The torpedoing of an Iranian ship off Sri Lankan waters is a first in the Indian Ocean and must not be allowed to happen again, Mauritius Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful said. The impact of the war in West Asia on energy and food security has been at the top of the agenda at the Indian Ocean Conference in Mauritius.
In an interview to The Hindu, Mr. Ramful, who met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday (April 10, 2026), praised India for support with supplies amidst shortages due to the Hormuz Strait block, and said he hopes U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan will end with a long-term agreement.
Excerpts:
What concrete outcomes has the Indian Ocean Conference provided on the way forward for the region after the war in West Asia?
Definitely, in the speeches of speakers, most of them have been talking about the West Asia crisis, and one thing that is on top of the agenda is about the freedom of navigation. We have the problem with the Strait of Hormuz, and we have to make sure that in this part of the Indian Ocean, the UNCLOS, the international law of the sea, is respected by all coastal states.
