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The American military strikes on MT Marivex, MT Settebello, and MT Jalveer near Oman over the last two days, which were all manned by Indian seafarers, has raised serious questions about the Modi government’s handling of India’s ties with the United States (US). The US has struck three ships in the Gulf this week, all with Indian crew on board.

These targeted actions by the US armed forces in the Gulf of Oman mark the only instance in independent India’s history where the US military has killed Indians. There has not been a word of regret by the US military or the Trump administration over these killings, as it continues to target commercial ships with Indian sailors despite New Delhi’s protests.

However, neither Modi nor any senior member of the Union Cabinet has uttered a single word of direct condemnation against the US for the killings of Indian nationals. The official MEA statement carefully avoided naming the perpetrator of the attack entirely, genericising the lethal assault as “a direct result of the ongoing conflict in the region.” Outside of a technical condolence message from the Shipping Minister regarding the recovery of the bodies, the country’s political leadership has maintained a calculated, submissive silence.

While the bodies of Indian seafarers were being recovered from the waters off Sohar, a glaring contrast emerged in New Delhi’s political communication. US........

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