Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that in a rapidly changing geopolitical environment, oceans have once again become central to global power dynamics, and India must step forward to provide strong maritime leadership. His remarks came amid the escalating tensions in West Asia. Speaking at an event, Singh described the current developments in the region as highly unusual and warned that the evolving situation could have serious consequences for the global economy. He noted that it is still difficult to predict how the crisis will unfold in the coming days.

He emphasized the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, describing them as crucial to global energy security. Any instability in these areas, he said, can disrupt oil and gas supplies and affect energy markets worldwide. Singh added that the ongoing tensions are also causing broader supply chain disruptions across several sectors, which in turn impact global trade and economic stability. Highlighting the strategic role of the seas, Singh said the current crisis has once again underscored the importance of maritime power. As a major maritime nation, he said, India must take responsibility for providing leadership with confidence, capability and a clear strategic vision.

The defence minister did not comment on reports that the United States had sunk the Iranian warship IRIS Dena near the coast of Sri Lanka two days earlier. The frigate was reportedly returning after taking part in the Milan multilateral naval exercise hosted by India. The attack reportedly killed at least 87 Iranian sailors and significantly escalated tensions between the United States and Iran beyond the Persian Gulf.

The crisis intensified after US military strikes on February 28 reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. In response, Iran launched a series of attacks targeting Israel and US military bases across several Gulf nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Over the past three days, the conflict has widened considerably, with both sides carrying out a series of attacks and counterattacks.