Quad
Senior officials from India, Japan, Australia, and the United States (US), which make up the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), met virtually on Thursday to discuss global efforts to end the COVID-19 pandemic through vaccine cooperation. They also talked about ways to promote security in the Indo-Pacific and tackle regional challenges together.
The meeting reviewed the progress made towards addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and focused on enhancing vaccine production and equitable access through the Quad Vaccine partnership, announced during the Quad Leaders’ Summit in March. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the officials discussed “the wide-ranging impact of COVID-19 in the Indo-Pacific region, and the importance of collaborative efforts to contain the pandemic, ensure health security and a quick economic recovery.”
Moreover, all sides acknowledged the need to promote maritime security. “The officials welcomed the fact that a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ is a vision for the peace and prosperity of the region, and its importance in the post-COVID world is increasing,” the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated. Furthermore, the US State Department stressed the Quad’s role in “supporting countries vulnerable to coercive actions in the Indo-Pacific region”, a possible reference to Chinese actions in the region.
According to a statement released by the Australian Foreign Affairs Department, the officials discussed the deteriorating situation in Myanmar, including the country’s COVID-19 crisis and its implications for regional security. “They reiterated calls for an immediate cessation of violence and the release of all those arbitrarily detained,” the statement read, adding that officials “reaffirmed their support for ASEAN-led efforts to chart a course out of the crisis.”
IBSA Academic Forum
On Wednesday, Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh inaugurated the two-day IBSA Academic Forum. Currently, India holds the chairship of the IBSA, which brings Brazil, South Africa, and India together through their joint commitment to democracy and their challenges. It has been celebrated for facilitating “South-South” cooperation.
The event, which concluded on Thursday, was conducted by the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), an autonomous think-tank of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. The forum saw discussions on economic partnership, economic integration, cooperation in resilient value chains, and strengthening development cooperation. The event has three plenary sessions: ‘Post-Pandemic imperatives for access to finance and economic recovery’; ‘IBSA cooperation on trade and resilient value chains’; and ‘creating post-pandemic resilience through technology and inclusive social sector development.’
The Indian Minister said, “India, Brazil and South Africa, united in their practice of democratic ideals and longstanding battle against uprooting colonial legacies, have high stakes in expediting reforms of multilateral bodies including the UN, the IMF, the World Bank, the WTO and the WHO.” In this regard, he underscored the importance of alliances like the IBSA in the Global South, which can help the countries to achieve sustainable development while paying heed to values such as equality, non-conditionality, and non-interference.
The Minister also celebrated the IBSA’s fellowship programme, which made an “indelible contribution to advancing partnership and collaboration.” A press release stated, “He also noted the IBSA Fund which has performed exceptionally well all through these years since its inception, and represents a model of cooperation that truly reinforces the ‘southern development’ narrative and advances multilateral solutions for achieving SDGs.”
Singapore
On Wednesday, India and Singapore virtually conducted the 15th Foreign Office Consultations. Riva Ganguly Das, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, represented India, and Chee Wee Kiong, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led the Singaporean delegation.
According to a statement published by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, “Both sides reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations and expressed their satisfaction that despite the pandemic, considerable substance and content had been added to the bilateral relationship, especially in trade and defence cooperation.” In addition, they spoke of bolstering their economic cooperation and enhancing people-to-people ties. The Indian side also expressed its gratitude for the Singaporean government’s support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Singapore is the country coordinator for India at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) from 2021 to 2024. Therefore, the leaders also held in-depth discussions on ASEAN-India relations and other regional and international issues of concern. The meeting came less than a week following the 28th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Foreign Ministers Meet. In the meeting, the Indian side spoke of New Delhi’s stand on the Indo-Pacific conflict, terrorism, and the importance of UNCLOS.
Significantly, the delegations discussed their cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. The two sides have been enhancing their defence cooperation over the past few years. In January, they virtually conducted their 5th Defence Ministers’ Dialogue. It marked enhanced cooperation between “all three Services of the Armed Forces as well as in the areas of defence technology and industry.”
Following the meeting, Singapore’s Vice-Prime Minister, Heng Swee Keat, said India should increase its participation in Southeast Asia. He highlighted that relations between the two countries had been flourishing since the conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement in 2005. He said, “India has an important role to play in contributing to the diversification of the global supply chain and making it more resilient.” The Vice-Prime Minister also invited India to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
India and Singapore’s defence cooperation is guided by several bilateral pacts that the two sides have formulated over the last ten years. The Indian military helps Singapore train its mechanised forces in Babina, and Singapore also has access to the Changipur test range in Odisha. The two sides also have several naval pacts that allow them to use each others bases and access faculties for logistical support.
United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi chaired a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) discussion on “Enhancing Maritime Security–A Case for International Cooperation” on Monday, a week into India’s month-long presidency of the Council.
The UNSC unanimously adopted the ‘Presidential [India’s] Statement’ that acknowledged threats to maritime security and underscored the importance of the 2000 United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime. It was the Council’s first statement on maritime security. The discussion was also significant because Modi is the first Indian PM to chair a meeting on maritime cooperation.
The meeting was attended by several other leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
In his address, PM Modi urged the UNSC members to adopt a “framework of mutual understanding and cooperation” and highlighted five principles of maritime security, including trade disputes, natural disasters, environment, and connectivity. He said that “joint efforts” will be required to work on these issues.
Highlighting the importance of cooperating on these fronts, he said, “The sea is our shared heritage. Our sea routes are the lifeline of international trade.” Modi also condemned the use of sea routes for piracy and terrorism and regretted the rise in maritime disputes between countries.
Indian Diplomacy: Weekly Round-Up (7-13 August, 2021)
This week, Indian authorities convened several meetings with officials from the Quad and Singapore, among others.
August 13, 2021
SOURCE: PTI