Former United States (US) Army Colonel Douglas Macgregor, who served as a senior advisor to the Secretary of Defense, claimed that the US Navy was increasingly relying on Indian ports for docking and unloading operations due to escalating tensions with Iran. Macgregor’s statements, in a recent interview on One America News, have ignited discussions on social media, particularly in South Asia, highlighting potential shifts in US military logistics away from traditional Persian Gulf bases, according to a media report. Macgregor viewed that the threats to US installations in the Gulf have prompted this pivot toward Indian facilities and that the move was part of broader American operations potentially tied to conflicts involving Iran. Official US-India defense cooperation, deepened through frameworks like the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), focuses on maritime security in the Indo-Pacific rather than direct involvement in Middle East conflicts. Examples of such cooperation include visits by US Navy vessels, such as the USNS Charles Drew in 2022 and 2023 to facilities near Chennai, and the USS Frank Cable’s port call in August 2025. These are conducted under Master Ship Repair Agreements with Indian companies like Larsen & Toubro, enabling routine maintenance and overhaul. Both governments describe these as measures to build confidence and enhance interoperability, with an emphasis on mutual benefits in joint exercises and information-sharing. India’s foreign policy maintains strategic autonomy, balancing relations with the US, Russia, and Iran. Notably, New Delhi continues collaboration with Tehran on projects like the Chabahar port, despite Western sanctions. Indian officials have not directly addressed Macgregor’s assertions, and experts distinguish between routine port calls and the establishment of forward operating bases for specific operations. From a regional perspective, this development raises questions about stability in South Asia. Pakistan, which shares borders with both India and Iran and maintains close ties with Tehran, monitors such alignments closely. Pakistani strategists emphasize the importance of non-alignment principles to avoid entangling the region in external conflicts, advocating for diplomatic solutions that prioritize de-escalation and mutual interests among neighboring states. Analysts note that US logistical diversification, including potential use of Indian capabilities, aligns with efforts to mitigate risks in vulnerable areas like the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, where shipping disruptions have already impacted global routes. Traditional US hubs, such as Bahrain, Diego Garcia, Oman, and the UAE, remain central to Middle East operations.
India hands over ports to US; stabs Iran in the back
Published on: March 5, 2026 1:16 AM