India summoned Jason Meeks, the U.S. Embassy Chargé d'Affaires, after a U.S. military strike on a commercial tanker left three Indian crew members missing [1, 2].

The diplomatic summons underscores India's concerns over the safety of commercial shipping lanes and the potential for civilian casualties during foreign military operations in the Gulf of Oman.

The incident occurred on June 10, 2024 [4], when a missile or military strike [3, 5] hit a commercial oil tanker off the coast of Oman [1, 2]. Out of a total crew of 24 [1], 21 Indian sailors were rescued [3]. Three Indian crew members remain missing [1, 2].

India has condemned the attack and demanded explanations from the United States. A spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs said, "We condemn the attack and call for an immediate investigation" [3].

The Indian government also escalated the matter to the international stage. An Indian UN delegation said, "India raised concerns at the UN over threats to commercial shipping after the attack left three Indian crew members missing" [3].

The U.S. government has acknowledged the diplomatic tension. A U.S. State Department spokesperson said, "The US State Department is communicating with India following the summons and the incident" [3].

Discrepancies exist regarding the identity of the vessel, with reports naming it either the MT Marivex or the Settebello. India continues to seek clarity on the circumstances that led to the strike on the commercial vessel.

“"We condemn the attack and call for an immediate investigation."”

This incident creates a diplomatic friction point between New Delhi and Washington, as India balances its strategic partnership with the U.S. against the need to protect its citizens and commercial interests in volatile maritime corridors. By summoning a top diplomat and raising the issue at the UN, India is signaling that the safety of its merchant mariners is a non-negotiable priority, regardless of the operational justifications provided by the U.S. military.