NEW DELHI — The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has officially dismissed social media reports and viral video clips claiming that the United States Navy is utilizing Indian ports to launch military operations against Iran. In a firm statement released on Wednesday, the ministry characterized such assertions as “fake and false,” cautioning the public against believing or circulating “baseless and fabricated” information. The controversy was sparked by a video segment from a U.S.-based channel, OAN, featuring a former American defence advisor who claimed India was providing logistical launch points for the ongoing West Asia conflict.
Government sources clarified that while India and the U.S. share several strategic defence agreements, none of them obligate or permit the use of Indian soil for active combat operations against a third nation. Specifically, the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) signed in 2016 only allows for reciprocal, case-by-case logistical support during pre-agreed activities such as joint exercises, disaster relief, or routine port calls. Similarly, the 2018 Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) facilitates secure data links on U.S.-supplied platforms used by the Indian military, but it does not mandate the sharing of surveillance data with any foreign power.
India continues to maintain its stance of strategic autonomy, carefully balancing its “civilisational partnership” with Iran against its critical strategic ties with the United States and Israel. Historical precedent underscores this position; New Delhi famously refused refuelling rights to U.S. aircraft during the 2003 Iraq war and has consistently declined to station troops in foreign conflicts. Officials emphasized that no request for logistical assistance has been received from Washington, and the Indian Navy’s surveillance assets—including P-8I aircraft and MQ-9B drones—operate strictly under Indian command with no external data-sharing protocols.
