India has raised significant concerns over maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz at the United Nations, warning that repeated attacks on commercial vessels could disrupt global energy and supply chains. According to reports from NDTV Profit, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Parvathaneni Harish, spoke at a special session of the UN Economic and Social Council focused on safeguarding energy flows. Harish described targeting civilian shipping and crews as 'unacceptable' and stressed the need to uphold international law governing freedom of navigation. The country emphasized that commercial shipping and civilian crew members should never become targets of violence or military action, highlighting the importance of protecting civilian vessels and ensuring uninterrupted movement through one of the world's most critical shipping corridors.
The concerns come as the Strait of Hormuz handles nearly a fifth of global oil and gas shipments, making any disruption critical for energy security and global economic stability. As reported by NDTV Profit, Harish outlined India's approach to managing the fallout from the crisis, calling for a combination of immediate interventions and longer-term structural measures, supported by international cooperation. The remarks were made against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the Middle East that have already begun to strain critical trade routes. India expressed concern that disruptions in the region could have serious consequences for international supply chains and economies worldwide, with rising tensions in the area increasing concerns about the safety of seafarers and international commerce.
The concerns follow a recent attack on an India-flagged commercial vessel near the coast of Oman on May 13. According to NDTV Profit, the ship was sailing from Somalia and came under assault amid heightened instability in the region. All 14 crew members were safely rescued by Omani authorities, though the identity of the attackers has not been confirmed. India's Ministry of External Affairs has strongly condemned the incident, describing it as unacceptable and expressing alarm over a pattern of attacks on merchant vessels operating in the region. The country has indicated that at least two other India-linked ships have faced similar incidents since hostilities in the Middle East escalated earlier this year. As per UNECOSOC website, the attack took place amid the fragile situation in the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway close to the coast of Oman through which roughly one-fifth of the world's energy supplies pass.
In a recent post on X, Harish shared India's comprehensive approach to addressing the energy and fertiliser crisis triggered by the West Asia conflict. As reported by NDTV Profit, he emphasized that 'a combination of short-term and structural measures alongside international cooperation are essential to respond to the crisis'. The Permanent Representative reiterated that targeting commercial shipping, endangering civilian crew and impeding freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz are unacceptable, calling for full respect of international law in these matters. The comments came during a special meeting of the UN Economic and Social Council on Friday, focusing on 'Safeguarding energy and supply flows: Supporting global development through international cooperation'. Harish also stressed that the lifeline of many Asian countries should not be in control of any single nation, emphasizing the need for global unity and calling for both Iran and America to vacate the Strait of Hormuz, with a treaty signed on the strait.
