New Delhi: In a decisive move amid escalating tensions in West Asia, India is ramping up its naval deployment in the Gulf of Oman to protect its vital oil shipments. Additional Indian warships are being positioned along the southern stretch of the Strait of Hormuz, near the Omani coast, to ensure the safe passage of fuel tankers navigating one of the world’s busiest and most sensitive maritime corridors.
With three Indian naval ships already monitoring the eastern Gulf of Oman, the fleet strength in the region is set to rise to seven. Under the Navy’s “Operation Sankalp,” recent fuel shipments—including LPG carriers—successfully reached Indian ports under close escort. The move follows heightened regional instability involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, which has disrupted global oil logistics. As nearly 20% of the world’s crude supply passes through this route, the crisis has impacted shipping and oil prices, with reports indicating that 22 Indian-flagged vessels remain stranded west of the strait.
