Arabic version: تأخر استجابة البحرية الهندية بعد غرق الولايات المتحدة للطراد الإيراني

The sinking of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena by a US submarine off the coast of Sri Lanka has raised questions about India’s role as a maritime guardian in the Indian Ocean. The attack occurred just 44 nautical miles from Sri Lanka, with the ship returning from naval drills in India. According to Al Jazeera, the incident has exposed the limits of India’s influence in its own maritime backyard.

The IRIS Dena was participating in the biennial ‘Milan’ naval exercise when it was struck by a torpedo in the early hours of March 4, local time. Iranian officials expressed outrage, emphasizing that the warship was a guest of India, highlighting the diplomatic implications of the attack. More than 80 Iranian sailors are confirmed dead, with many more missing, as the Sri Lankan Navy led rescue operations after the incident.

In the wake of the attack, the Indian Navy took more than a day to issue a formal response. Their delayed reaction has prompted analysts to question whether India was aware of the impending US action or caught off guard by a nuclear submarine operating in its vicinity. Military experts describe the situation as a strategic embarrassment for India, undermining its self-image as a net security provider in the region.

The incident complicates India’s foreign policy, which has shifted closer to the United States and Israel in recent years. Critics argue that the US’s aggressive stance in the Indian Ocean could jeopardize India’s longstanding relationships, particularly with Iran, a nation with which India has had historical ties. The attack on the IRIS Dena raises concerns about the future of regional security dynamics and India’s position within them.