The sinking of the Iranian naval ship IRIS Dena by a US submarine in the Indian Ocean off Sri Lanka’s coast, in international waters, on March 4, raises awkward and complex political, diplomatic, and military questions for India.

This act of war took place soon after the IRIS Dena participated in India’s International Fleet Review (IFR) at Visakhapatnam in February. This was a major national maritime event graced by the Indian President and has an inherent military symbolism.

Akin to the ashwamedha yagna of old, international fleet reviews conducted by major maritime powers are a demonstration of professional naval credibility and an acknowledgement by the regional and global peer group of the host nation’s sovereignty and primacy in the proximate maritime domain.

Given that the Dena was sunk 40 nautical miles from Sri Lanka, the politico-diplomatic optics are embarrassing for India, to say the least. Egg on the face comes to mind.

The related military questions are also complex and discomforting. The Dena was sunk by a US naval........

© Indian Express