Indo-Pacific Monitor
The 16th India-Japan Summit held in New Delhi on July 02 saw the announcement of the first bilateral defence co-development project, for the UNICORN naval ship antenna. The author explores the evolution of bilateral defence cooperation over the years, observing that the real potential of the relationship to advance regional stability lies in increased defence industrial collaboration.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Indonesia from July 07-08, the first leg of his tour of the Indo-Pacific. A significant development was the announcement that India would export Brahmos and Astra missiles to Indonesia. However, bilateral trade and investment have not delivered on potential, while defence and maritime security cooperation is still at a nascent stage.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Australia followed from July 08-10, continuing the transformation in bilateral relations. Significant outcomes were an upgraded joint declaration on defence and security cooperation, a maritime security cooperation roadmap, a joint statement on energy security, finalisation of the administrative arrangement for the bilateral civil nuclear agreement, and the announcement of a partnership for cyber, critical technologies and supply chains.
In the final leg, PM Modi visited New Zealand from July 10-11, reflecting India’s expanding relationships in Oceania. This was the first visit by an Indian PM to that country in four decades. New Zealand became India’s 46th strategic partner, and the two countries set ambitious targets for the next five years.
Quad Foreign Ministers met in Manila on July 22 and reiterated their unwavering support for ASEAN unity and centrality. They discussed opportunities to strengthen support for implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.
The fragile ceasefire between Iran and the US broke down during the month. The US reimposed its blockade of Iranian ports, revoked its permission for Iran to export oil and repeatedly struck Iranian targets, while Iran’s countered with missile and drone strikes on US bases in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan. Meanwhile, the Houthis declared a blockade on Saudi ships using the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb.
India commissioned two warships, INS Mahendragiri and INS Malvan, during the month. India also conducted Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 at Kochi from July 20-23, as part of its ongoing leadership of the Coalition Maritime Force’s CTF 154. Ships of India’s Eastern Fleet completed their annual deployment to the Western Pacific with visits to Ho Chi Minh City, Sattahip and Singapore.
China continued to demonstrate its growing military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific through the first test of a Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile on July 6, live-firing exercises in the vicinity of a Japan-claimed island in the Philippines Sea, and physical enforcement of its claims in the Second Thomas Shoal and Scarborough Shoal.
To read this Issue please click Indo-Pacific Monitor Vol. VII, Issue 7.
