Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday strongly condemned the attacks on the port city of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Three Indian citizens were also injured in these attacks which took place in a major oil industry area. This latest geopolitical tension has not only threatened the security of the Gulf region, but also raised concerns about global energy supplies and crude oil prices.
India’s strong solidarity with UAE
Condemning the attack, PM Modi made it clear that India stands firmly with the UAE in this difficult time. Responding on social media, he said that targeting civilians and infrastructure is completely unacceptable. PM Modi wrote in his message, “We strongly condemn the attacks on the UAE in which three Indian citizens have been injured. Targeting civilians and infrastructure is unacceptable. India stands in full solidarity with the UAE and reiterates its support for the peaceful resolution of all issues through dialogue and diplomacy. Ensuring safe and unimpeded transit through the Strait of Hormuz is of utmost importance for regional peace, stability and global energy security.”
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, calling the act unacceptable. UAE has directly blamed Iran for this attack. India has strongly supported dialogue and diplomacy to deal with this situation and restore peace and stability in West Asia.
Strait of Hormuz dispute and energy crisis
The attack comes at a critical time when the ceasefire between the US and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz is under great pressure. While America is trying to break Iran’s blockade on this route, Iran is strongly opposing the US military’s sanctions on its ports. The Strait of Hormuz is a lifeline for global trade, as approximately one fifth (20%) of the world’s oil and gas passes through it. The conflict in the narrow waterway of the Gulf has severely disrupted shipping, causing a sharp rise in oil prices and creating energy shortages in many countries.
UAE’s retaliatory action and diplomatic stir
Amidst this tension, the UAE Defense Ministry informed on Monday that its air defense systems successfully faced 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and four drones fired by Iran. The UAE Foreign Ministry has described these attacks as a ‘dangerous escalation’ and termed them as a direct threat to the country’s security and regional stability and made it clear that they are fully prepared to deal with any threat. On the other hand, there is a lot of activity on the diplomatic front as well; According to Iranian media, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will visit Beijing (China) on Tuesday as part of his ongoing diplomatic discussions with various countries.
conclusion
This attack on Fujairah Port is a major blow to regional peace as well as global energy markets. PM Modi and the Ministry of External Affairs have clearly stated that ensuring safe and unimpeded navigation through the Strait of Hormuz under international law is extremely important not only for regional peace but also for global energy security. India stands ready to support all peaceful diplomatic efforts to resolve this dispute.