India Turns Up Heat On US: Diplomat Summoned Again After Deadly Attacks On Indian Crewed Ships

New Delhi: India has sharply escalated its response to the United States, summoning a senior US diplomat for the second time in days after a string of attacks on merchant vessels carrying Indian crew left sailors dead and ships damaged in the Gulf.

In a strongly worded protest, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned US Charged Affaires Jason Meeks, making it clear that New Delhi is furious over repeated strikes on ships near Oman and the Strait of Hormuz many of them staffed by Indian nationals.

The anger isn’t without reason. At least three Indian seafarers were killed in one US strike on a tanker earlier this week, marking one of the deadliest incidents involving Indian crew in recent years. In separate attacks, multiple vessels with Indian crew were hit or forced into distress situations, though some crew members were rescued.

US forces have defended the strikes, claiming the vessels were linked to Iranian oil trade and failed to comply with warnings during enforcement of a maritime blockade. Some ships, according to US accounts, had switched off tracking systems or refused identification.

India isn’t buying the justification. Officials have demanded an immediate halt to such operations, stressing that the safety of Indian citizens cannot be collateral damage in geopolitical conflicts. The government has also warned that continued aggression in international waters risks pushing an already volatile region closer to crisis.

Back home, the developments have triggered political heat, with opposition leaders pressing the government to take a tougher stand and ensure accountability.

With Indian nationals forming a major share of the global seafaring workforce, the attacks have raised serious concerns far beyond diplomacy touching on maritime safety, international law, and the risks faced by thousands of Indian workers at sea.

For now, external affair minister and also PM is watching closely. But the repeated summoning of US officials sends a clear message: India is done issuing polite protests.

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