India has long projected itself as a key security provider in the Indian Ocean, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi frequently describing the country’s navy as the “guardian” of the strategically vital waters. Yet the recent sinking of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena by a US submarine near Sri Lanka has raised uncomfortable questions about the extent of New Delhi’s influence in the region.
Speaking at a naval gathering in October, Modi highlighted the Indian Ocean’s importance as a critical corridor for global trade and energy shipments, asserting that the Indian Navy served as its protector. However, less than five months later, that claim has been challenged by a dramatic incident unfolding just off India’s maritime doorstep.
On Wednesday, the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena was torpedoed by a US submarine roughly 44 nautical miles south of Sri Lanka while returning from the multinational naval exercise “Milan,” hosted by India. The warship had participated in drills alongside several other navies, and sailors from the vessel had even taken part in ceremonial events attended by Indian officials, including President Droupadi Murmu.
The attack drew a swift and forceful reaction from Tehran. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the incident as a grave provocation, stressing that the ship had been invited to participate in exercises hosted by India and was travelling in international waters when it was struck. More than 80 Iranian sailors reportedly lost their lives, while dozens remain missing.
The incident also revealed the widening geographical scope of the escalating confrontation between the United States and Iran. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that an American submarine had sunk the vessel, describing the strike as a demonstration of Washington’s readiness to expand its campaign against Tehran.
War Reaches India’s Maritime Backyard
For India, however, the episode has triggered debate over its strategic posture in the region. Retired naval officers and analysts say the attack has exposed the limits of New Delhi’s ability to shape security developments in the Indian Ocean, despite its ambitions to serve as a stabilising force there.
The Dena had departed the Indian port of Visakhapatnam on February 26 after participating in the exercises and was struck early on March 4 in waters close to Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan naval units later led rescue efforts, recovering dozens of bodies and rescuing survivors from the wreckage.
Former Indian naval vice chief Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha said the incident highlights how rapidly regional security dynamics are shifting. For decades the world saw Indian Ocean as a relatively stable maritime space. The current confrontation involving the US, Israel and Iran suggests that assumption may no longer hold.
According to Sinha, the conflict has effectively reached India’s maritime backyard. The growing militarisation of the region, he argued, means New Delhi must reassess how it protects its interests and manages the risks emerging from great-power competition in nearby waters.
India’s official response has also drawn scrutiny. The Indian Navy issued a formal statement more than 24 hours after the attack, saying it had received distress signals from the Iranian ship and had prepared rescue assistance, although Sri Lankan forces had already initiated recovery operations.
Notably, New Delhi has refrained from criticising Washington’s decision to sink the vessel. Analysts say this silence reflects a difficult strategic dilemma for India. If New Delhi had prior knowledge of the US operation, it could be seen as implicitly supporting the attack on a partner country. If it did not, it raises questions about how a major naval power was unaware of a submarine strike so close to its sphere of influence.
A Strategic Embarrassment for New Delhi
Former Indian Navy chief Admiral Arun Prakash said such a scenario could cast doubt on the depth of India’s strategic partnership with the United States. Any country seeking regional leadership would view an unexpected major operation in nearby waters as deeply concerning. It is the area of interest; US claims Americas, Russia claims Eastern Europe and Central Asia as its area of influence; and Putin wanted to avoid NATO coming in Ukraine for that matter. But is India capable to manage affairs in Indian Ocean or South Asia?
Strategic analysts also argue that the episode complicates India’s long-standing claim to be a “net security provider” in the Indian Ocean. C. Uday Bhaskar, director of the Society for Policy Studies in New Delhi, described the incident as a strategic embarrassment that weakens India’s credibility as a regional stabiliser.
Beyond the military dimension, the diplomatic fallout could be equally significant. Historically, India was a leading voice in the Non-Aligned Movement during the Cold War. Today, it describes its approach as “strategic autonomy,” seeking balanced relations with multiple powers.
Yet in recent years, New Delhi has drawn closer to the United States and Israel. Just days before the escalation with Iran, Modi visited Israel and held high-profile meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Critics say such moves, combined with India’s muted response to the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, signal a shift away from its traditionally balanced regional diplomacy.
Opposition leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, have accused the government of undermining India’s long-standing foreign policy principles by failing to respond firmly to the attack.
Some analysts believe the controversy illustrates a broader reality: India’s ambitions in the Indian Ocean may exceed its current capacity to control events there. The sinking of the IRIS Dena has underscored how external powers can still act decisively in the region, often without consulting New Delhi.
For a country that aspires to be the principal security anchor of the Indian Ocean, the episode serves as a sobering reminder that influence in geopolitics is measured not just by ambition. What really matters is the ability to shape outcomes when crises unfold close to home; in your area of interest.