India has huge stakes in the West Asian region including energy supplies, diaspora and investments and is tracking events closely amid fears of conflict escalation in the region, ET has learnt. Sources said the Indian government was keeping a close watch on the developments in Yemen and its likely impact on oil prices ahead of the national elections in the country.
India also wants to avoid further strikes on its commercial supplies passing through the region.
Over the last three months, India has engaged with several regional players to safeguard its interests. It recently hosted the UAE President and the Sultan of Oman. On Thursday, US secretary of state Anthony Blinken and foreign minister S Jaishankar discussed the Red Sea situation. The subject was on the agenda when Jaishankar visited Moscow.
US President Joe Biden warned on Thursday that he would “not hesitate” to take further action if necessary. The US-UK strikes followed “unprecedented” attacks by the Houthis on commercial ships in the Red Sea.
“These targeted strikes are a clear message that the United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks on our personnel or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation,” Biden said of the attacks by air and sea.Calling the strikes on Yemen “barbaric”, the Houthis said on Friday that they will keep targeting ships moving towards Israel for as long as its war on Gaza continues. The Houthis have also threatened retaliation. Experts fear this could escalate across the region.Saudi Arabia has called for restraint and “avoiding escalation”.
