PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed “grave concerns” at the possibility of further expansion of the conflict in the Middle-East, including in the Red Sea. A joint statement issued late on Friday night said the two leaders called for upholding the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and underlined the need for respecting the international law of the sea.
Modi and Macron held wide-ranging talks at a luxury palace on Thursday. The French President was the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi. The two leaders expressed ”grave concern at the possibility of further expansion of the conflict in the region, including in the Red Sea”, which already resulted a significant economic impact, the statement said. The Houthi militants have been attacking merchant vessels in the Red Sea since November, apparently in response to Israel’s military offensive in Gaza.
