Civilian sailors are paying with their lives for geopolitics they didn't create.
At the 21st East Asia Summit in Manila, India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar made New Delhi's position crystal clear. International waterways must remain safe and unimpeded, and attacks on civilian seafarers, commercial vessels, or maritime infrastructure cannot be countenanced under any circumstances.
It wasn't just diplomatic routine. It was a direct response to a lethal reality unfolding across critical global sea lanes.
Key Figures in recent Maritime Conflict
• 14 Indian nationals killed in West Asia conflict since late February
• Multiple commercial vessels struck off Oman and in the Strait of Hormuz
• 4 Indian seafarers killed in Black Sea strikes near Odesa
The Human Cost Behind Global Shipping Disruptions
Fourteen Indian crew members have died in West Asia conflict zones since February 2026. That figure alone cuts through standard foreign policy jargon.
When commercial ships cross the Strait of Hormuz or navigate near conflict zones, the human collateral isn't abstract. Merchant Navy crews carry global trade on their shoulders. They transport crude oil, grain, containerized goods, and heavy equipment. Yet when missiles fly or drones target commercial hulls, civilian crews face the brunt of the fire.
The recent fatal strikes on civilian shipping off Oman and in the Black Sea highlighted how vulnerable commercial mariners remain. Jaishankar’s statements in Manila target a crucial issue. Warring parties treat international shipping lanes as secondary battlegrounds. That practice breaks international maritime law and endangers lives.
Why Maritime Bottlenecks Threaten the Global South
Energy security is fragile. Food security is fragile.
When supply routes get choked, developing nations suffer first and hardest. Higher insurance premiums for shipping companies mean higher fuel prices at the pump in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Extended rerouting around Africa inflates transit times and drives up container costs globally.
Jaishankar pointed out that politics and security interests are overriding basic economic efficiency. Countries and non-state actors push boundaries with reckless risk-taking. The Global South cannot simply absorb those cost spikes while navigating post-pandemic recovery and inflation.
Impact of Maritime Disruptions
1. Escalating freight rates and marine insurance premiums
2. Supply chain delays impacting critical food and energy shipments
3. Increased physical risks for civilian merchant navy personnel
South China Sea and UNCLOS Compliance
The East Asia Summit speech ranged well beyond West Asia. The South China Sea remains another hotspot where maritime freedom faces constant friction.
India firmly supports the conclusion of a substantive, effective, and legally binding Code of Conduct (CoC) in the South China Sea. But there is a catch. Any code must comply fully with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Crucially, it must not prejudice the legitimate rights of nations that aren't direct parties to local territorial claims.
Freedom of navigation isn't a regional perk. It's a foundational principle of international law. If one nation can unilaterally restrict transit rights in a crucial trade corridor, every ocean becomes vulnerable to coercive tactics.
Broader Regional Challenges from Cyber Scams to Myanmar
The security issues facing the Indo-Pacific are expanding. Weaponized drones and naval mines are only part of the problem.
In Manila, India pressed for coordinated international action against transnational cyber fraud networks. Thousands of Indian citizens and foreign nationals have been trafficked into brutal compound operations across Southeast Asia. These operations steal billions through online scams. Addressing this menace requires real police intelligence sharing across regional borders.
On Myanmar, India reaffirmed its backing for a political solution through ASEAN-led initiatives. Stable borders depend on political reconciliation, not ongoing civil conflict that fuels refugee crises and illegal cross-border networks.
What Needs to Happen Next
Diplomatic speeches alone won't stop drone strikes on merchant tankers. Fixing maritime insecurity requires concrete, enforced steps:
- Enforce maritime protection zones around commercial sea corridors using international naval patrols.
- Mandate immediate diplomatic accountability and legal consequences for deliberate strikes on civilian seafarers.
- Finalize the South China Sea Code of Conduct under UNCLOS guidelines without granting unilateral veto power to local claimholders.
- Expand real-time intelligence sharing through mechanisms like India's upcoming 7th EAS Conference on Maritime Security Cooperation in Kochi.
International sea lanes belong to global trade, not local combatants. Protecting the people who navigate them must remain an absolute rule.
