India conveyed 鈥渃oncerns鈥� to the United States after the USS John Paul Jones Navy guided-missile destroyer conduced a freedom of navigation operation near India鈥檚 Lakshadweep Islands on April 7, according to a statement on Friday.
鈥淭he USS John Paul Jones was continuously monitored transiting from the Persian Gulf towards the Malacca Straits,鈥� said the Ministry of External Affairs. 鈥淲e have conveyed our concerns regarding this passage through our EEZ [Exclusive Economic Zone] to the Government of U.S.A through diplomatic channels.鈥�
The US 7th Fleet said on Wednesday that the USS John Paul, 鈥渁sserted navigational rights and freedoms approximately 130 nautical miles west of the Lakshadweep Islands, inside India鈥檚 exclusive economic zone, without requesting India鈥檚 prior consent, consistent with international law.鈥�
It went on to say that 鈥渢his freedom of navigation operation (鈥淔ONOP鈥�) upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea recognized in international law by challenging India鈥檚 excessive maritime claim.鈥�
The operation, however, triggered controversy in India, with maritime experts contending it was 鈥渘ot incidental鈥� and was a clear violation by the US.
The statement on Friday noted that the government of India鈥檚 stated position on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea is that 鈥淐onvention does not authorise other States to carry out in the Exclusive Economic Zone and on the continental shelf, military exercises or manoeuvres, in particular those involving the use of weapons or explosives, without the consent of the coastal state.鈥�
By Ahmad Adil in New Delhi
Anadolu Agency
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