New Delhi, May 15: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has strongly condemned the attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman, just as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on a five-nation tour that includes the UAE. The UAE’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on its official social media channels, describing the attack as a significant threat to the safety of international navigation.
The ministry characterized the incident as a dangerous escalation aimed directly at undermining the stability of essential maritime routes. In its statement, the UAE expressed full solidarity with India and assured support for all measures taken to protect Indian vessels and maritime interests.
The UAE emphasized that the attack is a blatant violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2817, which supports freedom of navigation and explicitly prohibits targeting commercial vessels or obstructing international maritime routes.
Without naming any specific entities, the Foreign Ministry stated that using the Strait of Hormuz as a means of economic pressure or blackmail constitutes unauthorized use and poses a direct threat to regional stability, its people, and global energy security.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has not yet disclosed the identity of the ship or any casualties. An official spokesperson stated that the attack on the Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman is unacceptable, expressing sorrow over the ongoing targeting of commercial shipping and innocent sailors.
The ministry added, “All Indian crew members aboard the ship are safe, and we thank the Omani authorities for their efforts in this regard.” The MEA reiterated that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent crew members must be avoided to ensure freedom of navigation and commerce.
Official sources have confirmed that New Delhi is closely monitoring the situation. This condemnation comes just hours before Prime Minister Modi’s scheduled arrival in Abu Dhabi. Diplomats suggest that this attack could be part of the discussions during the Prime Minister’s visit, with expectations of talks on enhancing maritime security cooperation between the two nations in the Gulf and Arabian Sea.