MANAMA, Dec 8: The existence or absence of a relationship between Israel and Iran has raised significant concerns, with a portion of India’s diplomatic endeavors concentrating on this matter, stated External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Sunday.
During his address at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, Jaishankar mentioned India’s interest in addressing the security dynamics, without specifically mentioning the recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea carried out by Houthi militants.
On a two-day visit to Bahrain starting Saturday, Jaishankar discussed multiple issues, including preventing the escalation of conflicts, the significance of crucial connectivity initiatives, and the need for improved security in the region.
“Recently, the relationship or lack thereof between Israel and Iran has become increasingly concerning for all stakeholders, leading some of our diplomatic initiatives to focus on this aspect,” he stated.
Global apprehensions regarding rising tensions between Iran and Israel have been mounting in recent months.
In October, Iran responded to the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and other commanders by firing approximately 200 missiles into Israel, leading to Israeli retaliatory strikes against Iranian targets.
Highlighting the importance of West Asia for New Delhi, the External Affairs Minister underscored India’s continued economic growth.
“India is currently on the brink of becoming a USD 4 trillion economy, and we anticipate comfortably doubling that within this decade. Our trade stands at around USD 800 billion, which we also expect to at least double in the same timeframe,” he remarked.
“It is crucial to recognize the stakes for us, as this region represents the immediate world beyond our borders,” he added.
In his remarks, Jaishankar also acknowledged the situation in the Red Sea, stating that the security domain is a critical area for strategic regional collaboration.
“We have faced substantial security challenges in this region, which have had severe and detrimental impacts on trade in Asia,” he noted.
“When we consider the diversion of maritime routes, insurance costs, shipping costs, container costs, and the resulting delays, it is evident that India, along with others, has a vested interest in mitigating this situation,” he continued.
Due to the turbulent conditions in the Red Sea, shipments were rerouted, significantly increasing transportation costs.
The External Affairs Minister also briefly discussed India’s naval presence in the area.
“We have maintained a naval presence in this region, including the Gulf of Aden, Somalia, and the Northern Arabian Sea. Over the years, this has included approximately 30 ships, with a peak deployment of around 12 ships at one time,” he explained.
“In the past year, we have responded to 24 actual incidents, escorted 250 vessels, and rescued 120 crew members. Our contributions reflect our commitment, and we operate in conjunction with Operation Prosperity Guardian, alongside our nationally designated initiative,” he added.
‘Operation Prosperity Guardian’ is a US-led military mission initiated late last year to collaboratively tackle security challenges in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Jaishankar indicated that India plans to enhance its bilateral exercises in both the Gulf with its partners and in the Mediterranean.
“In the Gulf, we have established relatively stable partnerships with Gulf nations, and we have observed an uptick in our collaborative efforts,” he stated.
“In the Mediterranean, notably, apart from Israel, we have conducted significant exercises this year with Greece and Egypt,” he concluded. (PTI)
