Shock and embarrassment in India from the action of the USA: “Treason”

The incident of the sinking of the Iranian warship “Dana” by a US military submarine at the beginning of the war continues to evoke echoes in the security system and politics in the region. Senior officials in India describe the conduct of the US as “betrayal that leaves a bad taste in the mouth”, and claim that this is a warning light about the manner of security conduct in India and that it seems that the US is not counting New Delhi.

The Iranian warship “Dana” sank within a few minutes after being hit by an American torpedo missile, it was reported this morning (Monday) in the Guardian. This incident caused shock among senior officials and security commentators in the region. Especially in India sharp reactions are heard, when many there see the incident as a serious injury to the country’s security position.

The incident began shortly after five in the morning on March 4, when the Sri Lanka Maritime Rescue Coordination Center received a distress call. After an inspection, it became clear that the ship is a little more than 19 nautical miles off the coast of the city of Galle in the south of the country, an area that is within Sri Lanka’s area of ​​responsibility for rescue operations.

The Sri Lankan Navy responded quickly. As early as six in the morning, the first rescue boat left for the scene, followed by another vessel, but visibility was difficult due to thick morning fog.

When the forces arrived in the area they did not find a ship, but a large oil slick spread over the surface of the water. Dozens of survivors clung to lifeboats and many bodies floated scattered among the waves. The Iranian warship was no longer there – it lay at the bottom of the Indian Ocean.

According to reports, the ship sank in less than three minutes after being hit by a Mark 48 torpedo, one of the most powerful and advanced torpedo missiles in the world. The torpedo launched the nuclear submarine “Charlotte” which was operating in the area. At least 84 people on board were killed, and their bodies were returned to Iran over the past few days.

The city of Galle in Sri Lanka, near whose shores the Iranian ship “Dana” was sunk

The attack occurred more than 3,000 kilometers from the Persian Gulf, and at a time when the ship was not on an active operational mission. Because of this, the incident was compared to the sinking of the Argentinian ship “Belgrano” in the Falklands War in May 1982, when a British submarine sank a ship outside the main battle zone.

In India, particularly sharp reactions were heard. Retired Admiral Arun Prakash, former commander of the Indian Navy, said the attack was legal because it was carried out in international waters, but was still “shocking”.

According to him, the United States had the option of sinking the ship at any stage on its way back to the Persian Gulf. “We are supposed to be friends and partners of the United States. Bringing the war to our doorstep was a twisted act,” he said.

Farkash also criticized the very choice to attack a ship with about 130 people on board and which was staying in the area as a guest of India. According to him, this “leaves a very bad taste”.

He even defined it as a certain “betrayal” on the part of the United States. According to him, the American Navy participated in the same naval event alongside the Iranian Navy “in an atmosphere of brotherhood and cooperation”, and only a short time later the Iranian ship was sunk. According to him, the United States could have at least postponed the attack to spare India the embarrassment.

The incident also raises difficult questions for India itself. The fact that an American submarine operated so close to the Indian zone of influence without Delhi knowing about it surprised many.

Sri Lanka and India have been striving in recent years to present India as the main power that protects the Indian Ocean, especially in the face of China’s attempts to increase its influence in the region.

Vireskara said the incident has hurt that effort. According to him, “it is embarrassing” that India is a security partner of the United States – but did not know that an American submarine was operating right in its “backyard”.

Indian security analyst Sushant Singh called the incident a “humiliation” for the Indian government. According to him, the incident conveys to the countries of the region that India’s influence in the Indian Ocean is very limited, even near its shores.

According to him, it also shows that the Trump administration does not take India seriously.

Retired Admiral Shekhar Sina, who said that he participated in the naval event in India with the Iranian sailors, said that the event requires India to re-examine the security of the Indian Ocean and its underwater surveillance capabilities. If an American submarine can operate in such close proximity without India knowing about it, he said, then the country must quickly improve its surveillance systems.