Page 4 - External Affairs Defence Security News

Indian envoy to Bangladesh Pranay Verma meets new BNP chief Tarique Rahman

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on Saturday met BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, a day after the party officially elected him to the position ahead of the scheduled February 12 elections. The meeting lasted for some 40 minutes, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) media cell spokesman Sayrul Kabir Khan told PTI, calling it a courtesy call. BNP emerged as the forerunner in Bangladesh politics, with its once crucial ally, Jamaat-e-Islami, being the main rival, ahead of the scheduled February 12 elections, in the absence of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina's now disbanded Awami League. A student-led violent street movement toppled the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, while the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government disbanded the party in an executive order last year, debarring it from contesting the elections. Rahman has been steering BNP as its acting chairman since 2018. The party's policy-making standing committee on Friday night formally elected him as

Jaishankar begins 6-day visit to France, Luxembourg to discuss key issue

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday began a six-day visit to France and Luxembourg to hold talks on bilateral and global issues of mutual interests. In Paris, he will be meeting the French leadership and will hold talks with Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barrot, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Jaishankar's visit to France comes against the backdrop of growing global concerns over the US capturing Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in a military operation. The MEA said Jaishankar and Barrot will discuss the progress made under the India-France strategic partnership and matters of global importance. The two ministers are also expected to prepare ground for French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to India next month to participate in the AI Summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had co-chaired the AI Summit along with Macron in Paris last February. The external affairs minister will also address the 31st edition of the French Ambassadors'

₹1.8 trn defence contracts signed by Q3 FY26, modernisation gains pace

MoD's push for a sharp increase in modernisation funding gains strength ahead of Budget

When India chose direct action over deterrence, shifting doctrine in 2025

Marked by Op Sindoor, the year saw a shift in doctrine, thinking on future wars

India-Oman CEPA to infuse new energy into bilateral trade, says PM Modi

In his address, Modi highlighted the centuries-old maritime trading ties between the two countries, from Mandvi to Muscat, which today form the bedrock of vibrant commercial exchanges

Never allowed territory for activities against Bangladesh's interests: Govt

India on Sunday asserted that it has never allowed its territory to be used for activities inimical to the interests of Bangladesh and pressed for holding the upcoming parliamentary polls in that country in a peaceful atmosphere. India's reaction came hours after the Bangladesh foreign ministry summoned Indian envoy to Dhaka, Pranay Verma, and conveyed its concern over former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's "incendiary" statements from Indian soil. According to a readout released by Dhaka, the foreign ministry also brought to Verma's notice the activities of some members of Hasina-led Awami League while staying in India. "India categorically rejects the assertions made by the interim government of Bangladesh in its press note," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. It said India has consistently reiterated its position in favour of free, fair, inclusive and credible elections in Bangladesh in a peaceful atmosphere. "India has never allowed its territory to be used for activi

Defence R&D: Parliamentary panel calls for adequate budgetary provisions

The committee said the ministry is adopting emerging technologies of warfare and it has recommended that adequate budgetary provisions for research and development be made available to the armed force

Raft of agreements may be signed during Putin's India visit next week

Both nations look to deepen defence cooperation, and expand trade ties in 'national currencies'

India inks helicopter support agreements worth ₹7,995 crore with US

The ministry said that the agreement will eventually strengthen India's capabilities in the long run and lessen reliance on the US for such support

India needs a national defence innovation authority: SIDM President

Navy chief says more than 150 new start-ups and MSMEs have entered the defence ecosystem

India, Israel ink terms of reference to formally launch FTA talks

India and Israel on Thursday inked terms of reference (ToR) to formally launch negotiations for a free trade agreement, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said. The ToR include market access for goods by eliminating tariff and non-tariff barriers, investment facilitation, simplification of customs procedures, increasing cooperation for innovation and technology transfer, and easing norms to promote trade in services. "We have signed the ToRs today. Now we will soon finalise the dates for starting the negotiations for that," Goyal told reporters here. Goyal is leading a 60-member business delegation to Israel. He will meet leaders and businesses to discuss ways to boost bilateral trade and investments. The TOR was signed by Goyal and Israeli Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat. Goyal said that the Israeli side has conveyed that they will not seek market access in sensitive areas such as dairy, rice, wheat and sugar. He also informed that Israel has come out with a ...

