India Provides Protective Escorts for Container Ships in Red Sea Amid Security Concerns

India’s defence ministry is providing security escort services to Indian container ships navigating the volatile Red Sea, a government source revealed on Friday. The ongoing security concerns have forced containers to take longer routes around Africa, resulting in significant delays of up to 14 days in their turnaround time. Additionally, the alternative route has led to higher transport and insurance costs. There is no shortage of containers, but we see a longer turnaround time, the source stated. The Indian Navy also confirmed the deployment of frigates and destroyers in the Arabian Sea to assist merchant vessels passing through the region. The escalating attacks by the Houthi militant group in response to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza prompted this increased security measure. To address the issue, the United States and eleven other countries recently issued a joint statement condemning the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. Overall, the situation in the Red Sea is causing significant disruptions to shipping operations and increased financial burdens on container ships.