Key facts
- A US strike on an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman killed three Indian sailors and strained US-India relations.
- The incident has raised questions about the unity of the Quad bloc, comprising the US, Japan, Australia, and India.
- The Quad's agenda aims to reduce China's dominant grip on critical mineral supply chains.
- Analysts believe shared concerns over dependence on China could strengthen the Quad's resolve despite bilateral tensions.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited India to address bilateral friction and reaffirm commitment to the Quad.
A recent US strike on an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, which resulted in the deaths of three Indian sailors, has exacerbated existing tensions between the United States and India. This incident has cast a shadow over the unity of the Quad, an informal alliance including the US, Japan, Australia, and India, and its ambitious goals to challenge China's dominance in critical mineral supply chains.