India's Permanent Representative P Harish told the United Nations Security Council on 19 September that commercial maritime traffic 'must not become targets of geopolitical tensions,' as New Delhi reiterated its call for a free and rules-based maritime order amid ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. The statement came as India continues to suffer both economic and human losses from the conflict between Iran and the United States, along with other Gulf nations.

India's Position at the Security Council

Speaking at an informal Arria-Formula meeting convened by Bahrain to examine the global maritime security environment, Harish declared that 'navigational rights must not be subject to coercion, threats, unlawful restrictions or arbitrary interference.' He described India as 'a major maritime nation' that 'strongly supports a free, open, secure and rules-based maritime domain.'

The Arria-Formula format, named after Venezuelan diplomat Diego Arria who pioneered such informal consultations in 1992, allows council members and non-members to hear briefings outside the formal chamber, often on sensitive security matters.

How India Has Been Affected

India's exposure to the Strait of Hormuz conflict has been both economic and deeply personal. In April, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) gunboats fired warning shots at two Indian-flagged tankers. In July, an Indian sailor was killed and another injured when Iranian forces attacked two United Arab Emirates-registered ships. New Delhi lodged formal protests with Iranian diplomats over both incidents.

In June, India called the charge d'affaires of the US embassy in New Delhi to protest the killing of three Indian sailors when the US attacked their Palau-registered ship. The breadth of these incidents — involving attacks by both sides in the conflict — underlines New Delhi's precarious position as a neutral party with significant maritime stakes.

Beyond the human cost, the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted India's supply of oil and gas and contributed to a steep rise in global petroleum prices. Harish noted that disruption in the Gulf and West Asia 'has implications across regions of the globe, particularly in terms of energy and food security.'

Indian Navy's Role and Operation Urja Suraksha

India has not merely protested — it has acted. The Indian Navy launched Operation Urja Suraksha in March with 11 ships deployed in the Western Arabian Sea to safeguard maritime trade. As of the Monday preceding the Security Council meeting, Indian security operations had escorted more than 449 merchant ships carrying nearly 20.3 million tonnes of cargo or oil valued at more than $8.4 billion through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, according to Harish.

Separately, the Red Sea disruptions are attributed to the Houthi militia, a Yemeni rebel group with Iranian affiliation, compounding the regional security crisis India must navigate.

Stranded Sailors and the Human Dimension

Several hundred Indian sailors remain stranded on ships in the Strait of Hormuz due to blockades imposed by the warring parties. Harish made a pointed appeal on their behalf: 'Seafarers must remain at the centre of our collective efforts. Their safety, timely evacuation, medical assistance, crew changes and repatriation require effective contingency planning and international cooperation.'

Emerging Threats and the Path Forward

Harish also flagged a new frontier of maritime risk, noting that New Delhi 'recognises the growing importance of addressing emerging threats, including attacks involving unmanned systems, cyber risks and interference with navigation and communications.' He called for 'international cooperation, capacity-building and responsible use of technology' to meet these challenges.

With hundreds of Indian nationals still stranded and energy supplies at stake, India's diplomatic pressure at the Security Council is expected to intensify as the Strait of Hormuz standoff shows no immediate signs of resolution.