Page 7 - Diplomacy

Nations want to join Brics for unfinished biz of last century: Diplomat

As nations of the world rise to complete the unfinished business of the last century, they aspire to join the five-nation BRICS grouping, a senior Indian diplomat has said. The remarks by Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs, came as he addressed business leaders and diplomats representing countries across Africa and South America at a gathering hosted by the India Business Forum of South Africa on the periphery of the BRICS Summit starting here on Wednesday. The theme of the seminar was "Harnessing Synergies: India-Africa Cooperation for Prosperity in the BRICS African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat (AfCFTA) Landscape." Ravi described the unfinished business of the 20th century as moving away from the fight for freedom and independence from colonial rule to economic prosperity as the priority in the 21st century. With 22 countries having applied to join BRICS, Ravi said that in this new global drive, partnering with Africa was ..

India works to bridge language divide at G20 summit over Ukraine war

Its diplomats have the difficult task to arrive at a joint communique for G20 leaders' summit in Delhi in Sept

India at UN urges immediate return to dialogue, diplomacy in Ukraine war

The permanent representative further added, We have consistently advocated that no solution can ever be arrived at the cost of human lives

PM's US, Egypt visit important milestone in diplomacy: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visits to the US and Egypt an important milestone in India's diplomacy, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday said the grand welcome that he received in the two countries was a recognition of his efforts to take the country to a greater height in geopolitics. The US, which is an economic superpower and has a distinct identity in the world order, accepted India as an equal partner and entered into agreements under which the two countries will work together, Vaishnaw told a press conference at the BJP headquarters here . That is a major and a very big achievement, he added. Prime Minister Modi returned to India on Sunday night after his six-day state visits to the US and Egypt. Modi's US visit was marked by several major deals to boost cooperation in key areas such as defence, space, technology and trade. In Egypt, the prime minister held talks with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and discussed ways to further strengthen the strategic ...

Intel, Micron plans to spend billions on new chip plants outside US

Washington is seeking to strengthen key supply chains outside of China as it works to contain Beijing's geopolitical ambitions

Australian PM stresses need for diplomacy, guardrails in dealing with China

As tensions grow between the United States and China in the Asia-Pacific, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told a gathering of top defense officials on Friday that open channels of communication are critical for preserving peace, while also advocating effective deterrence. Albanese, who has been expanding Australia's military power in response to China's growing military assertiveness in the South China Sea, the South Pacific and the East China Sea, said he has also been working to stabilise the country's diplomatic relations with China. We recognise there are fundamental differences in our two nations' systems of government, our values and our world views, he said in his keynote address to the annual Shangri-La dialogue. But we begin from the principle that whatever the issue, whether we agree or disagree, it is always better and it is always more effective if we deal direct. Both US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and China's new defense minister, Gen. Li Shangfu, wer

No power can stop India from becoming a developed nation: Piyush Goyal

Diplomacy is aimed at building trust between the nations and it will be a driving force in India's success, said Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, and Textiles, Piyush Goyal

Germany says Russia set to expel German diplomats, teachers, cultural staff

Russia will start expelling German diplomats, teachers and employees of German cultural institutions next month, the German Foreign Office said on Saturday a move that will further enhance tensions between the two countries that have already had very fraught ties since Russia invaded Ukraine early last year. The German foreign ministry sharply criticized Russia's move, calling the upcoming expulsions a unilateral, unjustified and incomprehensible decision. The expulsion will affect several hundred German state employees, including teachers and staff of the Goethe Institute, which promotes German culture and language abroad, daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported. The expulsion comes in response to the reduction of the presence of Russian intelligence services in Germany earlier this year. The Russian Foreign Ministry had made public in April its decision to introduce a cap on the number of staff at our missions abroad and at German intermediary organistions in Russia, a German Foreig

International govts race to rescue diplomats, citizens from Sudan

The US military airlifted embassy officials out of Sudan on Sunday and international governments raced to evacuate their diplomatic staff and citizens trapped in the capital as rival generals battled for control of Africa's third-largest country for a ninth straight day. Fighting raged in Omdurman, the city across the Nile from Sudan's capital, Khartoum, residents reported. The violence came despite a declared truce that was to coincide with the three-day Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr. We did not see such a truce, said Amin al-Tayed from his home near state television headquarters in Omdurman. He said heavy gunfire and thundering explosions rocked the city. The battles did not stop, he said. Thick black smoke filled the sky over Khartoum's airport. The paramilitary group battling the Sudanese armed forces claimed the military unleashed airstrikes on the upscale neighbourhood of Kafouri, north of Khartoum. There was no immediate comment from the army. After a week of bloody battles

India's priorities for G20 presidency to benefit global south: Ex-diplomat

India has set priorities for its G20 Presidency which will benefit the global south, former diplomat J S Mukul said here on Monday. India assumed the Presidency of the G20 for one year from December 1, 2022, to 30 November 2023. "We don't forget our friends in the global south. That's why the prime minister held a virtual summit of 125 countries to set the agenda for India's presidency. India, as the host, has invited organisations and countries from the global south. It shows the priorities," he said in his keynote address at a G20 University Connect event organised by the Central University of Kashmir. He said events had been scheduled in 50 cities of the country to showcase "Incredible India as the mother of democracy". According to the former ambassador to the Netherlands, the themes outlined by India for its presidency have green development and climate change mitigation at the top of the list. "The global south needs technical support and finances to meet the challenges of .

