India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday raised concerns over the safety and security of seafarers and repeated attacks on commercial shipping, days after an Indian sailor was killed in an attack in the Gulf
of Oman.
Speaking at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Jaishankar said attacks on commercial shipping and mariners “are no longer exceptional occurrences”, citing incidents in the Gulf, Red Sea and Black Sea in recent months.
“India, as a major source of seafarers, and Liberia, as the largest shipping registry, have come together to highlight the safety and security of shipping and seafarers. Just two days ago, an Antigua and Barbuda-flagged carrier, MV Chemp Pluto, was attacked in the Gulf of Oman. An Indian sailor lost his life. Ten days before that, a Panama-flagged oil tanker, Al Gia, was struck while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. An Indian crew member went missing after that incident,” he said.
“These, regrettably, are no longer exceptional occurrences. In the last few months, commercial shipping and mariners have been subjected to repeated attacks in the Gulf, the Red Sea and its vicinity. Such unacceptable actions are also occurring in the Black Sea,” the minister added.
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Jaishankar also cited attacks involving Indian seafarers in the Black Sea. “MV Amorphie was hit in Russian territorial waters on July 18 and its chief officer, an Indian national, was killed. The following day, MV Golden Leo was struck after leaving Odessa and four Indian seafarers also lost their lives,” he said.
“Now, the examples that I cite involved Indian sailors. But those of many other nations have been casualties as well in such occurrences this year. From the Black Sea to the Red Sea, to the Gulf, attacks on civilian shipping have become a growing cause of concern,” Jaishankar said.
“These actions that disrupt maritime commerce and cost innocent lives are simply indefensible,” he added.
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Jaishankar Urges Global Action
Calling for stronger international cooperation, Jaishankar urged the international community to “close ranks” and deter attacks on commercial shipping.
“We are here to not just highlight this dangerous trend, but to urge the international community to close ranks and deter such attacks,” he said.
“The world witnesses international trade worth more than $140 billion a day. Oceans support more than 80% of those activities. As supply chains are deeply interconnected, securing the maritime commons is therefore crucial,” Jaishankar added.
#WATCH | 81st Session of UNGA | At the inaugural meeting of Group of Friends on Safety & Security of Shipping & Seafarers, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, “… These actions that disrupt maritime commerce and cost innocent lives are simply indefensible. We are here not just to… https://t.co/QDVQRlboOb pic.twitter.com/VSqKe04xqe
— ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2026
He said that despite existing international and regional frameworks for protecting the rights of seafarers, stronger and closer international cooperation was needed.
“Seafarers often belong to a different nationality than the flag that the commercial vessels fly, which makes the case for a concerted effort by the international community even stronger,” he said.
Jaishankar also highlighted an initiative proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for greater emergency support to seafarers.
“Two weeks ago, when India hosted the BRICS summit, we highlighted this very concern. Prime Minister Modi proposed establishing a seafarers emergency support network, which could connect the maritime authorities and embassies of the countries concerned, and facilitate distress alerts, medical assistance, communication with families, and support for evacuation where needed,” he said.
Jaishankar also recalled India’s efforts at the UN on maritime safety and security.
“In November last year, we co-organized an Arria-formula meeting in the UN Security Council along with Greece and the Philippines on maritime safety and security,” he said.
