Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu had a telephonic discussion on the increasing threats to maritime security in the Red Sea region following the attack on ships by Houthi militants near Yemen.
A statement released by the office of Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the telephonic conversation was initiated by the Israeli side.
“Had a productive exchange of views with PM Netanyahu on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, including shared concerns on the safety of maritime traffic. Highlighted India’s consistent stand in favour of early restoration of peace and stability in the region with continued humanitarian assistance for the affected,” PM Modi said in a message after the talk.
The conversation came soon after the Pentagon announced an international mission to counter the growing number of attacks against Israel-bound international traffic. The developments are seen as an extension of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.
“This is an international challenge that demands collective action.
Therefore, today, I am announcing the establishment of Operation Prosperity Guardian, an important new multinational security initiative,” US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin announced after the launch of the coalition, which includes the UK, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Seychelles.
India has deployed two stealth destroyers off the Coast of Aden in wake of increasing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. INS Kochi and INS Kolkata have been deployed near the Houthi area to protect merchant ships from pirate attacks
Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar have held multiple rounds of talks with several stakeholders since the conflict began in Gaza in October this year. Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra had recently said that India is “constantly monitoring” the situation concerning the security of the shipping containers.
