Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stood before naval personnel in late October, dressed in a blue Navy uniform and dark sunglasses, and declared the Indian Ocean vital to global trade and energy flows. Addressing India’s sea forces, he described the Indian Navy as the “guardian” of the vast maritime region, drawing loud patriotic chants from the audience.
However, less than five months later, that claim has come under scrutiny following a major security incident involving a visiting foreign warship.
On Wednesday, the Iranian naval frigate IRIS Dena was torpedoed by a United States submarine roughly 44 nautical miles south of Sri Lanka while sailing through international waters. The vessel had recently taken part in the multinational Milan naval exercise hosted by India.
The warship departed from Visakhapatnam on February 26 after completing the drills. During the event, Indian President Droupadi Murmu met and posed with sailors from the Iranian ship.
US officials later confirmed the strike. Speaking at the Pentagon, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said an American submarine targeted the Iranian vessel, describing the torpedo strike as swift and decisive.
Iran condemns strike as maritime ‘atrocity’
Iran reacted angrily to the sinking of the frigate. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the attack occurred thousands of kilometres from Iran’s shores and described it as a serious escalation at sea.
Tehran also emphasised that the warship had been operating as a guest of the Indian Navy after participating in the Indian-hosted exercise.
The vessel sank in the Indian Ocean, reportedly killing more than 80 Iranian sailors who had spent two weeks conducting drills and exchanges with Indian counterparts.
Meanwhile, analysts and retired naval officers in India say the incident has raised concerns about New Delhi’s ability to act as a regional security provider. They argue the strike highlights the limits of India’s influence in waters it considers strategically vital.
