India's Proximity Archives
Date: July 10, 2024
South Asia
The political situation in Nepal became unstable after CPN (UML) Chairman KP Sharma Oli announced withdrawal of support to the CPN (MC) leader Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ led government. On July 3, all the eight ministers representing the CPN-UML in the coalition government resigned en masse. Following the change in coalition in the centre, the CPN-UML also pulled out from provincial governments in Lumbini and Sudurpaschim provinces on July 4. Another coalition partner, Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), led by Ashok Kumar Rai, withdrew its support to the government on July 5. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal will seek a vote of confidence in the House of Representatives on July 12.
The political situation in Nepal became unstable after CPN (UML) Chairman KP Sharma Oli announced withdrawal of support to the CPN (MC) leader Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ led government. On July 3, all the eight ministers representing the CPN-UML in the coalition government resigned en masse. Following the change in coalition in the centre, the CPN-UML also pulled out from provincial governments in Lumbini and Sudurpaschim provinces on July 4. Another coalition partner, Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), led by Ashok Kumar Rai, withdrew its support to the government on July 5. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal will seek a vote of confidence in the House of Representatives on July 12.
Southeast Asia
The Philippines and Japan signed a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) at the presidential palace in Manila on July 8, 2024, as part of the Second Philippines-Japan 2 2 Ministerial Meeting. Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr witnessed the signing by Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Philippines Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. The Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara and Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo were also present. The landmark defence agreement allows both countries to deploy soldiers and conduct joint military exercises in each other’s territories.
East Asia
On July 4, on the sidelines of the 24th summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The two ministers were meeting for the third time in the past 12 months. The Ministry of External Affairs of India stated that the two Ministers had an in-depth exchange of views on finding an early resolution of remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to stabilise and rebuild bilateral relations. The statement also revealed that Dr Jaishankar stressed the need to redouble efforts to achieve complete disengagement from the remaining areas in Eastern Ladakh and restore border peace and tranquillity to remove obstacles to the return of normalcy between the two countries.
On July 4, on the sidelines of the 24th summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The two ministers were meeting for the third time in the past 12 months. The Ministry of External Affairs of India stated that the two Ministers had an in-depth exchange of views on finding an early resolution of remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to stabilise and rebuild bilateral relations. The statement also revealed that Dr Jaishankar stressed the need to redouble efforts to achieve complete disengagement from the remaining areas in Eastern Ladakh and restore border peace and tranquillity to remove obstacles to the return of normalcy between the two countries.
West Asia
On July 6, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Masoud Pezeshkian on being elected as the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. PM Modi reaffirmed India's commitment to further strengthen its warm and long-standing bilateral relations with Iran in the interests of both countries and the region. While President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian is considered a non-conservative (reformist) leader, the US is unlikely to change its negotiating position concerning the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA). The White House National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby stated that the US will not change its position on Iran as long as Tehran continues supplying drone technology to Russia that kills Ukrainians and supports terrorist groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
On July 6, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Masoud Pezeshkian on being elected as the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. PM Modi reaffirmed India's commitment to further strengthen its warm and long-standing bilateral relations with Iran in the interests of both countries and the region. While President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian is considered a non-conservative (reformist) leader, the US is unlikely to change its negotiating position concerning the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA). The White House National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby stated that the US will not change its position on Iran as long as Tehran continues supplying drone technology to Russia that kills Ukrainians and supports terrorist groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
Central Asia
The 24th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) adopted the Astana Declaration and approved 25 strategic documents covering energy, security, trade, finance, and information security on July 4. The declaration stressed the group’s commitment to building a more ‘representative, democratic, equitable, and multipolar world order’. It highlighted that cooperation within the organisation could form the basis for an equal and indivisible security architecture in Eurasia. During the Summit, key resolutions included cooperation programs to combat terrorism, separatism, and extremism for 2025-2027, the Anti-Drug Strategy for the next five years, and its corresponding Action Program. The People’s Republic of China assumed the SCO chairmanship for the next term.
Indian Ocean Region
Sri Lanka has decided to lift its ban on foreign research ships docking at its ports starting in 2025. The ban, imposed in January 2024 due to security concerns raised by India and the United States over frequent docking requests from Chinese surveillance vessels, will remain in effect until January 2025. Foreign Minister Ali Sabry conveyed the decision to NHK World Japan, stating that Sri Lanka cannot have different rules for different countries and only block China. He also added, “Sri Lanka will then no longer ban foreign research ships from its ports next year after the moratorium ends in January”.
