India's Proximity Archives
Date: July 31, 2024
South Asia
The Sri Lankan Election Commission officially announced the date for Presidential elections which will be conducted on September 21, 2024. The Gazette Notification said that the nominations would be accepted till August 15. Four candidates have officially submitted their nominations for the Presidential Election including Ranil Wickremesinghe (Independent) Sarath Keerthirathne (Independent), Oshala Herath (Abhinawa Niwahal Peramuna), ASP Liyanage (Sri Lanka Workers Party). Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka has also declared his candidacy. Meanwhile, 92 of the 225 Members of Parliament pledged their support to President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The Sri Lankan Election Commission officially announced the date for Presidential elections which will be conducted on September 21, 2024. The Gazette Notification said that the nominations would be accepted till August 15. Four candidates have officially submitted their nominations for the Presidential Election including Ranil Wickremesinghe (Independent) Sarath Keerthirathne (Independent), Oshala Herath (Abhinawa Niwahal Peramuna), ASP Liyanage (Sri Lanka Workers Party). Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka has also declared his candidacy. Meanwhile, 92 of the 225 Members of Parliament pledged their support to President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Southeast Asia
The ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers Meeting was convened in Vientiane, Lao PDR on July 26, 2024. The meeting was co-chaired by the Minister of External Affairs of India S. Jaishankar and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore, Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan. The representatives underscored priority areas of cooperation - digital, defence, maritime, connectivity, security, health, traditional medicine and cultural heritage preservation. The Ministers also exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues of common interest such as the situation in Myanmar and the conflict in Gaza. Dr. Jaishankar reiterated India’s commitment to keeping the Sea Lines of Communication open and free and shared Quad’s outlook on ASEAN and AOIP.
East Asia
The United States, Japan, Australia, and India convened the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Tokyo, Japan on July 29, 2024. The meeting was attended by Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State; Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs Australia; Ms. Kamikawa Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan; and Dr. S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India. In the joint statement, the four leaders expressed concern about the situation in the East China Sea and the militarization of disputed features and coercive and intimidating manoeuvres in the South China Sea. Addressing the post meeting press conference, Dr. S. Jaishankar underscored the numerous areas of cooperation of Quad countries in critical and emerging technologies, cyber and health security, climate action, infrastructure, capacity building and training, STEM education, maritime domain awareness and counter-terrorism.
West Asia
Hamas’ Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Iran’s capital Tehran on July 31. Iranian state media informed that Haniyeh's residence in northern Tehran had been struck by an airborne projectile and that further investigation was underway to determine the details of the attack. Hamas accused Israel of killing Ismail Haniyeh. Meanwhile, the Israeli town of Majdal Shams situated in the Golan Heights was attacked by rockets from Lebanon on July 27, killing 12 Druze youngsters. Israel and the US accused Hezbollah of attacking the Golan Heights and the IDF killed Hezbollah's military commander Fuad Shukr in an airstrike in Lebanon’s capital Beirut.
Central Asia
On July 25, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk and Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin, co-chairs of the bilateral intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation between the two countries, met in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana. The ministers reviewed the progress of projects in tourism and prospects for deepening integration processes within the Eurasian Economic Union. During the bilateral meeting, they discussed the possibility of increasing cargo flow from Russia on the eastern branch of the “North-South” corridor through the “Bolashak” railway station. Deputy Prime Minister Overchuk emphasised the importance of also developing transportation routes to connect with the People’s Republic of China. He highlighted that Russia-Kazakhstan interaction, as part of the EAEU integration, plays a significant role in strengthening bilateral relations.
On July 25, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk and Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin, co-chairs of the bilateral intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation between the two countries, met in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana. The ministers reviewed the progress of projects in tourism and prospects for deepening integration processes within the Eurasian Economic Union. During the bilateral meeting, they discussed the possibility of increasing cargo flow from Russia on the eastern branch of the “North-South” corridor through the “Bolashak” railway station. Deputy Prime Minister Overchuk emphasised the importance of also developing transportation routes to connect with the People’s Republic of China. He highlighted that Russia-Kazakhstan interaction, as part of the EAEU integration, plays a significant role in strengthening bilateral relations.
Indian Ocean Region
INS Tabar visited St. Petersburg from July 25 to 30, 2024 to participate in celebrations of the 328th anniversary of the Russian Navy. During this event, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin greeted Indian Navy personnel aboard INS Tabar and reviewed the parade on the Neva River, which included 20 Russian surface ships, gunboats, four sailing vessels, and a submarine.
