India's Ministry of External Affairs summoned the U.S. Charge d'Affaires to lodge a formal protest following a missile strike off Oman [1, 2].
The incident creates a diplomatic rift between two strategic partners as New Delhi seeks accountability for the safety of its citizens in international waters.
The strike targeted a vessel in the Gulf of Oman on June 10, 2024 [1, 4]. The ship carried a total of 24 Indian crew members [1]. Following the attack, 21 Indian nationals were rescued [2], while three others remain missing [3].
India deemed the attack on its citizens unacceptable [2, 3]. The Ministry of External Affairs called the top U.S. diplomat to New Delhi to express the government's strong protest regarding the operation [1, 2].
Reports on the identity of the vessel are contradictory. Some reports identify the ship as the Palau-flagged Settebello [3], while others describe the target as the oil tanker MT Marivex [5].
The U.S. military has not provided a detailed public justification for the specific targeting of the vessel in the immediate aftermath of the protest. Indian officials are continuing to monitor the status of the three missing sailors as search and rescue efforts proceed in the region [1, 3].
“India's Ministry of External Affairs summoned the U.S. Charge d'Affaires to lodge a formal protest.”
This diplomatic escalation highlights the tension between U.S. security operations in the Middle East and the protection of third-party nationals. By summoning the Charge d'Affaires, India is signaling that its strategic partnership with the U.S. does not grant immunity for military actions that result in Indian casualties or endanger its maritime workforce.
