India Rules Out Joining Multinational Coalition for Strait of Hormuz Security

India has made it clear that it will not be part of any multinational naval coalition to secure the Strait of Hormuz, choosing instead to deploy the Indian Navy independently to protect merchant vessels passing through the critical waterway amid the escalating West Asia conflict.

Operation Sankalp: India’s Own Shield

Government sources told WION that India has been conducting maritime operations in the western Indian Ocean for years, particularly under Operation Sankalp, which has been running since June 2019 entirely on India’s own capacity. While other countries have participated in multinational anti-piracy missions, India has consistently carried out independent and effective operations without being part of any multilateral construct.

The message from New Delhi is unambiguous: the heavy lifting for protecting Indian interests at sea will be done by the Indian Navy alone.

Indian Vessels and Seafarers in the Gulf

India currently has 22 Indian-flagged vessels with 611 seafarers operating in the Persian Gulf region. Two Indian-flag LPG carriers — Shivalik and Nanda Devi — carrying approximately 92,712 metric tonnes of LPG successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend and are expected to dock at Mundra and Kandla ports shortly.

Recent deployments have included warships escorting these tankers through the strait, with the Indian Navy’s security corridor expected to remain in place for the foreseeable future.

Trump’s Call for a Global Coalition

India’s independent stance comes as US President Donald Trump urged oil-importing nations to step up. In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote that countries receiving oil through the Hormuz Strait “must take care of that passage,” listing China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the UK among nations he wants to send ships to the region. India, however, has signalled it will not be swayed by this call.

War Enters Third Week

The conflict sparked by US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 is now in its third week with no signs of de-escalation. While vessel traffic through Hormuz has dropped to near-zero levels, Iran has selectively allowed some ships through, including India-bound carriers. The disruption has sent global energy prices soaring, forcing countries across Asia — from South Korea to Sri Lanka to Pakistan — to impose emergency measures including fuel rationing, school closures, and salary cuts.