Incident Overview: Sinking of IRIS Dena

On March 4, 2026, the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena was sunk by a U.S. submarine within Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The incident raised significant questions concerning international law and the interpretation of maritime rights under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Legal Interpretation and Geopolitical Bias

UNCLOS Article 58

• Western Perspective: Interprets Article 58 expansively, allowing military activities such as intelligence collection and submarine operations in an EEZ without coastal-state consent.
• Global South Perspective: India and other nations argue that military activities in an EEZ require coastal-state consent, and Article 58(3) mandates "due regard" for coastal state rights.

The AI system initially sided with the Western perspective due to its training data bias, only conceding the alternative interpretation when challenged.

Humanitarian Considerations

• Article 18 of the Second Geneva Convention mandates rescue efforts for shipwrecked individuals, which was neglected in the AI's initial analysis.
• The sinking resulted in 87 sailors' deaths, with 32 rescued by the Sri Lankan Navy.

AI's Role in International Law and Geopolitics

The AI's response highlights its Western-centric training data and the lack of neutrality in interpreting international law, which has broader geopolitical implications.

Power Asymmetries

AI systems often reinforce the perspectives of powerful states, marginalizing the views of the Global South.

AI and Global Geopolitics

Bipolar AI Landscape

• U.S. and China dominate AI development, each with unique data models and assumptions.
• Debate continues over adopting a U.S. AI stack, pursuing a sovereign Indian stack, or the risks of digital colonialism from foreign AI control.

India's Strategic Choices

• India should focus on creating a sovereign AI stack to ensure control over its data and interpretive frameworks.
• There is an emphasis on integrating global AI systems while maintaining independence.
• Investment in domestic compute, data infrastructure, and models tailored to India's needs is essential.

In closing, Ashok K. Kantha emphasizes the importance of India building its own AI infrastructure to avoid external dependence and safeguard its national interests.