India has lodged formal protests with the United States following a series of American naval strikes on merchant vessels off the coast of Oman that resulted in the deaths of three Indian sailors. Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar spoke directly with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday to express India’s strong condemnation of the attacks, calling such lethal actions against commercial shipping unjustified.
The incidents involve strikes on Palau-flagged tankers carrying predominantly Indian crews. On Wednesday, the MT Settebello was targeted in a U.S. strike, killing three Indian sailors and prompting the airlift evacuation of 24 others by Omani authorities. This attack followed a June 8 strike on the MT Marivex, another vessel with a largely Indian crew, and was succeeded by a separate strike on a Guinea-Bissau-flagged tanker on Thursday, whose 20 Indian crew members were reported rescued without casualties.
New Delhi has summoned U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Jason Meeks to convey its deep concern, marking the second such diplomatic summons within two days. The Indian government described the use of lethal force against civilian shipping as unacceptable and detrimental to the safety and stability of international maritime commerce, particularly in this sensitive region.
The U.S. military’s Central Command stated that the strike on the MT Settebello involved precision munitions fired after the crew allegedly failed to comply with American directives. It characterized the action as part of an ongoing blockade targeting oil shipments from Iran, following Tehran's restrictions on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz—a critical chokepoint that normally handles around 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows. The United States has likewise implemented a naval blockade on Iranian ports amid escalating tensions.
India’s maritime ministry has cautioned all Indian seafarers operating in conflict-affected waters to exercise extreme vigilance. Additionally, India’s navy conducted a recent high-risk operation to remove an unexploded missile warhead lodged within the hull of the MT Olympic Life, a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker struck off Oman's coast on May 26. The vessel managed to reach the Indian port of Kochi safely despite significant damage.
The strikes and resulting fatalities have sparked domestic calls for stronger government action to protect Indian mariners, many of whom serve aboard foreign-flagged vessels. India is among the world’s largest suppliers of merchant navy personnel, with over 320,000 active seafarers as of 2025. Opposition parties and analysts have criticized the government’s response as insufficient, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to elevate the issue in upcoming discussions with U.S. leaders, including a meeting next week with President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit.
Families of the deceased sailors have expressed anguish and called on the Indian government to prevent further casualties in an ongoing conflict in which India is not a direct participant. Labor unions also warn that such incidents could worsen labor shortages in the industry by deterring seafarers from working in the Gulf’s high-risk maritime corridors.
The U.S. State Department has not issued an immediate comment on the direct communication between Jaishankar and Rubio but has indicated ongoing dialogue with India regarding the situation.