EAM S Jaishankar bats for strong economic links among SCO countries

Time SCO adopted English as an official working language: Jaishankar

Hindustan Aeronautics revamp study to be ready by March next year

Govt ropes in BCG to conduct study in view of firm's growing order book

India, Angola sign MoUs to boost cooperation in trade, marine sectors

India and Angola on Sunday exchanged multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) to strengthen bilateral ties on subjects like fisheries, aquaculture and marine resources during the first day of President Droupadi Murmu's official engagements in the African country. The President is on a four-day state visit to the country between November 8-11. This is the first visit by an Indian president to Angola. Murmu was officially welcomed at the Presidential Palace here by Angolan President Joo Manuel Gonalves Loureno, starting with a 21-gun salute and a ceremonial guard of honour. The two leaders later sat down for delegation-level talks, following which MOUs were exchanged between the two countries, followed by a joint reading of statements before the press. Murmu said the partnership between India and Angola was built on "mutual trust, respect and a shared vision for the prosperity of our peoples." She thanked the Angolan people and the government for hosting her delegation in their

President Murmu visit to Angola to strengthen energy cooperation: MEA

President Droupadi Murmu's six-day tour of Angola and Botswana will focus on energy ties, agriculture collaboration, and deepening India's strategic engagement across Africa

India, US working to resolve sensitivities in trade pact talks, says Goyal

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday said India and the US are holding continuous discussions for the proposed bilateral trade agreement. "Talks are going well...and are continuously going on. ..kaee samvedanasheel mudde hai, kaee gambheer mudde hai, toh svaabhaavik hai ki thoda samay lagega (There are many sensitive issues, many serious issues, so it is natural that it will take some time)," he told reporters here. He was replying to a question about the progress on India-US negotiations on the pact. Goyal is here on a four-day official visit. He is leading a business delegation. Five rounds of talks have been completed so far for the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement between the US and India. A team of Indian officials, headed by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, was in Washington last month to hold trade talks with their US counterparts. The three-day talks ended on October 17. In February this year, leaders of India and the US directed official

India, Israel sign defence pact to boost tech sharing and co-production

India and Israel on Tuesday signed a defence pact that will facilitate sharing of advanced technologies and promote co-development and co-production of key weapon systems and military hardware, in a major move to further bolster their already robust strategic ties. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in Tel Aviv following a meeting of India-Israel joint working group (JWG) on defence cooperation. The MoU on defence cooperation was signed to provide a "unified vision and policy direction to deepen the already strong defence cooperation between the two countries," the defence ministry said. "India-Israel defence partnership is long-standing based on deep mutual trust and shared security interests," it said. The ministry said a wide range of areas for cooperation have been identified in the MoU that will benefit both countries. "Important fields include strategic dialogues of mutual interest, training, defence industrial cooperation, and capabilities including science an

Indo-Pacific must be free from coercion, stresses unity, says Rajnath

India's emphasis on rule of law and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific is not against any country, but to safeguard interests of all stakeholders, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday amid mounting global concerns over China's aggressive military posturing in the region. In an address at a conclave of defence ministers of ASEAN member states and the bloc's dialogue partners in Kuala Lumpur, Singh said India believes that the Indo-Pacific should remain open, inclusive, and free from any form of "coercion". He also pitched for an approach of "collective security" to ensure sovereignty of every nation in the region. "India's emphasis on the rule of law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and its advocacy for freedom of navigation and overflight in the Indo-Pacific, are not directed against any country but are meant to safeguard the collective interests of all regional stakeholders," he said. His remarks came amid consistent ...

Early conclusion of India-EU FTA can make big difference: Jaishankar

An early conclusion of the proposed free trade agreement between India and the European Union can make a "big difference" in terms of stabilising the global economy and strengthening democratic forces, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday. He said this after meeting a high-powered trade delegation from the 27-nation bloc. The seven-member delegation is in India to push for finalisation of the long-awaited bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) between the two sides. "Discussed how India & the European Union can maximize convergences and deepen cooperation. This can stabilize the global economy and strengthen democratic forces," Jaishankar said on X. "The early conclusion of the India-EU FTA can make a big difference to these objectives," he said. Jaishankar remarks came as the two sides looked to wrap up negotiations for the mega trade pact. In September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed their ...

Jaishankar holds talks with Malaysian PM on sidelines of Asean summit

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday held talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit and conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's best wishes for the successful event. Honoured to meet Prime Minister @anwaribrahim of Malaysia. Conveyed the best wishes of Prime Minister @narendramodi for a successful ASEAN Summit, Jaishankar, who is in Kuala Lumpur to attend the annual ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit, posted on social media. Value his thoughts on strengthening our bilateral cooperation and people-to-people linkages, he added. The External Affairs Minister also met the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea, Cho Hyun, on the sidelines of the summit and discussed cooperation in automotive, electronics, semiconductor, defence and shipbuilding sectors. Delighted to meet @FMChoHyun of RoK, on the sidelines of ASEAN meetings in Malaysia. Appreciate the deepening of our Special Strategic Partnership. Discussed