Author: Defenceline Webdesk

External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has once again underlined India’s consistent position that dialogue and diplomacy must prevail in the face of multiple ongoing global conflicts. Speaking in Sofia after his meeting with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova-Chamova, he emphasised that the world is passing through an exceptionally volatile and uncertain period marked by wars, economic insecurity, the lingering impact of the pandemic, and the recurring threat of terrorism. He declared firmly that “this is not an era of war” and stressed that the only viable solution lies in dialogue and diplomacy.Jaishankar highlighted India’s role as the voice of the Global South,…

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India has lodged a strong protest against the United States at the United Nations following the attack on an Indian merchant vessel near Oman.Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, delivered a firm statement underscoring New Delhi’s concerns over the escalating maritime conflict and its direct impact on Indian nationals and economic interests.He emphasised that nearly ten million Indian citizens live and work in the Gulf region, making their safety and well-being an absolute priority for the government.The ambassador highlighted that India’s trade and energy supply chains are heavily dependent on stability in the Gulf, and any disruption…

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All 20 Indian crew members aboard the MT Jalveer are reported safe after a fire broke out in the vessel’s engine room off Oman’s Shinas port. Evacuation is underway with six seafarers yet to be brought ashore, coordinated by the Royal Navy of Oman and the Indian Embassy.This marks the third maritime incident involving Indian sailors in the Gulf of Oman within a week, amid escalating US military actions and regional tensions.The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways confirmed that the Guinea‑Bissau‑flagged bitumen tanker MT Jalveer, measuring 119.95 metres in length and 16.84 metres in width, was involved in a…

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The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday confirmed the deaths of three Indian seafarers in the attack on the vessel MT Settebello.The identification process of the deceased has been completed, and arrangements are being made to bring their mortal remains back to India at the earliest. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, speaking during an inter‑ministerial briefing on developments in West Asia, stated that the attack on MT Jalveer was carried out by the United States Navy operating in the region.He clarified that the three ships involved in recent incidents were foreign‑flagged vessels, with two registered under the Palau flag and one…

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SÃO JOSÉ DOS CAMPOS, Brazil — The Pentagon is seeking an additional $13.7 billion to boost sustainment of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, whose readiness rates continue to decline despite years of concerted effort, according to a new watchdog report. In a wide-ranging review of F-35 sustainment published today, the Government Accountability Office revealed the tri-variant F-35’s full mission capable rate — where a jet can meet all of its assigned missions — dipped from 38 percent in fiscal 2021 to 25 percent in FY25. The stealth fighter’s mission capability rate, measured by whether an aircraft can perform…

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The Embassy of India in Oman confirmed on Thursday that the evacuation of crew members from the vessel MT Jalveer, which experienced smoke due to a fire in its engine room, is being coordinated with the support of the Royal Navy of Oman and is expected to be completed shortly.The incident occurred off the Shinas port, and all twenty Indian sailors on board have been reported safe following the emergency.In a statement posted on X, the Embassy highlighted that efforts are underway in close coordination with local authorities to ensure the safe transfer of the crew to Shinas port.The Embassy…

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