• Amidst the increasing tensions between New Delhi and Beijing over Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama’s ongoing visit to the border state of Arunachal Pradesh, the navies of the two countries displayed unusual solidarity at high seas in responding jointly to a piracy attack on a foreign merchant ship in the Gulf of Aden.
• According to navy spokesperson, Captain DK Sharma, Indian naval ships INS Mumbai, INS Tarkash, INS Trishul and INS Aditya were proceeding on deployment to the Mediterranean and passing through the Gulf of Aden when they received a distress call from a foreign merchant vessel, MV OS 35.
• The Tuvalu registered ship had left Kelang in Malaysia and was destined for Aden port when it was attacked and boarded by pirates in the Gulf of Aden.
• Since 2008, India has deployed at least one naval ship in the piracy-infested Gulf of Aden through which a major chunk of the global commerce passes.
• The naval ship escorts the merchant ships through the 490-nautical mile long Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC).

Source: Indian Express