India's Proximity Archives
Date: May 08, 2024
South Asia
Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko held a bilateral meeting with Ali Sabry, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, and also called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena during her official visit to Sri Lanka on May 4. Minister Kamikawa stated that “Sri Lanka is an important partner situated in a strategic location on the sea lanes in the Indian Ocean, and Japan would like to actively work with Sri Lanka”. She offered a vessel equipped with a sonar to be used for compiling maritime charts. Both sides agreed to work to resume stalled bilateral projects, including a USD 1.5 billion Japanese-funded light railway.
Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko held a bilateral meeting with Ali Sabry, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, and also called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena during her official visit to Sri Lanka on May 4. Minister Kamikawa stated that “Sri Lanka is an important partner situated in a strategic location on the sea lanes in the Indian Ocean, and Japan would like to actively work with Sri Lanka”. She offered a vessel equipped with a sonar to be used for compiling maritime charts. Both sides agreed to work to resume stalled bilateral projects, including a USD 1.5 billion Japanese-funded light railway.
Southeast Asia
On May 2, the Defence Chiefs of the US, Japan, the Philippines, and Australia convened their second joint meeting at Camp H. M. Smith, a U.S. Marine Corps base in Hawaii. The U.S. Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin held bilateral, trilateral, and quadrilateral engagements with Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara, Australian Defence Chief Richard Marles, and Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro. In the joint statement, the four sides expressed grave concern over the situation in the East and South China Seas and strongly objected to China’s dangerous deployment of coast guard and maritime militia vessels in the South China Sea. The four sides agreed to undertake more joint maritime military exercises to increase interoperability through the sharing of information and intelligence.
East Asia
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Paris on May 6 for his two-day state visit to France. During his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, the two leaders agreed to expand cooperation in agri-food, finance, and other sectors, and advance joint R&D and innovation in areas including aviation, aerospace, and civil nuclear energy. The two sides signed various agreements in some sectors, such as electric vehicle batteries, and called for cooperation in other areas.
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Paris on May 6 for his two-day state visit to France. During his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, the two leaders agreed to expand cooperation in agri-food, finance, and other sectors, and advance joint R&D and innovation in areas including aviation, aerospace, and civil nuclear energy. The two sides signed various agreements in some sectors, such as electric vehicle batteries, and called for cooperation in other areas.
West Asia
On May 7, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) took control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, as part of a wider offensive against Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that the operation in Rafah serves two main objectives: the elimination of Hamas and the return of hostages. During his remarks at the ‘Holocaust Remembrance Day’ held in Jerusalem on May 5, PM Netanyahu reiterated that international pressure will not prevent Israel from defending itself.
On May 7, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) took control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, as part of a wider offensive against Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that the operation in Rafah serves two main objectives: the elimination of Hamas and the return of hostages. During his remarks at the ‘Holocaust Remembrance Day’ held in Jerusalem on May 5, PM Netanyahu reiterated that international pressure will not prevent Israel from defending itself.
Central Asia
The President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov arrived in Moscow to attend the jubilee Eurasian Economic Union Summit on May 8 and the celebrations of Victory Day in Moscow on May 9. Leaders of the Central Asian nations and other EAEU countries will gather for the jubilee EAEU summit, commemorating the 10th anniversary of signing the Eurasian Economic Union Treaty. Despite current tensions between Armenia and Russia, Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, who is currently the chair of the Union, will chair the jubilee summit and also hold a meeting with the Russian President.
The President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov arrived in Moscow to attend the jubilee Eurasian Economic Union Summit on May 8 and the celebrations of Victory Day in Moscow on May 9. Leaders of the Central Asian nations and other EAEU countries will gather for the jubilee EAEU summit, commemorating the 10th anniversary of signing the Eurasian Economic Union Treaty. Despite current tensions between Armenia and Russia, Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, who is currently the chair of the Union, will chair the jubilee summit and also hold a meeting with the Russian President.
Indian Ocean Region
On May 6, the Indian Naval Ships – Delhi, Shakti, and Kiltan arrived in Singapore as part of the operational deployment of the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet to the South China Sea. The delegation led by Rear Admiral Rajesh Dhankhar, Flag Officer Commanding the Eastern Fleet, Indian Navy, visited the Information Fusion Centre in Singapore on May 7, where they held deliberations on current maritime security threats and cross-pollination of ideas between IFC Singapore and IFC IOR
