As part of maritime security and anti-piracy efforts, India is said to have deployed two naval destroyers in the Gulf of Aden, which connects the Red Sea in the west to the Arabian Sea in the east.
In reaction to the Israel-Hamas conflict, the US established a multinational task force to protect commerce ships targeted by Yemen’s Houthi militants. The INS Kochi and INS Kolkata, two Indian guided missile destroyers, have been tasked with monitoring and defending merchant boats in the Gulf of Aden, through which one-sixth of all worldwide commercial shipping passes, according to the Hindustan Times on Tuesday.
According to the article, the INS Kochi has been charged with protecting cargo vessels near the mouth of the Indian Ocean from Somalian pirates.
The move comes days after the Indian Navy sent an aircraft that overflew the MV Ruen, a Malta-flagged vessel that was hijacked by Somalian pirates who reportedly boarded the ship, managed by Bulgaria’s Navigation Maritime Bulgare, near the Yemeni island of Socotra on October 15.
“The Indian Navy remains committed to being a first responder in the region and ensuring the safety of merchant shipping, along with international partners and friendly foreign countries,” according to a statement released by the Indian Navy.
While Somali pirates steal merchant tankers for ransom, Houthi rebels continue to pose the most serious threat to international shipping, using missiles and drones to target boats, particularly those en route to Israeli ports.
As a result of the Israel-Hamas conflict, the attacks have become more frequent in recent weeks. The rebel group announced on Monday that it used naval drones to strike the Norwegian-owned Swan Atlantic and the MSC Clara in order to “show solidarity” with Palestinians in Gaza.
Reports of India increasing its presence in the region came on the heels of the United States creating an enlarged maritime security force with countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and others to help secure marine traffic through problematic regions.
