Indian Navy Taking On Houthis Helps US, Says Official
Photo: Pyatt posted this image while in India where discussion included electric vehicles.
WASHINGTON, DC (ANI) – US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Geoffrey R Pyatt on February 6, lauding the Indian Navy’s action against the Houthis and said it shows India’s capacity as a net security provider in the wider region and benefits the United States.
Pyatt said, “We are living through a moment of unprecedented turmoil in the international system. What’s happening to global container shipping as containerized shipping has been rerouted, and what impact has that had on inflation? The Indian Navy intervened to save a tanker ship that was on fire because of a Houthi missile strike. It was the Indian Navy that came to the rescue of that ship. It illustrates India’s capacity as a net security provider in the wider region, which benefits the United States.”
He also said that US-India trade relations cannot be characterized flatly as a ‘Chapati’ but have now become big and puffed up like a ‘Puri’.
On his recent visit to India, Pyatt said, “One of the key frameworks for our cooperation with India in high technology areas is the iCET framework. Our national security advisors have recently decided to add critical minerals and clean energy technology to the ISET as a new pillar. We seek to push the pace of deployment to empower collaboration between our laboratories in areas of innovation.”
Pyatt visited New Delhi and Hyderabad from January 26 – 31.
Pradeep Srivastava
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I was elated to read this positive news about India. Prime Minister Modi’s policy of warming up to the U.S. has several benefits. One, it makes India look good in the eyes of the world because it projects the image of being a strong, global and responsible player, especially, in light of its burgeoning economy. Two, it makes Indians and Indian diaspora look good. Three, it discourages the Houthis from interfering with global shipping. Four, it minimizes the harm caused by the Houthis to the global economy.
The article, “ India Is Walking a Diplomatic Tightrope in the Red Sea Conflict”, dated February 2, 2024 from time.com provides a detailed and informative analysis on this topic.
The following are relevant excerpts from this article.
“Since December, Indian naval ships have acted as first responders to at least 17 incidents where pirates have hijacked vessels in the Red Sea. In the latest incident this past week, an Indian warship named INS Sumitra played a pivotal role in rescuing two hijacked vessels off the coast of Somalia within 36 hours. According to reports by the Indian outlet The Hindu, the warship first responded to a distress message by an Iranian-flagged vessel on Jan. 28, where Indian naval officers eventually coerced pirates into safely releasing 17 crew members along with the boat. Two days later, it again intercepted another Iranian-flagged fishing vessel named Al Naeemi, rescuing 19 crew members.
“We will not be considered a responsible country when bad things are happening in the surrounding country and we say ‘I have got nothing to do with this,’” S. Jaishankar, India’s Foreign Minister, told reporters on Tuesday.”
“ India’s response comes amid growing fears that piracy in the Red Sea is resurging. Last October, the Houthis, a militia group in Yemen with backing from Iran, initiated a series of attacks on ships it claimed were linked to Israel in retaliation to Israel’s war against Hamas. In response to the escalation, nearly 20 countries have joined “Operation Prosperity Guardian,” a U.S.-led task force that aims to aid the safe movement of vessels in the Red Sea.
But India has so far refrained from doing so to balance its diplomatic interests with Iran, experts say. Relations between India and Iran have spanned centuries—the two countries shared a border until 1947, and continue to share a language, culture, and traditions to this day. Currently, both countries enjoy strong bilateral commercial, energy, and diplomatic links, according to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.”
“ With Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government having moved closer to Washington over the past few years, however, India now walks a diplomatic tightrope, while playing an important role in the Red Sea, which it has patrolled since 2008 with the region’s largest naval presence, ahead of the U.S., France, and China.
February 6, 2024Rather than using its capabilities to combat the Houthis in the Red Sea, the Indian navy has instead chosen to focus on combating pirates in the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea by deploying guided missile cruisers, marine patrol aircraft, and drones to monitor commercial shipping in the area. This includes two frontline warships in the Gulf of Aden, at least 10 in the northern and western Arabian Sea, surveillance aircraft, and navy personnel including special commandos. According to Indian officials, the ships have monitored and investigated more than 250 vessels and small boats in the last two months, boarding more than 40….”
Anil
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Jokers driving in a Rikshaw presented an image as though India does not manufacture cars and SUVS and Trucks.
Probably don’t know that the Land Rover and Jaguar is now an Indian owned company that America’s Ford sold after it ran it to near bankruptcy.
February 6, 2024