NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Friday raised concerns over repeated attacks on civilian shipping and seafarers at the G20 foreign affairs ministers' meeting, stressing the urgent need to safeguard freedom of navigation.In a post on X, Jaishankar said the Global South was disproportionately bearing the consequences of attacks in the Middle East, which were threatening the availability and cost of fuel, food and fertilisers."Global South is disproportionately bearing the consequences of attacks on civilian shipping and seafarers, jeopardising the availability and cost of fuel, food and fertilizers," Jaishankar said.He stressed the need to protect freedom of navigation and end attacks in accordance with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)."Urgent need to preserve the freedom of navigation and ensure cessation of attacks within the framework of international law, especially UNCLOS. India and Liberia have launched a joint initiative to safeguard seafarers," he added.Jaishankar also flagged concerns over restrictions on industrialisation, saying the right to industrialise was being undermined by market flooding, the weaponisation of supply chains, restricted market access and…
'Global South bears burden': EAM flags attacks on Indian seafarers in Hormuz at G20 meet
In short
S Jaishankar pressed foreign ministers to defend the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea following multiple assaults on commercial ships traversing key chokepoints. In response to the growing operational risks facing maritime personnel, India and Liberia have established a joint initiative dedicated to crew safety. Commercial vessels carrying Indian nationals were specifically targeted in recent attacks involving limpet mines and projectile strikes. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal affirmed that all twenty-nine Indian crew members aboard the two affected tankers escaped without injury.
Key points
- Disruptions to Middle Eastern maritime transit directly jeopardize the cost and global av…: Disruptions to Middle Eastern maritime transit directly jeopardize the cost and global availability of food, fuel, and fertilizers.
- All twenty-nine Indian crew members caught in the recent Strait of Hormuz tanker incident…: All twenty-nine Indian crew members caught in the recent Strait of Hormuz tanker incidents were confirmed safe.
- Developing countries face serious economic hurdles from weaponized supply chains, market…: Developing countries face serious economic hurdles from weaponized supply chains, market distortions, and restricted international market access.