Page 4 - India Foreign Policy

EAM Jaishankar envisions Nepal as partner in India's development journey

Earlier today, Jaishankar offered prayers at Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal. He stated that he prayed for the well-being of people of Nepal and India and the ties between the two nations

India, Sri Lanka agree to expedite action on projects to boost relations

India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha met Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Sabry and agreed to expedite various projects that will provide positive momentum to the India-Sri Lanka partnership.Sharing on his social media X, Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha stated, "Very pleased and honoured to have my first call on Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka HE @alisabrypcNoted the extraordinary warmth in India-Sri Lanka ties and agreed that expeditious action on various projects is important to keep the strong positive momentum in our partnership."Earlier on Thursday, Santosh Jha held a meeting with Sri Lankan Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry and discussed ways and means to further enhance bilateral cooperation.In a post shared on X, Sabry said, "Pleased to have received the newly appointed High Commissioner of #India to #SriLanka Santosh Jha this morning. Recalling deep-rooted civilizational links between #SriLanka & #India, we discussed ways ...

Carefully evaluating all aspects of unfolding situation in Red Sea: MEA

India values the free movement of commercial shipping and is closely evaluating all aspects of the unfolding situation in the Red Sea, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday.MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, however, also added that New Delhi is not part of any multilateral initiative or operation in or around the Red Sea.Notably, tensions have brewed in the Red Sea after Houthi rebels stepped up attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea as a mark of 'protest' against Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip.Addressing the weekly briefing, Bagchi said, "As we said earlier, we value the free movement of commercial shipping, which is one of the fundamental principles underpinning global commerce. We are carefully evaluating all aspects of the unfolding situation in that region. Our defence forces are taking necessary measures in this regard"."But I'm not aware that India is part of any multilateral initiative or operation presently in or around the Red Sea," he ...

Modi speaks to Saudi Crown Prince, exchange views on situation in West Asia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and shared concerns regarding terrorism, violence, the loss of civilian lives and the situation in West Asia. The leaders also reviewed progress in the bilateral Strategic Partnership in follow-up to the State visit of the Crown Prince to India in September 2023 and discussed the forward-looking bilateral partnership agenda for the future, a PMO statement said on Tuesday. Modi reiterated India's long-standing and principled position on the Israel-Palestine issue and called for continued humanitarian aid for the affected population, it said. Modi said on X, "Held a good conversation with my Brother HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on the future of Strategic Partnership between India and Saudi Arabia." "We exchanged views on the West Asia situation and shared concerns regarding terrorism, violence and the loss of civilian lives," he said

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar arrives in Russia on five-day visit

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday arrived in Moscow on a five-day visit to Russia during which he will hold talks with his counterpart and discuss various bilateral and global issues. "Arrived in Moscow. Look forward to my engagements," Jaishankar said in a post on X. During his visit, he will also travel to St. Petersburg. "The time-tested India-Russia partnership has remained stable and resilient and continues to be characterized by the spirit of the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in New Delhi on Sunday. The minister will meet Russia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov to discuss matters related to economic engagement. He will also hold talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov for discussion on bilateral, multilateral and international issues. "Focusing on the strong people-to-people and cultural ties between our two countries, the external affairs minister's

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar to visit Russia from Dec 25-29

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will pay a five-day visit to Russia beginning Monday with an aim to discuss various bilateral and global issues. Jaishankar will travel to Moscow as well as St. Petersburg, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Sunday, announcing the trip. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit Russia from December 25 to 29 as a part of the ongoing high-level exchanges between the two sides, it said. "The time-tested India-Russia partnership has remained stable and resilient and continues to be characterized by the spirit of the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership," it said. The MEA said the external affairs minister will meet Russia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov to discuss matters related to economic engagement. Jaishankar will also hold talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov for discussion on bilateral, multilateral and international issues, it added. " Focusing on the stron

India, Bangladesh agree to extend crucial Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route

India and Bangladesh have agreed to extend Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route and declare Safardighi in West Bengal as the new port of call under Protocol on Inland Water Transit & Trade (PIWT&T), an official statement said on Friday. According to the statement, three high-level talks between India and Bangladesh, including shipping secretary-level talks, 22nd meeting of standing committee under PIWT&T and the 3rd meeting of inter-governmental committee on use of Chattogram and Mongla Ports for to-and-fro movement of goods, successfully concluded in Dhaka. "Bangladesh agreed to extend IBP route and declare Safardighi as new port of call under PIWT&T. Both sides agreed to form a technical team immediately to study inclusion of Chandpur-Chittagong stretch as IBP route under PIWT&T," the statements said. Issues like easing visa issuance, shore-leave facility and repatriation for seafarers were deliberated upon, it added. According to the statement, Bangladesh agreed

India's foreign policy follows 'mix-and-match diplomacy,' says PM Modi

When questioned about India's relationship with the United States and whether it could be characterised as an alliance, PM Modi highlighted the "upward trajectory" of relations

We are in era of multilateralism: PM Modi in rare interview amid Pannun row

India's commitment is to the rule of law and if someone gives information, it would look into it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the Financial Times in his first comments on the US allegations relating to an Indian link over a foiled plot targeting a Sikh separatist. In an interview to the British daily, Modi said there is strong bipartisan support for strengthening of India-US relations and it is not appropriate to link a few incidents with diplomatic ties. "If someone gives us any information, we would definitely look into it," Modi said, according to FT. "If a citizen of ours has done anything good or bad, we are ready to look into it. Our commitment is to the rule of law," he said. The US federal prosecutors have charged that one Nikhil Gupta was working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who holds dual citizenship of the US and Canada. India has already constituted a probe committee to investigate ...

