World

India and Liberia Condemn Recent Maritime Attacks in Gulf and Black Sea

By HT News Desk

India and Liberia, co‑chairs of the United Nations Group of Friends on Safety & Security of Shipping & Seafarers, issued a joint statement condemning recent attacks on commercial ships and seafarers in the Gulf and its vicinity and the Black Sea. The statement described the attacks as “simply indefensible,” noting that they disrupted maritime trade and cost innocent lives. It called for an immediate cessation of such attacks in the interest of peace and stability in the region and urged greater coordination to protect maritime trade and crew members. The two countries extended their deepest condolences to the families of seafarers who lost their lives and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured. The Group of Friends on Safety & Security of Shipping & Seafarers, launched on 25 September 2026 during the UN General Assembly, is ready to support more coordination to discourage recurrence of such attacks and safeguard the rights of seafarers. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted the growing concern over attacks from the Black Sea to the Red Sea to the Gulf, calling on the international community to close ranks and deter such attacks.