Trump expresses condolences after Indian sailors killed in US attack

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday expressed condolences over the deaths of three Indian seafarers killed in American strikes on merchant vessels off the coast of Oman, calling maritime work “a rough profession” and pledging continued cooperation with India.

Responding to a question during a joint media interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France, Trump said he was aware of the incident and sympathised with the victims’ families.

“I heard about that. It’s a rough profession,” Trump said. “This has been happening throughout time, but we work together. We love all of those people. They’re great people.”

The remarks came during Modi and Trump’s first face-to-face meeting in 16 months, held against the backdrop of growing concerns in India over the deaths of Indian crew members in the US attacks and broader strains in bilateral relations.

The Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello was among three merchant vessels struck by US forces earlier this week. Omani authorities later rescued surviving crew members, including 21 Indians aboard the vessel. More than 60 Indian sailors were evacuated from the three affected ships.

Among those killed was 23-year-old Aditya Sharma from Himachal Pradesh, a deck cadet training to become a licensed ship officer.

Modi raises concerns over seafarer safety

During the meeting, Modi urged greater attention to the safety of seafarers, particularly in the wake of the newly signed US-Iran peace agreement.

Highlighting the contribution of Indian sailors to global maritime trade, including shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, Modi said their safety remained a top priority for India.

The Prime Minister welcomed efforts to keep the strategically vital waterway open and called for closer cooperation on maritime security.

“Mr President, you have made tremendous efforts towards reaching this understanding,” Modi said. “I am confident that this agreement will ensure the security of seafarers and that this issue will receive priority.”

It was the second time in two days that Modi raised the issue of Indian sailors’ safety in discussions involving Trump following the attacks on vessels carrying nearly 70 Indian crew members.

First in-person meeting since Washington visit

Although Modi and Trump have spoken several times by phone over the past year and briefly interacted during a G7 outreach session in Évian, the meeting marked their first substantive face-to-face engagement since Modi visited Washington shortly after Trump’s return to office.

The talks come at a delicate moment for India-US relations, which have faced pressure from trade disputes, including steep US tariffs on Indian exports. The deaths of the Indian seafarers have added another sensitive issue to the bilateral agenda.

India has formally raised concerns over the attacks through diplomatic channels. The Ministry of External Affairs summoned the senior-most US diplomat in New Delhi twice to lodge protests, while External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also discussed the matter with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The issue is expected to remain a key point of engagement between the two countries as efforts continue to stabilise the region following the US-Iran agreement.