Foreign secretary Vikram Misri represents India as 60+ nations discuss Hormuz crisis | India News
New Delhi: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri represented India at a meeting hosted by the UK on Thursday to discuss efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz. More than 60 countries participated in the meeting which discussed measures to restore freedom of navigation in lieu of military force.In the meeting, Misri emphasized the importance of the principle of freedom of navigation and seamless transit through international waterways, according to an Indian readout. The government said it also emphasized the impact of the crisis on India’s energy security and that India is the only country to have lost sailors in merchant shipping attacks in the Gulf.“He (Misri) also emphasized that the way out of the crisis consists of de-escalation and a return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue between all parties concerned,” the Indian text of the meeting said.The UK meeting follows US President Trump’s insistence that responsibility for keeping the strait open must be shouldered by Asian and European countries that are more dependent than the US on oil and gas passing through the chokepoint. Washington reportedly skipped the virtual meeting chaired by British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.Although India attended the meeting, it has yet to endorse a joint statement signed by the UK and 35 other countries that expressed readiness to contribute to “appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the strait”.India has continued to support its direct talks with Tehran to resolve the issue which, as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had earlier said, has yielded some results. Iran has so far allowed six Indian-flagged ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
