Jaishankar Urges End to Attacks on Civilian Ships, Calls for Freedom of Navigation

India has called for protecting freedom of navigation and immediately ending attacks on civilian vessels and seafarers, stressing that diplomatic efforts, rather than military action, are essential to resolving global conflicts.

Addressing the first plenary session of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Atlanta, US, External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar said all countries must respect international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

He highlighted that attacks on shipping routes are severely affecting Global South nations by disrupting supplies of essential commodities such as fuel, food and fertilisers and increasing their prices. He also noted that at least 22 Indians, including 14 seafarers, have lost their lives in West Asia since the conflict began in February.

During his US visit, Jaishankar also held bilateral discussions with several foreign ministers and is scheduled to attend a QUAD meeting with counterparts from Japan, Australia and the US.

The US will host the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Miami on December 14–15. After the Atlanta engagements, Jaishankar will travel to Antigua and Barbuda to lead India’s delegation at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting from November 1 to 4.