Foreign secretary Vikram Misri represented India at a meeting of more than 30 countries convened by the UK on Thursday to explore ways to reopen the Strait of Hormuz against the backdrop of mounting global concerns over the disruption of energy and fertiliser supplies due to the closure of the strategic waterway.
Misri virtually joined the meeting chaired by British foreign minister Yvette Cooper on Thursday afternoon, alongside representatives from countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Canada and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The US was not due to attend.
“The UK invited several countries, which also includes India, for talks on the Strait of Hormuz,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a weekly media briefing.
India, he reiterated, stands for free and open commercial shipping and maritime security in line with international law. “We continue to call for ensuring safe and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz as a matter of priority,” Jaiswal said.
There was no official readout on the outcome of the UK-led meeting, which was held hours after US President Donald Trump said during a televised address on his war against Iran that securing the strategic waterway is a problem for other nations to address.
Jaiswal said India is in touch with Iran and other countries to ensure “unimpeded and safe transit” through the Strait of Hormuz for Indian-flagged merchant vessels bound for the country with products such as LPG and LNG. “Through this conversation that we’ve had over the last several days, six Indian ships…have been able to safely cross [the Strait of] Hormuz. We continue to be in touch with relevant parties on this matter,” he said.
New Delhi’s focus has been on 18 Indian-flagged vessels, including oil and gas carriers, and 10 foreign-flagged ships with energy products bound for India that are currently located to the west of the Strait of Hormuz, which is used to transport 50% of the country’s oil imports. The Iranian side is currently allowing Indian-flagged vessels to pass through the strait on a case-by-case basis.
People familiar with the matter said the meeting convened by the UK was unlikely to lead to any immediate breakthrough. They said that securing safe passage for Indian vessels through the strait remains a complex matter and requires close coordination with the Iranian side to ensure that ships can safely pass through the mined waterway.
During his address to the nation, Trump said that countries unable to secure fuel supplies due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz either buy oil from the US or “build up some delayed courage” and “just take” the supplies. He also said the strait “will open up naturally” when the conflict is over but gave no clear timeline for ending hostilities.
Jaiswal also told the briefing that there had been no discussions between India and Iran on making payments for the safe passage of merchant shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Indian warships positioned in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden as part of Operation Sankalp, which was launched in 2019, are acting to secure shipping lines and maritime commerce and providing support to Indian merchant vessels in the area, he said.
