A bitter row is brewing between India and the United States, as outrage over the killing of three Indian sailors in missile strikes on a commercial oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz continues to intensify. The fatal incident has sparked widespread anger in Delhi, where many feel that Washington's response has been woefully inadequate – a sentiment that threatens to further strain already strained relations between the two nations.
The deaths occurred last week amidst a US military blockade of the Strait, which was initiated in April to exert economic pressure on Iran. While the US maintains its strikes were justified as a necessary measure to enforce sanctions, India's government has formally condemned the incident and summoned a senior US diplomat to express its 'strongest' displeasure. Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar took the rare step of engaging directly with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, warning that such lethal actions against commercial shipping were 'not justified'. In response, Mr Rubio reaffirmed Washington's stance on Iranian oil exports and sanctions enforcement, but failed to offer any form of condolence or apology.
The diplomatic spat is expected to dominate discussions during a planned meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump at the G7 summit in France. Mr Modi faces mounting pressure from within his own party and opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, who has accused him of 'silence' on the matter and being too subservient to the US government.
Domestically, calls for answers have grown louder, with the families of the deceased sailors demanding a full inquiry into how their loved ones were caught in the crossfire. The incident has also rekindled long-standing anti-US sentiment in India, fuelled by perceptions that Washington's policies are increasingly at odds with its interests.
As the leaders of two of the world's largest democracies prepare to meet, it remains unclear whether they will be able to salvage a relationship strained by disagreements over trade, tariffs and security co-operation. The US has long considered India a key strategic ally in the region, but recent tensions have raised questions about the durability of this partnership.