India Dispatches Six Warships to the Middle East, Giving Europe and the U.S. a Lesson: What Is a True Strong Nation?
When the world's attention was focused on the Strait of Hormuz, the Indian Navy did something that left European and American countries feeling conflicted. Bloomberg and The Times of India confirmed that India is quietly but firmly reinforcing its forces in the Oman Gulf and the Arabian Sea, sending more than six warships, including key supply ships, to escort its oil tankers.
Currently, 22 ships flying the Indian flag are trapped inside or near the strait and cannot leave. For India, an energy-importing country, 90% of its liquefied natural gas depends on the Middle East. If this line were to break, the country would immediately sound an energy supply alarm.
As for Europe, it is still waiting for the U.S. to lead discussions on whether to form a multinational alliance. It talks about safeguarding freedom of navigation, but in reality, it is weighing pros and cons, and even has to look at Iran's face. Traditional Western powers are either overwhelmed by global coordination or slow in internal communication when dealing with sudden geopolitical crises, with a response chain that is frustratingly long.
The deployment of the six warships by India is very strategic. According to sources, these warships will not directly enter the most sensitive "bottleneck" of the Strait of Hormuz, but instead be stationed in the Oman Gulf east of the strait. This location is extremely clever: it can provide immediate protection as soon as India's oil tankers exit the strait, forming a security barrier, while avoiding unnecessary military friction by not entering the Strait of Hormuz directly.
For Europe and the U.S., this is indeed a bit embarrassing. They have become accustomed to being the "world police," used to others relying on them to come to the rescue. But now they find out that in certain specific regions, they are not only unable to reach, but also less capable than an "non-aligned" India.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1860146030014528/
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