Safe, unimpeded maritime passage through Strait of Hormuz should be restored at the earliest: India at UNSC

In a debate held under Bahrain’s Council Presidency, Indian representative Patel urged that safe and unimpeded maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz be restored at the earliest. She deplored targeting of commercial shipping and endangerment of civilian crew, reaffirmed freedom of navigation and global commerce in line with international law, and highlighted India's 24/7 seafarer helpline with nearly 7,500 calls and over 15,000 emails. She emphasized safety of navigation, continuity of humanitarian and energy supply chains, enhanced maritime situational awareness, and better communication for seafarers. Patel noted India’s commitment to a free, open, rules-based maritime order under UNCLOS and referenced the ongoing global impact of Hormuz disruptions on energy and trade. The debate also featured remarks by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who urged opening the Strait and cited the Black Sea Initiative as a model for cooperative reopening of blocked corridors, saying, 'Let ships pass. No tolls. No discrimination. Let trade resume. Let the global economy breathe.'

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated that, in the preceding month, eight Indian nationals died and one remained missing in various incidents in the West Asia region.

UNCTAD said that transits through the Strait of Hormuz fell to about six per day in March, marking a roughly 95 percent collapse from February levels and signaling significant disruption to global energy trade and related supply chains.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) warned that ship transits through the Strait of Hormuz were around 130 per day in February, indicating reduced activity in the waterway amid the ongoing crisis.