Jaishankar defends docking Iranian vessel IRIS Lavan at Kochi port
What's the story
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has clarified India's decision to allow an Iranian naval vessel, IRIS Lavan, to dock at Kochi. The ship had reported technical problems and was allowed entry into Indian waters on March 1. "We got a message from the Iranian side that one of the ships...wanted to come into our port. They were reporting that they were having problems," he said.
Humanitarian grounds
Humanitarian considerations
The IRIS Lavan had young cadets on board who were originally traveling for a fleet review when the conflict situation escalated. Jaishankar said, "When the ships had set out, and when they came here, the situation was totally different." He emphasized that India's decision was based on humanitarian considerations. "We approached the situation from the point of view of humanity, other than whatever the legal issues were and I think we did the right thing," he said.
Strategic realities
Foreign military presence in Indian Ocean region
Jaishankar also compared India's approach to a similar incident near Sri Lanka, where a vessel "unfortunately didn't make it." He also addressed social media discussions about foreign military presence in the Indian Ocean region. He pointed out that Diego Garcia has been a military base for decades, and foreign forces in Djibouti emerged in the early 2000s. He added, "Please understand the reality of the Indian Ocean."
Regional development
India's role in rebuilding process
Jaishankar also spoke about India's role in the rebuilding process of the Indian Ocean region. "If we have to build a kind of an Indian Ocean sentiment or identity, it has to be backed up with resources, work, commitments, practical projects..." he said. He added, "Indian Ocean, much more than other parts of the world, is in the process of recovery and rebuilding." The minister emphasized that with India's growth, other countries in the region stand to benefit.