India and Liberia have strongly condemned attacks on commercial ships and seafarers in the Gulf and its surrounding waters, as well as the Black Sea. The two countries have called for an immediate end to such incidents, as attacks on civilian shipping disrupt maritime trade and put the lives of crew members at risk.
The two nations declared the attacks as unacceptable and warned they could harm peace and stability in the affected regions in a joint statement on October 8, 2026. India and Liberia published the statement as co-chairs of the Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers (GoF on S4).
There have been a number of commercial ships operating in the Black Sea area, including Indian nationals, the statement said. The safety of seafarers and the safety of civilian vessels which are working in areas of conflict have been raised again, and the safety of civilians and those of people who live near wars are put at risk.
India and Liberia call for immediate cessation of attacks.
A united announcement by India and Liberia called for an immediate cessation of attacks on commercial shipping and seafarers. They offered their condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wished that those who were injured would get a fast recovery.
The two countries said they were ready to cooperate with more international coordination to prevent similar types of incidents for the safety and rights of seafarers.
The Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers was established on September 25, 2026, by India and Liberia as an international initiative to increase cooperation with respect to maritime safety and the protection of maritime personnel.
Commercial shipping is vital to international trade and supplies energy, raw materials, food products, and manufactured goods. Attacks on ships will hurt crew members, disrupt shipping, and also lead to uncertainty about maritime transport.
The joint statement did not attribute all the attacks to a specific party. It focused on condemning the incidents and calling for their immediate cessation.
Indian Crew Members Affected By Black Sea Incidents
India had also expressed concern over attacks targeting commercial vessels in the Black Sea region.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the Togo-flagged Alfa Watan, Palau-flagged Able, and Liberia-flagged Aframax Rio were among the ships targeted in recent incidents.
There were seven Indian nationals among the 18 crew members on board the Able. One Indian crew member was injured, and the crew evacuated with help from Bulgarian authorities. The injured seafarer was treated for medical reasons, the ministry said.
All 23 crew members of Aframax Rio were Indian nationals, and they were rescued. At the time of the ministry's statement, India was awaiting information about the crew of Alfa Watan.
In another incident, the commercial ship MV Royad Mammadov came under attack in the Black Sea. Three Indian citizens were aboard the ship, the ministry said, but one on the vessel was injured and was being treated. India also received assistance from Romanian officials after that incident.
These events have made clear that ocean shipping and commercial boats are at risk of being affected by regional tension.
Maritime Security and Protection of Seafarers
India’s response is to express concern for the safety of Indian nationals working in the international maritime sector. Indian seafarers are employed on commercial vessels operating on major global shipping routes, so their safety is important to diplomats as well as maritime professionals.
Attacks on commercial vessels can also have consequences beyond the immediate danger to crews. Disruptions may force ships to change routes, delay deliveries, and increase operating costs. The longer and more long-term effects of incidents depend on the scale and duration of the incidents and the shipping routes involved.
India and Liberia have also said that the two countries need to work together to prevent further attacks and to strengthen protections for seafarers.
The recent developments underscore the need to protect commercial vessels, regardless of their flag or the nationality of their crews. The safety of Indian citizens working at sea is an important issue as tension in the Gulf and Black Sea continues to increase.
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