India has told the United Nations that commercial ships must not be targeted because of geopolitical tensions as the conflict in West Asia continues to affect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, P Harish, made the statement at a UN Security Council meeting hosted by Bahrain on September 17.
The meeting was held under the Arria-formula format and was titled “Safe Seas, Shared Security: Protecting Freedom of Navigation in an Evolving Security Environment”.
“Commercial vessels must not become targets of geopolitical tensions,” Harish said.
He also said navigational rights must not face “coercion, threats, unlawful restrictions or arbitrary interference”.
India supports a “free, open, secure and rules-based maritime domain”, Harish said. He added that navigation and overflight rights must be respected under international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Harish said problems at major sea routes can quickly affect shipping
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