Évian: Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged countries to safeguard global sea lanes and shield seafarers from dangers arising out of conflicts, speaking days after a US military strike on a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Oman killed three Indian sailors.
Addressing an outreach session at the G7 summit attended by leaders including US President Donald Trump, PM Modi drew attention to mounting risks to maritime commerce and the human toll of unrest in West Asia.
“It is our responsibility to ensure the safety of the seafarers who connect all nations through global maritime trade. We must ensure that maritime routes remain secure and that seafarers can perform their duties without fear,” Mr. Modi said during the session titled “Forging New Partnerships and Rebuilding International Solidarity.”
The prime minister said interruptions to shipping via the Strait of Hormuz — a vital conduit for global energy and trade — have harmed the world economy and led to the loss of Indian lives.
His comments followed the deaths of three Indian crew members aboard the tanker Settebello, which was hit off the Omani coast last week. US Central Command has said American forces struck three vessels — Marivex on June 8, Settebello on June 9 and Jalveer on June 11 — claiming they were attempting to evade a US blockade of Iranian ports.
PM Modi’s intervention came a day before his planned bilateral meeting with President Trump on the sidelines of the summit.
“We welcome the progress made in peace efforts in West Asia. This conflict has caused loss of life and property in our friendly countries in the region,” he said, while voicing hopes for stability in the strategically important area.
Shifting from maritime safety, PM Modi argued that in an increasingly interconnected world, trust has become the most valuable strategic asset.
“Today’s world is more interconnected and interdependent than ever before. A nation’s energy, food, health, and cyber security, as well as its economic prosperity, are not determined solely within its own borders,” he said.
Emphasising that partnerships rest on confidence and dependability, the prime minister stressed the need for countries to be assured that technology and supply chains would serve the global good rather than be used as tools of coercion.
“The trust that technology and supply chains will be used for the global good, rather than as weapons. The trust that development opportunities will not be limited to just a few countries. The trust that global institutions will be capable of fulfilling the aspirations of all nations,” he said.
PM Modi also urged a stronger voice for developing countries, saying nations in the Global South seek genuine partnerships instead of traditional aid-type relationships.
“Today, the Global South has high expectations of the global community. However, what they seek is not merely support, but partnership. They aspire to be partners in global development, not just beneficiaries,” he said.
