Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India’s commitment to upholding freedom of navigation and combating piracy and terrorism in the Indian Ocean region. His statement followed a message from Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, thanking India for the safe return of seven Bulgarian nationals rescued from the hijacked Bulgarian ship, MV Ruen.
PM Modi expressed gratitude for President Radev’s message and conveyed India’s satisfaction at the safe return of the Bulgarian nationals. “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,” said PM Modi in a post on X.
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
The MV Ruen, with eight Bulgarians, nine Myanmarese, and one Angolan citizen on board, was captured by pirates in the Arabian Sea in December last year.
President Radev expressed his gratitude to PM Modi for the Indian Navy’s successful rescue operation. “My sincere gratitude to PM @narendramodi for the brave action of Navy rescuing the hijacked Bulgarian ship ‘Ruen’ and its crew, including 7 Bulgarian citizens,” he said in an official post on X.
Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel also thanked India for the rescue operation. In a Facebook post, she stated, “Today, March 16, with the help of the Indian Navy, the crew of the ship ‘Rouen’ hijacked on December 14, 2023, including seven Bulgarian citizens, was released.”
She expressed her gratitude for the efforts of the Indian military and the timely return of the crew to Bulgaria. She also highlighted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ active involvement in efforts to release the Bulgarian crew.
During a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 16, a request was made to the Indian ambassador in Sofia, Ambassador Sanjay Rana, for further assistance and actions to protect the crew’s life and health.
“I am extremely grateful for the assistance of the Indian side in the process of releasing the Bulgarian sailors,” added Minister Gabriel.