11 India-bound vessels carrying crude oil and LPG successfully cross Strait of Hormuz after Iran-US deal, government says | Today’s news
Eleven India-bound vessels have crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the United States and Iran finalized a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at ending the conflict in West Asia, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a press conference, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the movement of ships along one of the world’s most strategically important sea lanes is continuing following the agreement signed on June 17.
“As of today, we have 10 Indian-flagged vessels still in the Persian Gulf region. Besides, two have arrived there recently,” he said.
Giving an update on shipping, Mr Jaiswal added, “Since the signing of the MoU on June 17, 11 India-bound vessels have passed through the Strait of Hormuz.”
Oil tankers among the ships that crossed the Strait of Hormuz
According to the MEA, the vessels that successfully crossed the strait include three Indian-flagged oil tankers, each carrying more than 285,000 metric tonnes of oil.
The list also includes one foreign-flagged LPG carrier, one foreign-flagged oil tanker and six foreign-flagged bulk carriers carrying fertilizer cargo.
“We hope that the remaining Indian-flagged vessels will also be able to cross Hormuz soon,” Jaiswal said.
The Strait of Hormuz is considered one of the world’s most important energy corridors, connecting the Persian Gulf to global shipping lanes and facilitating the transportation of oil and other commodities.
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India-UAE defense partnership sees ‘big upswing’
During the briefing, the MEA also spoke about India’s defense ties with the UAE.
On India-UAE defense cooperation, Mr. Jaiswal said, “It’s a very important relationship with the UAE that has really grown a lot over the last few years, and the defense partnership has also played an important role in that growth, which has also strengthened and deepened, so that’s where we are in our defense partnership.”
India is worried about the news from Bangladesh
The MEA also dealt with reports regarding incidents involving Hindu religious symbols in Bangladesh.
“We have seen reports from Bangladesh of acts of desecration involving Hindu deities and their depictions, which has sparked protests. We expect the Bangladeshi government to curb the extremists there and ensure the safety of the minority community,” Jaiswal said.
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NSA Ajit Doval, Chinese Foreign Minister to discuss bilateral ties
Responding to questions about the meeting between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the MEA spokesperson said both sides took stock of recent developments in bilateral relations.
“A meeting between the National Security Adviser and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was held yesterday, the two sides reviewed recent developments in bilateral relations and noted progress towards the gradual normalization of ties. The National Security Adviser emphasized that stable, predictable and constructive bilateral relations contribute to building trust and better understanding between the two sides. These discussions were insightful and constructive,” Jaiswal said.
BRICS security advisers discuss emerging threats
The MEA also provided details of the 16th BRICS National Security Advisers meeting held in Delhi.
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Mr. Jaiswal said, “…Yesterday, the National Security Adviser had bilateral meetings with several of his counterparts, including from Iran, Ethiopia, Brazil, China and South Africa. Today they had a BRICS NSA meeting where, as we informed you earlier, how the BRICS countries are jointly tackling the non-traditional security challenges facing the world and discussed the role of new national security technologies. threats…At this particular meeting there were to be the review of the results of the recently held BRICS joint working groups on counter-terrorism and security in the use of information and communication technologies was also reviewed.
The briefing covered a range of regional and global developments, including maritime trade, bilateral relations, security cooperation and concerns regarding minority communities in the neighbourhood.