India's G20 presidency was its diplomatic achievement of 2023: Jaishankar

EAM Jaishankar said that through its G20 Presidency, India was able to get the most powerful countries of the world to show a new commitment to sustainable development and promoting green growth

India 'indispensable' partner for strategic equilibrium: Australian envoy

India is an "indispensable" partner critical for ensuring strategic equilibrium against the backdrop of China's "largest military" build-up without any transparency after the Second World War as well as challenges such as coercive trade measures and political interference, Australian High Commissioner Philip Green said on Wednesday. In an address at the Asia Society Policy Institute, the newly-appointed envoy said India and Australia want to preserve an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific and that both sides see the region the same way and know what needs to be done. Delving into various aspects of the India-Australia engagement in the last around five years, he said it was the "fastest rise" in a major power relationship that his country has ever experienced and it is expanding further. In an oblique reference to Washington's allegations of an Indian link to a failed plot to kill a Sikh separatist and Canada's charge of "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing o

India showed capability of getting consensus at very divisive moment: EAM

India has not only shown an ability to progress at home but also displayed during its G20 presidency that it has the capability of getting the world to agree on something of common interest at a very difficult and very divisive moment, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday. Jaishankar's remarks came during his interaction with Indian students and young professionals in Dubai and shared perspectives on transformations in India and the impact it is having on the everyday lives of Indians at home and abroad. Jaishankar said students and young professionals will be at the forefront of building a Viksit Bharat in the Amritkaal. Talking about India's progress Jaishankar said India has just completed its presidency of the G20. "And in this presidency, what had happened was that, because of the geopolitics, the whole controversy around Ukraine, there was a lot of concern, whether we will be able to get everybody together," the minister said. At the same time, he said the

PM Modi meets Qatar's ruler at COP28 amid navy veterans' death row

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai on Friday, as they discussed bilateral partnership and the well-being of the Indian community in the oil-rich country. The meeting is significant as eight former Indian Navy personnel were on October 26 given death sentences by a court in Qatar and the Indian government has reportedly filed an appeal against the sentence. "On the sidelines of the COP28 Summit in Dubai yesterday, had the opportunity to meet HH Sheikh @TamimBinHamad, the Amir of Qatar. "We had a good conversation on the potential of bilateral partnership and the well-being of the Indian community in Qatar," Modi posted on X on Saturday. The Indian nationals, who worked with private company Al Dahra, were arrested in August last year reportedly in an alleged case of espionage. Neither the Qatari authorities nor New Delhi made the charges against the Indian nationals public. India had described t

India-Malaysia trade set to soar to $25 bn in next 3 years: Indian envoy

The Indian High Commissioner expressed optimism about the growing relationship, emphasising political understanding between the two governments

India, Malaysia looking at reviewing 2011 trade pact: Malaysian FM

India and Malaysia are firming up a framework for conducting trade in national currencies and initiating a process to review the 12-year-old comprehensive economic cooperation agreement to include new domains and items, Malaysian Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir said. At the end of a three-day visit to India, Kadir told PTI that both sides are keen to expand trade engagement in new and emerging areas such as electronics, semiconductors, fintech, renewable energy, new technology and startups. Ways to further boost the overall trajectory of ties were discussed extensively during talks between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Malaysian counterpart on Tuesday night. Asked about India's long-pending demand to Malaysia to extradite fugitive evangelist Zakir Naik, Kadir did not give a direct reply and said Kuala Lumpur is keen on strengthening institutional mechanisms to boost security cooperation rather than focusing on any individual. Naik is facing a multi-agency probe

India-Japan cherish strategic ties based on shared values: MoS MEA in Tokyo

MoS Muraleedharan is paying an official visit to Japan from November 8 to 10. During the visit, MoS Muraleedharan is expected to hold meetings with ministers, business leaders, academia.

India-US 2+2 holds promise of boosting ties amid global challenges: Expert

The 2+2 ministerial dialogue between India and the US in New Delhi this week carries the promise of deepening a robust partnership between the two nations, particularly in the defense area, according to an expert. Coming in the backdrop of a complex and ever-evolving global landscape, the dialogue will serve as a platform for reaffirming the unwavering commitment of the United States and India to their global partnership and their shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, said Farwa Aamer, Director of South Asia Initiatives, Asia Society Policy Institute." "The upcoming fifth U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, set to bring together top officials from both nations in India this week, carries the promise of deepening a robust partnership that has seen remarkable progress, particularly in the realm of defense cooperation," she said. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin will travel to New Delhi next week for the '2+2' meeting with External Affairs

US regards Chinese military, security strategy as 'pacing challenge'

The 2022 National Defense Strategy identifies China as the only competitor to the US with the intent and capacity to reshape the international order, points out the first of a two-part series

India indispensable partner for free, open Indo-Pacific: Japan minister

India is an indispensable partner to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific and Tokyo would like to further expand cooperation in the region with New Delhi, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said on Friday. In an address at the India-Japan Forum, the visiting minister also referred to an assertion by the leaders of the G7 countries in the grouping's Hiroshima summit in May that any attempts to change the status quo by force cannot be tolerated anywhere. Hayashi said Japan is very keen to work hand-in-hand with India to make its G20 presidency successful, especially the upcoming summit of the intergovernmental forum. The Japanese foreign minister said a call for upholding international law may sound like a mere slogan unless the challenges being faced by the Global South are dealt with effectively. In his comments, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar described Japan as India's natural partner. Hayashi arrived in Delhi on Thursday on a two-day visit.

PM Modi's France visit to likely boost economic cooperation, EU-India ties

PM Modi will visit France to attend the Bastille Day Parade as the Guest of Honour at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron