India and Liberia, as co-chairs of the Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers, have strongly condemned a series of attacks on commercial ships and seafarers in the Gulf and Black Sea. The attacks, which have disrupted maritime trade and cost innocent lives, are considered unacceptable and indefensible. The two countries have called for an immediate cessation of such attacks in the interest of peace and regional stability.
The joint statement issued by India and Liberia described the attacks as a serious threat to maritime trade and the safety of seafarers. The attacks have resulted in the loss of lives and injuries to several seafarers. India and Liberia have extended their condolences to the families of the seafarers who lost their lives and wished those injured a speedy recovery. The two countries have also expressed their readiness to support greater coordination to prevent the recurrence of such attacks and safeguard seafarers' rights.
The Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers was launched by India and Liberia on September 25, 2026. The initiative aims to strengthen international cooperation on maritime safety and security. The group seeks to promote the safety and security of commercial sea lanes and protect seafarers. The launch of the group was a significant step towards addressing the growing concerns about maritime safety and security.
The attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea have put Indian seafarers at risk. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has condemned attacks on three merchant vessels - the Togo-flagged Alfa Watan, the Palau-flagged Able, and the Liberia-flagged oil tanker Aframax Rio. Seven Indian nationals were among the 18 crew members aboard the Palau-flagged Able when it came under attack. One Indian sailor was injured, while all crew members were evacuated with assistance from Bulgarian authorities.
The MEA has confirmed that all 23 crew members aboard the Liberia-flagged Aframax Rio, all of them Indian nationals, had been rescued following a separate attack. The ministry has also confirmed that three Indian nationals were aboard the commercial vessel MV Royad Mammadov when it came under attack. All three were safe, although one sustained injuries and was receiving medical treatment. The fate of the crew on the vessel Alfa Watan remains unknown.
India has maintained communication channels with both Moscow and Kyiv amid the wider security concerns surrounding maritime traffic in the Black Sea. The country has reiterated its call for an immediate cessation of attacks on commercial shipping. The targeting of commercial shipping, seafarers, and civilian infrastructure must end. India has also highlighted the wider implications of attacks on maritime trade, noting that shipping accounts for four-fifths of global trade.
The External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, and Liberian Foreign Minister, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, launched the Group of Friends to strengthen international cooperation on maritime safety. Jaishankar has noted that the attacks on commercial shipping and merchant marines are legally and morally indefensible. The group aims to shape maritime policy, raise operational standards, and safeguard the men and women at sea.
Key points
- India and Liberia have strongly condemned attacks on commercial ships and seafarers in the Gulf and Black Sea.
- The attacks have disrupted maritime trade and cost innocent lives.
- India and Liberia have called for an immediate cessation of such attacks in the interest of peace and regional stability.
