India summons US diplomat after attacks on commercial vessels kill three Indian sailors

India’s Ministry of External Affairs summoned American Chargé d’Affaires Jason Meeks over what it described as “continuing attacks by US naval forces on commercial vessels carrying Indian mariners in the Gulf of Oman.” Three Indian sailors are confirmed dead.

Three separate attacks on commercial vessels occurred between June 10 and June 12, 2026. The most devastating struck the Settebello, a Palau-flagged tanker crewed entirely by Indian nationals.

Of the 24 Indian sailors aboard, three were killed. The remaining 21 were rescued.

India’s MEA didn’t mince words. The ministry expressed “deep concern over the use of lethal and deadly force against civilian shipping” and called on US forces to “take all necessary measures to prevent the loss of civilian life.”

India summoned the US diplomat twice in less than 48 hours.

The US has framed its naval operations as retaliatory measures tied to Iranian oil sanctions enforcement, targeting vessels flagged under countries like Palau and Guinea-Bissau.

Roughly 20,000 Indian seafarers currently operate in conflict-prone maritime zones. Indian maritime unions have raised alarm about the safety of these workers.

The Gulf of Oman sits at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow chokepoint through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes daily.

India is the world’s third-largest oil importer and maintains complex relationships with both Washington and Tehran.

As of now, crypto markets have not shown a direct, measurable reaction to the Gulf of Oman attacks. Periods of heightened geopolitical risk have historically coincided with increased stablecoin volume as investors park capital in less volatile digital assets while waiting for clarity.

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