India Urges Safe Passage for Ships Amid Strait of Hormuz Crisis
New Delhi: On Wednesday, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized the importance of safe and uninterrupted transit for merchant vessels. This call comes in response to the recent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has affected energy supply routes significantly.
Jaishankar represented India at the “Asia Zero-Emission Community (AZEC) Plus” meeting, led by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The focus of the meeting was on the energy disruptions resulting from the closure of this vital shipping route, which carries about half of India’s oil imports.
After the meeting, Jaishankar took to social media stating, “India is dedicated to ensuring safe maritime transit. Any attacks on merchant shipping are wholly unacceptable.” He also stressed that a stable energy market is crucial for global growth and that India aims to work with like-minded nations to enhance the resilience of supply chains.
The AZEC Plus gathering included representatives from 11 member countries, such as Australia and Singapore, along with partners like India, Bangladesh, and South Korea. During this assembly, Japan introduced a new initiative called Partnership on Wide Energy and Resources Resilience (POWERR) Asia, meant to assist countries affected by fuel supply issues.
According to Japan’s foreign ministry, this initiative will provide around $10 billion in financial support to Asian nations. Japan plans to help improve crude oil stockpiling systems, build necessary infrastructure, restore oil production facilities in West Asia, and ensure safe maritime routes.
Prime Minister Takaichi noted the significant impact of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz on Asian nations and called for collective action to tackle these challenges. She described the POWERR Asia initiative as a blend of emergency responses and long-term structural support for financing crude procurement and maintaining supply chains.
Notable attendees at the meeting included Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
Separately, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently spoken with US President Donald Trump about the necessity of keeping the Strait of Hormuz “open, safe, and secure.” This discussion followed updates on the West Asia crisis.
Currently, 15 Indian-flagged or owned vessels are located in the waters west of the Strait of Hormuz. Since the onset of the conflict on February 28, nine vessels, primarily LPG carriers, have successfully transited the waterway.
Jaiswal confirmed that India is in conversation with several countries to ensure the safe passage of its vessels to India. He also highlighted that with the expiration of a US sanction waiver for Russian oil and a similar waiver for Iranian oil nearing its end, India is focused on diversifying its oil sources. “We are committed to meeting the energy security needs of 1.4 billion people while navigating the current global situation,” he added.
