Atlanta: Raising concerns over repeated attacks on civilian ships and seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called for urgent steps to protect freedom of navigation and ensure the safety of those working at sea on Friday.
Countries in the Global South were bearing a disproportionate share of the impact of the hostilities in West Asia, he said, while speaking at the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Atlanta.
Attacks on shipping were threatening the availability and affordability of essential commodities, including fuel, food and fertilisers, Jaishankar warned.
“Global South is disproportionately bearing the consequences of attacks on civilian shipping and seafarers, jeopardising the availability and cost of fuel, food and fertilisers,” the EAM posted on X.
He stressed the need to protect shipping routes and stop attacks in accordance with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as reported by timesnow.in.
“Urgent need to preserve the freedom of navigation and ensure cessation of attacks within the framework of international law, especially UNCLOS. India and Liberia have launched a joint initiative to safeguard seafarers,” Jaishankar added.
He also flagged challenges facing developing economies, saying their right to industrialise was being undermined by restrictions on trade and supply chains.
“Right to industrialise is being denied through the flooding of markets, weaponising supply chains, constricting market access and encouraging market distortions. This must cease,” he said.
Jaishankar also cautioned against overlooking the threat of terrorism while making strategic calculations.
“Tactical calculations should not lead to overlooking the dangers of terrorism. It is a high-risk activity which has come back to bite even the practitioners,” he further noted.
His remarks came after two oil tankers carrying Indian crew members were targeted in separate incidents in the Strait of Hormuz on October 29 and 30.