New Delhi, India — March 16, 2026
Amid rising tensions in West Asia and growing concerns about shipping security in the Strait of Hormuz, India has clarified that it has not held any bilateral discussions with the United States about sending warships to the region.
The statement comes after U.S. President Donald Trump urged several countries to help safeguard the strategic maritime corridor, one of the world’s most critical oil and trade routes.
India Monitoring Situation Closely
During a media briefing on Monday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that although several countries are discussing maritime security issues related to the Strait of Hormuz, no bilateral talks on deploying warships have taken place between India and the United States.
Jaiswal added that India continues to closely monitor developments in the region and remains in regular contact with international partners.
According to the spokesperson, India’s priority is to maintain peace in the region and ensure the safe movement of commercial shipping.
Trump Calls on Countries to Deploy Warships
Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump made an appeal through a social media post urging several countries to send warships to help protect maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump specifically mentioned China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, calling on them to contribute to keeping the strategic shipping route secure and open.
Despite the appeal, no country has immediately announced the deployment of warships to the region.
Indian LPG Tankers Safely Cross the Strait
Recent developments indicate that two Indian LPG tankers — “Shivalik” and “Nanda Devi” — successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz without incident.
The vessels were carrying approximately 92,712 metric tons of LPG bound for India.
Officials said the safe passage followed diplomatic engagement between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Additionally, communication remained active between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi.
Role of the Indian Navy
India has not joined any multinational naval coalition in the Strait of Hormuz or the Red Sea so far. However, the Indian Navy maintains a presence in regional waters to ensure the safety of Indian-flagged vessels.
Naval forces remain prepared to provide escort support and coordinate with other international navies if necessary to protect maritime trade routes.
Indian Ships and Crew in the Gulf Region
According to the Ministry of Shipping, there are currently 22 Indian-flagged vessels operating west of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf.
These ships include LPG tankers, LNG carriers, and crude oil tankers, with 611 Indian sailors onboard.
Officials confirmed that all crew members are safe, and the government continues to monitor the situation closely as regional tensions evolve.
