India’s Proximity Archives
Date: March 06, 2024
South Asia
On March 4, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. He secured the support of 201 of National Assembly member as against the 92 votes secured by his opponent Omar Ayub. Sharif extended an olive branch to the PTI in his victory speech and promised the empowerment of women, eradication of militants, and reforms in the IT sector, prisons, and the justice system. Meanwhile, PTI leaders and workers continued to stage protests across the country against the alleged rigging in the general elections.
On March 4, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. He secured the support of 201 of National Assembly member as against the 92 votes secured by his opponent Omar Ayub. Sharif extended an olive branch to the PTI in his victory speech and promised the empowerment of women, eradication of militants, and reforms in the IT sector, prisons, and the justice system. Meanwhile, PTI leaders and workers continued to stage protests across the country against the alleged rigging in the general elections.
Southeast Asia
The 2024 ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, marking 50 years of cooperative relations, commenced in Melbourne on March 4, 2024. Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, stated that “Australia and ASEAN must work together to turn their natural connection into a more practical cooperation on marine sustainability and security”. Penny Wong, Australia’s Foreign Minister, announced a funding of 64 million Australian dollars (USD 41.8m) for maritime security to ASEAN. The funding is to assist in efforts by Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines to “delimit their maritime boundaries”. In addition, Australia has also set up a 2 billion Australian dollars (US$1.3 billion) finance facility aimed at boosting trade and investment in Southeast Asia.
The 2024 ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, marking 50 years of cooperative relations, commenced in Melbourne on March 4, 2024. Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, stated that “Australia and ASEAN must work together to turn their natural connection into a more practical cooperation on marine sustainability and security”. Penny Wong, Australia’s Foreign Minister, announced a funding of 64 million Australian dollars (USD 41.8m) for maritime security to ASEAN. The funding is to assist in efforts by Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines to “delimit their maritime boundaries”. In addition, Australia has also set up a 2 billion Australian dollars (US$1.3 billion) finance facility aimed at boosting trade and investment in Southeast Asia.
East Asia
On March 5, China announced it will boost its defence spending for 2024 to 1.67 trillion Yuan (about $232 billion), an increase of 7.2 percent over last year. The figure amounts to about 40% of China’s government spending. The official budget figure announced at the opening of the legislature’s annual meeting, which amounts to 1.3% of China’s GDP, is considered only a fraction of spending by the People’s Liberation Army.
On March 5, China announced it will boost its defence spending for 2024 to 1.67 trillion Yuan (about $232 billion), an increase of 7.2 percent over last year. The figure amounts to about 40% of China’s government spending. The official budget figure announced at the opening of the legislature’s annual meeting, which amounts to 1.3% of China’s GDP, is considered only a fraction of spending by the People’s Liberation Army.
West Asia
On March 1, India expressed “deep shock” at the loss of lives during the delivery of humanitarian aid in northern Gaza. According to the Israeli military, the majority of Palestinians killed were run over by humanitarian aid supply vehicles during a stampede in northern Gaza. Meanwhile, on March 5, shortly after an Indian national was killed and two others were injured in a missile strike near the Israel-Lebanon border, India issued a travel advisory urging Indians living/working in Israel’s border areas in the north and south to relocate. Israeli Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant warned that Hezbollah’s aggression at the Israel-Lebanon border could lead to military escalation.
On March 1, India expressed “deep shock” at the loss of lives during the delivery of humanitarian aid in northern Gaza. According to the Israeli military, the majority of Palestinians killed were run over by humanitarian aid supply vehicles during a stampede in northern Gaza. Meanwhile, on March 5, shortly after an Indian national was killed and two others were injured in a missile strike near the Israel-Lebanon border, India issued a travel advisory urging Indians living/working in Israel’s border areas in the north and south to relocate. Israeli Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant warned that Hezbollah’s aggression at the Israel-Lebanon border could lead to military escalation.
Central Asia
Germany welcomed the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia for two days of peace talks, five months after Azerbaijan ‘recaptured’ the Karabakh region, prompting the mass exodus of ethnic Armenians. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock met separately with her Azerbaijani and Armenian counterparts on February 28 before hosting the trilateral meeting on February 29. The Ministers discussed perspectives on the provisions of the draft bilateral Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Baerbock’s offer of mending relations come after Chancellor Olaf Scholz arranged a brief trilateral meeting at the Munich Security Conference two weeks ago, which included Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
Germany welcomed the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia for two days of peace talks, five months after Azerbaijan ‘recaptured’ the Karabakh region, prompting the mass exodus of ethnic Armenians. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock met separately with her Azerbaijani and Armenian counterparts on February 28 before hosting the trilateral meeting on February 29. The Ministers discussed perspectives on the provisions of the draft bilateral Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Baerbock’s offer of mending relations come after Chancellor Olaf Scholz arranged a brief trilateral meeting at the Munich Security Conference two weeks ago, which included Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
Indian Ocean Region
During a video conference on February 29, the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Mr. Pravind Jugnauth, jointly inaugurated the new airstrip and St. James Jetty, along with six community development projects, at the Agalega Island in Mauritius. The projects are intended to fulfil the demand for better connectivity between mainland Mauritius and Agalega and foster socio-economic development. The event marks the fifth meeting between both leaders in the past six months and follows the recent launch of UPI and RuPay services by the two leaders on February 12, 2024.
During a video conference on February 29, the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Mr. Pravind Jugnauth, jointly inaugurated the new airstrip and St. James Jetty, along with six community development projects, at the Agalega Island in Mauritius. The projects are intended to fulfil the demand for better connectivity between mainland Mauritius and Agalega and foster socio-economic development. The event marks the fifth meeting between both leaders in the past six months and follows the recent launch of UPI and RuPay services by the two leaders on February 12, 2024.
