US Sinking of Iranian Warship Challenges Modis Claims of Protection

Indian Navy Suffered Defeat in Recent Incident

A US submarine torpedoed an Iranian warship, IRIS Dena, off the coast of southern Sri Lanka on March 4. The incident occurred while the ship was returning from naval drills hosted by India. The Indian President had previously met with sailors from the Dena during the “Milan” biennial multilateral naval exercise.

The US Defense Secretary stated that the American submarine sank the Iranian warship in international waters, resulting in the loss of over 80 lives. Iran’s foreign minister has condemned the attack as an atrocity and warned that the US will regret setting this precedent.

The incident has raised questions about India’s self-image as a security provider in the Indian Ocean. Retired Indian naval officers and analysts have noted that the US attack on the Dena has exposed the limits of India’s power and influence in its own maritime backyard.

The IRIS Dena was part of a two-week visit to India, during which it participated in joint parades and posed for selfies with Indian naval officers. The ship left Visakhapatnam on February 26 and was struck just south of Sri Lanka’s territorial waters in the early hours of March 4. In response, Sri Lankan Navy rescuers recovered over 80 bodies and picked up 32 survivors.

The incident has sparked concerns about the safety of international waters and the ability of nations to protect their guests. The Indian Navy had previously welcomed the Dena to the naval drills, highlighting long-standing cultural links between Iran and India.

Source: Al Jazeera