US Submarine Sinks Iranian Warship in Indian Ocean, Raising Awkward Questions for India
The incident has sparked discussion among international analysts, particularly regarding India’s position. The warship had reportedly departed shortly after completing a joint naval exercise at an Indian port.
Sri Lanka’s foreign minister identified the vessel as the Iranian Navy frigate IRIS Dena. The ship had been welcomed by the Indian Navy last month and was returning home from an eastern Indian port after participating in the joint exercise.
The attack occurred in a part of the Indian Ocean located thousands of kilometers away from the Persian Gulf. Military observers note that this is the first time since 1945 that a U.S. attack submarine has used torpedoes to sink a warship.
Analysts believe the incident could place India in an uncomfortable position. Although the attack took place in international waters, it happened in a maritime region that India generally considers within its strategic sphere of influence. Additionally, the attack occurred shortly after India had hosted the ship and its crew.
Read more: Sri Lanka Rescues 30 Sailors from Sinking Iranian Warship Near Its Waters
Susanta Singh, a lecturer in South Asian Studies at Yale University, said the sinking of the IRIS Dena just hours after it left Indian waters raises serious questions about New Delhi’s regional credibility. According to him, the Iranian vessel was traveling through an area that is not an active war zone and falls within the broader monitoring reach of the Indian Navy.
Experts say that protecting trade and energy routes in the Indian Ocean is crucial for India. At the same time, New Delhi must carefully navigate tensions between the United States and Iran and prevent the normalization of unilateral military actions by third parties so close to its maritime sphere.
CNN has contacted India’s Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Navy for comment on the incident, but New Delhi has not yet issued any public response.
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