me emphasise that we have been part of efforts to ensure the safe transit of ships in the Arabian Sea and we value the free movement of commercial shipping.. I am not aware of any conversations with a specific country, Iran or Yemen,” the MEA spokesperson said.