The U.S. Navy’s Seventh Fleet said in a statement on April 7 that the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) conducted freedom of navigation operations near the Lakshadweep Islands in India that day. The Seventh Fleet also issued a statement that the warship also conducted freedom of navigation operations in the waters off the Republic of Maldives, both of which were conducted without the permission of both countries, but in accordance with international law. In response, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said through a statement on the 9th that it had expressed its concern about the incident to the U.S. government through diplomatic channels.
“The ‘John Paul Jones’ clearly affirmed the right and freedom of navigation approximately 130 nautical miles west of the Laksha Islands in India’s exclusive economic zone without prior Indian consent, which is consistent with international law,” the Seventh Fleet said in the statement. The statement said, “India’s claim that prior consent is required to conduct military exercises or maneuvers in its EEZ or continental shelf is not consistent with international law. This Freedom of Navigation Operation (FONOP) upholds the rights, freedoms and legitimate uses of the sea recognized by international law by challenging India’s excessive maritime claims.” The statement said, “U.S. forces conduct operations in the Indo-Pacific region on a daily basis. All operations are designed in accordance with international law and demonstrate that the United States will fly, sail and operate where international law allows.”
The statement said, “We routinely conduct routine freedom of navigation operations on a regular basis, have done so in the past, and will continue to do so in the future. Freedom of navigation operations are not directed at a single country and are not intended to make political statements.” The ship also conducted freedom of navigation operations off the Maldives. It is understood that the U.S. Navy’s Seventh Fleet has issued statements since last November regarding its freedom of navigation operations in disputed waters claimed by Russia, Japan, China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, India and the Maldives. In response to this latest development, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, also a member of the Quadripartite Dialogue, issued a statement on Friday.
The Indian statement said, “The position of the Government of India with regard to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is that the Convention does not authorize other States to conduct military exercises or maneuvers, particularly those involving the use of weapons or explosives, in the exclusive economic zone and on the continental shelf without the consent of the coastal State.” The statement said, “The USS ‘John Paul Jones’ is under constant monitoring as it transits the Persian Gulf towards the Strait of Malacca. We have conveyed our concerns about this passage through our exclusive economic zone to the U.S. government through diplomatic channels.”
When asked about India’s reaction to the U.S. Navy’s move, U.S. Defense Department spokesman John F. Kirby told the media Friday, “What I can tell you is that the U.S. Navy destroyer ‘John Paul Jones’ without prior permission that passed harmlessly through the territorial waters of the Republic of Maldives during normal operations within its exclusive economic zone, upholding the right and freedom of navigation off the Republic of Maldives.”
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