External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar responded to his Bulgarian counterpart's expression of gratitude for India's role in rescuing citizens from a hijacked vessel by stating, "That's what friends are for."
The Indian Navy successfully rescued 17 crew members of the cargo ship MV Ruen, which had been hijacked by pirates 1,400 nautical miles from the Indian coast. Among those rescued were seven Bulgarian nationals.
Mariya Gabriel, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria expressed her gratitude to the Indian navy for the successful rescue operation. She thanked India for its support and great effort in protecting the crew's lives.
Minister Jaishankar acknowledged the sentiment in response, emphasizing the importance of friendship and mutual support between nations.
The Navy's report detailed the successful operation, during which up to 35 pirates aboard the merchant ship were compelled to surrender. The operation involved using various assets, including maritime patrol aircraft, frontline ships, and elite MARCOS commandos, resulting in the rescue without any injuries.
