Operation Sankalp steps up: Indian Navy quietly escorts tankers out of the Gulf — while Trump waits for allies

While much of the international community remains focused on fiery rhetoric and calls for large military coalitions, India has taken a quieter approach. At least three Indian Navy warships have discreetly positioned themselves in the Gulf of Oman, tasked with protecting Indian commercial vessels navigating the increasingly volatile Strait of Hormuz.

A quiet escort mission

The impact of this low-key deployment is already becoming visible. For the first time in nearly two weeks, India-bound LPG tankers have successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz. In fact, one of the tankers, Shivalik, has reached the Mundra port in Gujarat in the early hours of Yesterday.

Gujarat: LPG tanker Shivalik, which crossed the Strait of Hormuz, reaches Mundra Port.

Source: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) pic.twitter.com/XPHYnlXOI1

— ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2026

The ships Shivalik and Nanda Devi, carrying a combined cargo of roughly 92,700 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas, were escorted out of the high-risk zone by an Indian Navy warship operating with its air defence systems fully activated.

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Operation Sankalp in action

Importantly, this deployment is not a sudden move but part of a broader strategy under Operation Sankalp. Launched in 2019, the mission was designed to safeguard Indian-flagged vessels operating in the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Gulf of Aden, particularly during periods of heightened geopolitical tension.

The current situation also highlights a clear difference in strategy between global powers.

On one hand, US President Donald Trump has publicly called on countries such as China, Japan, South Korea and several European nations to deploy warships and join a US-led coalition to secure shipping routes in the region.

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On the other hand, India has chosen a more independent path. Rather than joining a multinational military coalition, New Delhi has relied on its long-standing policy of strategic autonomy, deploying its own naval assets while also maintaining diplomatic communication channels with Tehran.

The stakes, however, remain significant. Currently, 22 India-flagged vessels, most of them oil and gas tankers, are operating in the Persian Gulf with over 600 Indian seafarers on board. In addition, several foreign-flagged ships carrying cargo bound for India remain caught in the region’s growing geopolitical tensions.