India's Proximity Archives
Date: January 17, 2024
South Asia
On January 14, the India-Maldives High-Level Core Group held its first meeting in Male. Both sides engaged in discussions during the meeting, focusing on bilateral matters, including the search for a viable solution to maintain the operation of Indian aviation platforms that offer humanitarian and medvac services to the people of Maldives. Two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft from India are in operation in the Maldives. After the meeting, Abduallah Nazim, the Policy Director of the Maldives President’s Office, stated that President Muizzu suggested the “withdrawal of Indian troops from Maldives by March 15.”
On January 14, the India-Maldives High-Level Core Group held its first meeting in Male. Both sides engaged in discussions during the meeting, focusing on bilateral matters, including the search for a viable solution to maintain the operation of Indian aviation platforms that offer humanitarian and medvac services to the people of Maldives. Two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft from India are in operation in the Maldives. After the meeting, Abduallah Nazim, the Policy Director of the Maldives President’s Office, stated that President Muizzu suggested the “withdrawal of Indian troops from Maldives by March 15.”
Southeast Asia
Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo commenced a three-day state visit to Hanoi on January 11. During his meeting with Vietnam President Vo Van Thuong, the two leaders discussed maritime security in the disputed South China Sea, bilateral cooperation, and environmental issues. The two countries’ delegations also signed a document on closer cooperation between their fisheries and MOUs in the fields of information technology and communications.
East Asia
The leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, on January 15 addressed the Supreme People’s Assembly and called for a constitutional amendment to eliminate the idea of shared statehood. Kim Jong Un stated that ‘unification with the South was no longer possible’ and accused Seoul of seeking regime collapse and unification by absorption. The state-run KCNA news agency quoted Kim saying, “We don’t want war, but we have no intention of avoiding it”. As a result of this declaration, North Korea will be closing three agencies that oversee unification and inter-Korean tourism.
West Asia
India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, met with Iran’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Tehran on January 15. The two leaders discussed issues such as connectivity through Chabahar port and INSTC, maritime threats, the current situation in Gaza, Afghanistan, and Ukraine, as well as ‘BRICS’ cooperation. Meanwhile, on January 10, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution condemning “in the strongest terms” the attacks by Houthi rebels on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, met with Iran’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Tehran on January 15. The two leaders discussed issues such as connectivity through Chabahar port and INSTC, maritime threats, the current situation in Gaza, Afghanistan, and Ukraine, as well as ‘BRICS’ cooperation. Meanwhile, on January 10, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution condemning “in the strongest terms” the attacks by Houthi rebels on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
China
China and the Maldives upgraded their relationship during newly elected President Mohamed Muizzu’s first state visit to Beijing from January 8-12. The Maldives signed several new agreements with China – its largest external creditor on January 10, including ones on climate, agriculture and infrastructure. No details about the value of the deals were shared by either side.
Central Asia
On January 15, a meeting was held between the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Alikhan Smayilov and the Vice President of the European Commission, Margaritis Schinas, in Astana, to discuss European investment in Central Asia and the strengthening of trade and economic relations between Kazakhstan and the European Union. The parties engaged in discussions regarding increasing trade turnover, attracting investments, enhancing cooperation in transport and logistics and augmenting industrial cooperation.
