Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized India’s dedication to safeguarding freedom of navigation and combating piracy and terrorism in the Indian Ocean region following Bulgarian President Rumen Radev’s appreciation for the Indian Navy’s rescue mission of his country’s vessel and crew.
Expressing gratitude via social media, Rumen Radev tweeted, “Heartfelt thanks to PM Narendra Modi for the courageous rescue of the hijacked Bulgarian ship ‘Ruen’ and its crew, including seven Bulgarian nationals.”
Responding to Radev’s message, Modi conveyed his appreciation, stating, “We are pleased that the seven Bulgarian nationals are safe and will soon return home. India remains steadfast in safeguarding freedom of navigation and combating piracy and terrorism in the Indian Ocean region.”
Earlier, Bulgaria’s deputy prime minister also extended thanks to India, Modi, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for the successful rescue of the hijacked vessel MV Ruen. Bulgarian minister Mariya Gabriel expressed gratitude, saying, “I extend my thanks to the navy for the successful operation to rescue the hijacked vessel Ruen and its crew members, including seven Bulgarian nationals. Thank you for the support and tremendous effort. We are committed to continuing our collaborative efforts to protect the lives of the crew.” In response, Jaishankar replied, “That’s what friends are for.”
The Indian Navy’s operation, led by INS Kolkata, was executed with precision. Utilizing its resources, including the P-8I maritime patrol aircraft, frontline ships INS Kolkata and INS Subhadra, and a high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle, the Navy successfully rescued the MV Ruen, which had been seized by Somali pirates on December 14 the previous year. This marked the first instance of Somali pirates boarding a cargo vessel since 2017. All crew members were safely rescued without any injuries.
The operation involved strategic maneuvers by INS Kolkata, which intercepted the pirate ship MV Ruen approximately 2600 km away from the Indian Coast, compelling it to halt its course. The Indian Navy had been monitoring the MV Ruen since Somali pirates seized it 380 nautical miles east of Yemen’s Socotra island in December, eventually anchoring near Bosaso in Somalia’s semi-autonomous state of Puntland.
Appreciate your message President @PresidentOfBg . We are happy that 7 Bulgarian nationals are safe and will be returning home soon. India is committed to protecting freedom of navigation and combating piracy and terrorism in the Indian Ocean region. https://t.co/nIUaY6UJjP
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 19, 2024
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