Strait Of Hormuz Crisis: US President Donald Trump had called upon several countries to send their warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. In response, the Ministry of External Affairs stated on Monday (March 16, 2026) that India has not held any bilateral discussions with the United States regarding the deployment of naval vessels to ensure the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump Appeals to Several Nations to Deploy Warships-
Following Iran's firm stance regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Trump has appealed to allied nations to deploy warships to ensure the security of this vital waterway. Specifically naming China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, he expressed hope that these countries would step forward to assist. However, to date, no country has responded to Trump's appeal—neither offering a formal reaction nor deploying any warships.
MEA's Statement on Trump's Appeal-
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was asked whether the United States had approached India regarding the deployment of warships in the Strait of Hormuz, and what the government's stance was on the matter. In response, he stated, "We are aware of the ongoing discussions among various countries regarding this issue. At present, we have not held any bilateral discussions on this matter." The MEA spokesperson further added that India would continue to engage in dialogue with various concerned parties regarding this issue.
Movement of Indian Ships Driven by Bilateral Ties: MEA-
In an interview with the Financial Times, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated that India has not entered into any formal agreement with Iran regarding the movement of Indian-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. He noted that discussions with Iran concerning the passage of ships through this region are ongoing and are yielding positive results. A spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs clarified that New Delhi has not offered any form of 'quid pro quo' in exchange for the safe passage of Indian ships through the Strait of Hormuz; rather, this has been made possible due to the strength of our bilateral relations.
In light of the escalating conflict in West Asia, New Delhi is urging Indian citizens stranded in Iran to cross the border into Armenia, from where arrangements can be made to repatriate them to India. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated, "I thank the government and people of Armenia for helping to safely evacuate over 550 Indian citizens from Iran so far."
