External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and his US counterpart Antony Blinken held a telephonic conversation on Thursday to discuss maritime security challenges, particularly in the Red Sea region, which has been under constant attack by Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
The two leaders also discussed the developments in the Ukraine-Russia conflict and the ongoing situation in the Middle East, including the war in Gaza.
The United States and Britain on Thursday launched airstrikes from both air and sea against Houthi military targets in Yemen. This action was taken in response to the Houthi movement’s attacks on ships in the Red Sea, which further escalates the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.
In response to the Red Sea crisis, the Commerce Ministry of India has called for an inter-ministerial meeting next week to strategize measures for addressing the impact on trade. The discussions aim to minimize trade disruptions caused by the crisis.
The frequent rebel attacks have caused global logistics challenges and significantly affected maritime cargo movement, including dry bulk, oil, and merchandise cargo dependent on the Suez Canal and the Red Sea. The current situation has implications for India’s foreign trade, as Indian exports to Europe and the West transit through the Red Sea route.