Whatever the intent behind the strike, the conflict has moved into the wider Indian Ocean, and the littoral states cannot afford to ignore it. Iranian state television has claimed that Revolutionary Guard forces launched missiles at a US Navy warship some 600 kilometres from Iran’s borders in the Indian Ocean, alleging fires onboard. Even during the intense Cold War, much of the northern Indian Ocean functioned as a strategic buffer. But the impulse behind it remains instructive that the Indian Ocean should not serve as an operational extension of distant conflicts. Operationally, the Indian Ocean littoral states must enhance transparency, information-sharing, and surveillance to minimise miscalculation.

Source: Indian Express March 05, 2026 10:21 UTC