Numerous possibilities to expand India-Japan cooperation: Diplomat

There are many potentials and possibilities to expand the relationship and cooperation between India and Japan, Japan's Deputy Consul General, Chennai, Kenji Miyata, said on Friday

In favour of constructive dialogue, diplomacy between India, Pak: US

The United States supports a constructive dialogue and meaningful conversation between India and Pakistan, the Biden administration said Thursday reiterating that it's for New Delhi and Islamabad to decide on the nature of that dialogue. The US is ready to play its role if they agree, it added. State Department Spokesperson Ned Price, in response to a question, refused any meditating role for the US for talks between India and Pakistan. "Because these are decisions for the countries themselves. If they agree on a particular role for the United States, the United States is prepared to, as a partner to both countries, support that process in any way that we responsibly can, Price told reporters at a news conference. "Analysts believe that the United States has the power and authority to mediate between the two partners. Pakistan and India are partners of yours, so why don't you just mediate? he was asked. "Ultimately, it is not for the United States to determine the modalities or th

India pressing for resolving Ukraine conflict through diplomacy: PM Modi

India has been pressing for resolving the Ukraine conflict through diplomacy and dialogue and it is ready to contribute to any peace process, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday after holding wide-ranging talks with visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The talks between the two leaders covered the entire gamut of bilateral ties as well as key regional and global issues, including the Ukraine conflict. In his media statement, Scholz said the world is suffering as a consequence of Russia's aggression against Ukraine and asserted that no one can change borders through the use of violence. The war in Ukraine has led to immense loss and destruction, he said, adding "it is a catastrophe". The German Chancellor's visit to India came a day after the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. "We have to make sure that countries in Asia, Africa and America are not strongly and negatively impacted by the terrible war of aggression," Scholz said. In his statement, Mo

Good to see women diplomats, says Prez accepting credentials from envoys

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday accepted credentials from the envoys of five nations, including South Sudan and Seychelles, and said it was heartening to see experienced women diplomats taking such important responsibilities. Those who presented their credentials were Victoria Samuel Aru, Ambassador of the Republic of South Sudan, Issa Saleh Abdullah Saleh Al Shibani, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman, Javier Manuel Paulinich Velarde, Ambassador of the Republic of Peru, Lalatiana Accouche, High Commissioner of the Republic of Seychelles and Koy Kuong, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Cambodia, a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan said. While receiving credentials from Ambassador Victoria Aru of South Sudan and High Commissioner Lalatiana Accouche of Seychelles, President Murmu said it was heartening to see experienced women diplomats take on such important responsibilities. "A special day for women in diplomacy as President Murmu received credentials from Ambassador Victori

War in Ukraine: How one year of conflict changed geopolitics and economics

Friday marks the one-year anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war, have a look at how the conflict that nobody believed would last this long changed the world

The Churchill question

From the 1920s onwards, Churchill was firm - even quixotic - in opposing any proposal resembling genuine self-rule for India

In touch with India: France on UN draft resolution on Ukraine conflict

Ahead of the voting on the UN's draft resolution on Ukraine, the French diplomatic sources on Tuesday said they were in contact with political leaders in New Delhi but were not very hopeful that India will not abstain. The UN General Assembly will vote this week on the draft resolution underscoring the urgency to find lasting peace in Ukraine, a year after Moscow invaded its neighbour. On a question, if India would again abstain from voting in UNGA on the Ukraine-Russia conflict, they said India is not very likely to join one side or another but they are "working on it". "It's always a question of balance...We do have contact with the political leaders of India. At this stage, we still don't know what will be the position of the government. Most likely it will be abstention but we are still working on it. We have a very candid discussion with them. There is no secret agenda or whatever. So then it's their decision," a French diplomatic source said. India has mostly abstained on ...

Senior US diplomat Nuland to visit India for foreign office consultation

A senior American diplomat will travel to India for foreign office consultations with her Indian counterpart, an official statement said on Saturday. The India visit of Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland follows Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu's trip to New Delhi early this month. Nuland's India tour is part of a four-nation visit, including Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Qatar from January 28 to February 3. In Kathmandu, she will engage with the new government on the broad agenda of the US partnership with Nepal, the State Department said in the statement. While in India, the Under Secretary will lead the US-India annual Foreign Office Consultations which cover the full range of bilateral, regional, and global issues. She will also meet with young tech leaders, it said. In Sri Lanka, Nuland will mark the 75th anniversary of US-Sri Lanka relations and offer continued US support for Sri Lanka's efforts to stabilise the economy, ..

Chinese President Jinping seeks new diplomatic inroads with Asian leaders

Chinese President Xi Jinping has used his first face-to-face meetings with America's Asia-Pacific allies since 2020 to try to forge diplomatic inroads as Washington pushes back against Beijing's influence in the region. Xi has not backed away from China's longstanding claims to Taiwan and most of the South China Sea. But his comments to various leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Bangkok this week have focused more on Beijing's pivotal economic role for its neighbours. As China's stature has risen, its diplomacy has grown more nuanced than the high-handed approach that has sometimes sparked resentment in the past. Xi Jinping's diplomatic engagements and the supporting chorus of propaganda messages have sought to put forward a softer, smiling facade in what appears to be an effort to reduce friction and tensions, particularly with the U.S. and European countries that have become increasingly critical, frustrated and committed to competing with China, said Drew .

Are countries using visas as weapons to fight diplomatic battles?

While India does seem to be facing the rough end of visa diplomacy, barriers are going up globally