Indo-pacific

As US leadership wavers, Japan is stepping up as Asia's new powerbroker

While the United States reaffirmed its commitment to the Indo-Pacific, it was Japan that delivered the clearest warning on China's growing military assertiveness at Asia's premier security forum

Hegseth backs Trump's India-Pak truce claim; outlines Indo-Pacific vision

Trump has repeatedly claimed that he helped secure peace between India and Pakistan following a four-day military conflict last year triggered by the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam

Australian PM praises India's growth, looks forward to hosting Modi again

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday said he looked forward to hosting PM Narendra Modi again soon, while describing India's growing economic importance as an "extraordinary opportunity" for the Indo-Pacific region. Addressing the parliament in Canberra, Albanese said India, which already has the largest population in the world, was set to become the third-largest economy over this decade. "That is an extraordinary opportunity for us in our region. We are a Pacific nation, but we are also an Indian Ocean nation as well," he said. He said the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, which was signed in 2022, had enhanced the trading relationship between the two countries, and that they were further drawn together through culture, education and cricket. Albanese recalled that he had first visited India as a backpacker in 1991 and had since made two visits as prime minister. He said the best way to understand India was to travel by bus or train. "It is a wonderful

Quad ministers announce maritime, energy and minerals cooperation

Quad foreign ministers announced new initiatives on maritime security, critical minerals, energy resilience and undersea cable connectivity at their meeting in New Delhi

Indo-Pacific power shift: India, Vietnam upgrade strategic partnership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vietnamese President To Lam have upgraded India-Vietnam ties to an enhanced comprehensive strategic partnership. From defence and AI to trade

Japan can help Asia navigate reduced US role in Indo-Pacific region

With the revision last week of rules to remove restrictions on overseas sales of lethal weapons, Japan can export advanced equipment, including warships and missiles, and support its partners' defence

Navy chief stresses operational synergy to address Indo-Pacific challenges

Navy chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi stressed the importance of coordination and interoperability among the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard to address emerging security challenges in the Indo-Pacific. Admiral Tripathi was on a two-day visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), during which he reviewed the operational preparedness and discussed measures to strengthen jointmanship and enhance synergy among the services. During the visit from April 21 to 22, Admiral Tripathi held detailed interactions with senior officers and was briefed on ongoing operational activities and initiatives, officials said on Thursday. Discussions focused on strengthening operational synergy, improving readiness and deepening integration among the services, they said. Highlighting the strategic significance of the islands, Admiral Tripathi reiterated the pivotal role of ANC in ensuring maritime security, enhancing surveillance and maintaining rapid response capability in the region, particularl

India, UK reaffirm resolve on global challenges during CDS Chauhan's visit

The visit focused on strengthening bilateral ties, with both sides discussing issues ranging from global trade imbalances to emerging cyber threats

Indo-US defence ties continue to grow stronger: US Ambassador Sergio Gor

US Ambassador Sergio Gor and Admiral Samuel J Paparo, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, visited the Indian Army's Western Command headquarters on Monday and held discussions with Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar on strategic security dynamics along India's Western Front. Gor said the US-India defence partnership continues to grow stronger. He said the joint efforts of the two countries are key to a safe Indo-Pacific. "US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor @USAmbIndia and #USINDOPACOM Commander, Adm Samuel J. Paparo, @sjpaparo visited HQ Western Command and held substantive discussions with Lt Gen #ManojKumarKatiyar, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, Army Commander, #WesternCommand, on strategic security dynamics along India's Western Front," the Western Command of the Indian Army said in a post on X. The Western Command headquarters is located in Chandimandir in Haryana's Panchkula. The delegation was comprehensively briefed on the Western Front perspective, including operational ...

Japan's Thatcher: Sanae Takaichi's win may reshape Indo-Pacific geopolitics

On the external front, Ms Takaichi has eschewed Japan's traditional equidistance between the United States (US) and China

Best of BS Opinion: New rural jobs law will bring significant changes

Today's wrap looks at the new rural jobs law, the push to open civil nuclear power to private investors, a US strategic reset, RBI's views on bank ownership, and a book on American power

US steps back as global leader, sees continuity for India in Indo-Pacific

The new US national security strategy signals a retreat from global dominance while reaffirming continuity in India's role in Indo-Pacific security and Quad cooperation

India one of the fastest-growing major economies, says US Representative

US Representative Bill Huizenga also stressed the wider strategic stakes of cooperation between Washington and New Delhi, noting the importance of their combined economic and geopolitical influence

Cyclone Ditwah: US provides immediate $2 million emergency aid to Sri Lanka

The US military deployed a range of personnel, aircraft and logistical support capabilities to assist with lifesaving and life-sustaining humanitarian operations

Rubio, Hegseth discuss Indo-Pacific security with Australian counterparts

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth met their Australian counterparts Monday in Washington for annual talks focused on Indo-Pacific security and countering China's increasing assertiveness in the region, including in the South China Sea and directed at Taiwan. Rubio, Hegseth, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles gathered at the State Department, with many eyes also on the Russia-Ukraine war, a fragile ceasefire in Gaza and US military strikes against alleged drug traffickers in the Western Hemisphere that have raised questions about the use of force there. This is a very strong partnership, it's a strong alliance, and what we want to do is continue to build on it. We think we have a lot of momentum behind this alliance, Rubio said, hailing cooperation between Washington and Canberra on critical minerals, defense production and troop deployments. None of the four mentioned China by name in their brief comments to ...

US calls for stronger ties with India to bolster Indo-Pacific security

The White House's new national security strategy urges deeper ties with India to reinforce Indo-Pacific stability, citing the region's rising economic weight

G7 backs free, open Indo-Pacific, opposes attempts to change status quo

G7 Foreign Ministers meeting under Canada's G7 Presidency in Niagara on November 11-12, issued a joint statement highlighting their shared position on key global security challenges

Jaishankar meets Philippine counterpart Tess Lazaro on UNGA sidelines

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has met with his Philippine counterpart Tess Lazaro here and discussed bilateral cooperation in the UN and the Indo-Pacific region. Jaishankar, who arrived in New York on Sunday for the high-level UN General Assembly meeting, said he was pleased to meet Lazaro on the sidelines of the UNGA. "We followed up on the recent State Visit of President @bongbongmarcos to India. Also discussed our cooperation in the UN and the Indo-Pacific region," Jaishankar said on social media. Lazaro said her discussion with Jaishankar "reaffirms our 2 countries' commitment as Strategic Partners to actively develop cooperation in political, defence and security, the maritime domain, etc." Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos last month visited India for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top officials to boost cooperation in defence, trade and investment, agriculture, tourism, and the pharmaceutical industry.