What Happened
- External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, speaking at the AZEC-Plus (Asia Zero Emissions Community Plus) meeting convened by Japan, declared that attacks on merchant shipping are "completely unacceptable."
- The meeting, held on April 15, 2026, focused on supply chain disruptions in global energy markets — primarily driven by the 2026 Iran-Israel war and the US-led blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
- Jaishankar stated that "global growth demands that energy markets are not constricted" and pledged that India would work with like-minded partners to develop supply chain resilience.
- The AZEC-Plus forum included leaders from Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Timor-Leste, Singapore, Bangladesh, Thailand, and ministerial-level representatives from Australia, South Korea, Brunei, Sri Lanka, the IEA (International Energy Agency), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
- India and Japan jointly reiterated their commitment to ensuring energy security and stability of the Strait of Hormuz.
Static Topic Bridges
UNCLOS and Freedom of Navigation
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), adopted in 1982 and in force since 1994, is the primary international legal framework governing rights and responsibilities of nations in ocean use. It establishes three key navigational regimes: innocent passage (through territorial seas, up to 12 nautical miles from baselines), transit passage (through international straits), and freedom of navigation (on the high seas). The Strait of Hormuz, as a strait used for international navigation, is subject to the transit passage regime — meaning coastal states (Iran, Oman) cannot legally suspend or deny passage to vessels of other nations.
- UNCLOS adopted: December 10, 1982 (Montego Bay, Jamaica); entered into force: November 16, 1994
- India ratified UNCLOS: 1995
- Transit passage (Article 38, UNCLOS): applies to international straits; ships and aircraft of all states have the right of continuous and expeditious transit; coastal state cannot suspend this right
- Innocent passage (Article 17–26): applies in territorial seas; state may regulate but not generally suspend for innocent passage
- High seas freedom: Article 87 guarantees freedom of navigation, overflight, fishing, and scientific research in international waters
- The US blockade of Hormuz has been legally contested by several states as incompatible with UNCLOS transit passage rights
Connection to this news: Jaishankar's statement is grounded in UNCLOS principles — India's call for "safe and unimpeded maritime transport" is an assertion of the international legal right to transit passage, which the Hormuz blockade arguably violates.
AZEC (Asia Zero Emissions Community) — Framework and India's Role
The Asia Zero Emissions Community (AZEC) was initiated by Japan in 2022 as a framework for Asia-Pacific cooperation on clean energy transitions and zero emissions. Unlike the European approach of rapid fossil fuel phaseout, AZEC recognises that Asian economies — with large populations in energy poverty — require a pragmatic, "just transition" approach. AZEC-Plus meetings expand the core AZEC group to include additional Asian partners for specific agenda items (such as energy disruption management). India participates actively, given its status as the world's 3rd-largest energy consumer.
- AZEC launched: 2022 by Japan; core members include Japan and ASEAN states
- India joined AZEC framework as a partner; 2026 declared "ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation"
- AZEC advocates for: ammonia co-firing, hydrogen, CCS (carbon capture and storage), LNG as transition fuels
- India's energy consumption: 3rd largest globally; coal remains the dominant primary energy source (~55%)
- India's energy import dependence: ~85% for crude oil, 50%+ for LNG
- The 2026 AZEC-Plus meeting was specifically convened to address energy disruption from the Hormuz crisis
Connection to this news: India's active participation in AZEC-Plus reflects its energy security imperatives — as the world's 3rd-largest energy consumer dependent on Gulf imports, any disruption to Hormuz shipping is an existential economic concern.
India's Maritime Security Strategy and the Indian Ocean
India's maritime security doctrine views the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) as its primary strategic space. The 2015 Indian Maritime Security Strategy (updated with the Indian Maritime Doctrine) identifies protection of Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) as a core mission. India's "Security and Growth for All in the Region" (SAGAR) vision articulates a cooperative maritime security approach for the IOR. The Indian Navy has grown its blue-water capabilities, including nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers, to enforce this doctrine.
- SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region): coined by PM Modi in 2015 during a visit to Mauritius
- India's maritime doctrine covers the "primary area of interest": from the Persian Gulf to the Strait of Malacca
- Indian Navy's Operation Sankalp (2019): escort missions in the Persian Gulf during earlier Iran tensions
- India's naval assets: INS Vikrant (1st domestically built aircraft carrier, commissioned 2022), Arihant-class nuclear submarines
- Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA): India is a founding member; India chairs IORA periodically
- India's exclusive economic zone (EEZ): 2.37 million sq km; one of the largest globally
Connection to this news: Jaishankar's statement at AZEC-Plus is a formal articulation of India's maritime security interest — attacks on merchant shipping in the Indian Ocean's critical waterways directly threaten India's energy supply chains and trade flows.
Key Facts & Data
- UNCLOS in force: November 16, 1994; India ratified: 1995
- Transit passage (UNCLOS Art. 38): unimpeded right through international straits; cannot be suspended
- India's crude oil import dependence: ~85%; bulk transits Strait of Hormuz
- AZEC initiated: 2022 by Japan; AZEC-Plus expanded forum
- India declared 2026 as "ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation"
- SAGAR vision launched: 2015 (PM Modi, Mauritius)
- INS Vikrant commissioned: 2022 (India's 1st indigenous aircraft carrier, 45,000 tonnes)
- IOR primary area: Persian Gulf to Strait of Malacca