High Exam Priority
EAM S. Jaishankar condemns Red Sea shipping attacks as India and Liberia launch UN 'group of friends' in 2026
26 September 2026
4 min read
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has strongly condemned the repeated attacks on commercial shipping in the Gulf and the Red Sea. During the 81st UN General Assembly session, India and Liberia jointly established a new 'group of friends' focused on the safety and security of shipping and seafarers.
Key Highlights
- External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar termed the recent attacks on commercial seafarers and ships in international waters as indefensible.
- India and Liberia officially announced the 'Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers' on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly.
- India is a major global supplier of seafarers, while Liberia holds the distinction of operating the world's largest shipping registry.
- The initiative addresses rising maritime threats in critical trade routes, including the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Strait of Hormuz, and Bab-el-Mandeb.
Exam Quick Facts
Nodal Ministry / Dept
Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Key Bodies
United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Liberian Shipping Registry
Constitutional & Legal Context
UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) governing freedom of navigation and safety of commercial shipping in international waters.
Static GK Connection
Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, while the Bab-el-Mandeb strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.