Indian tanker arrives from Hormuz, two others expected on Tuesday; no talks with US on deploying warships

Indian tanker arrives from Hormuz, two others expected on Tuesday; no talks with US on deploying warshipsThe government continues to be engaged in diplomatic efforts to facilitate safe passage to India-flagged vessels stuck in the Persian Gulf, even as one energy tanker arrived in India from West Asia on Monday, with two others expected to arrive on Tuesday.#### LPG Tanker Arrives at Mundra PortShipping Corporation of India's (SCI) LPG tanker Shivalik—with over 46,000 tonnes of LPG, or about half a day's of India's usual LPG demand—arrived at the Mundra port in Gujarat on Monday. The tanker had crossed the fraught waters of the Strait of Hormuz on Friday night.#### Two More Tankers Expected to Arrive on TuesdayOn Tuesday, another one of SCI's LPG tankers—Nanda Devi—and Great Eastern Shipping Company's crude oil tanker Jag Laadki are expected to arrive at Kandla and Mundra ports, respectively. Nanda Devi had crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday morning, while Jag Laadki did not have to cross the Strait as it was at the UAE's Fujairah port on the Gulf of Oman side.#### No Talks with US on Deploying WarshipsThe government said that it has so far not engaged in bilateral discussions with the US on the issue of deploying warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters that the government is aware of the matter being discussed by several countries but has not yet discussed it in a bilateral setting.#### Priority on Safe Passage of India-Flagged VesselsThe government has prioritized the safe passage of India-flagged vessels stuck in the Persian Gulf. Currently, there are 22 India-flagged vessels with 611 Indian seafarers in the Persian Gulf, and efforts are underway to ensure that they transit safely. In addition to these 22 vessels, more ships that are foreign-flagged but India-bound are also likely stuck in the region.### Importance for StudentsThis news is important for students as it highlights the complexities of international relations and the challenges faced by countries in ensuring the safe passage of their vessels in conflict zones. It also underscores the importance of diplomatic efforts in resolving such issues.