India's Proximity Archives
Date: September 11, 2024
South Asia
India and the Maldives held their 5th Defence Cooperation Dialogue in New Delhi on September 6. The Indian delegation was led by Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, while the Maldivian delegation was headed by Chief of Maldives National Defence Force General lbrahim Hilmy. Both sides deliberated on expediting the implementation of various ongoing defence cooperation projects, capability development projects and increasing high-level exchanges. The aspect of participation in forthcoming bilateral military exercises was also discussed. On the side-lines of the dialogue, Major General Ibrahim Hilmy interacted with Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of Naval Staff, Indian Navy and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan. Meanwhile, according to the government spokesperson of Maldives, President Mohamed Muizzu will be visiting India ‘very soon’.
India and the Maldives held their 5th Defence Cooperation Dialogue in New Delhi on September 6. The Indian delegation was led by Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, while the Maldivian delegation was headed by Chief of Maldives National Defence Force General lbrahim Hilmy. Both sides deliberated on expediting the implementation of various ongoing defence cooperation projects, capability development projects and increasing high-level exchanges. The aspect of participation in forthcoming bilateral military exercises was also discussed. On the side-lines of the dialogue, Major General Ibrahim Hilmy interacted with Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of Naval Staff, Indian Navy and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan. Meanwhile, according to the government spokesperson of Maldives, President Mohamed Muizzu will be visiting India ‘very soon’.
Southeast Asia
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a two-day visit to Singapore from September 4- 5, his fifth visit to Singapore. He held meetings with Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, and called on President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. The leaders’ discussed ways to enhance cooperation through cross-border electricity trade and green ammonia supply chains, a joint flagship programme for skills training, enhancing cross-border data flows via the Gujarat International Finance and Tec-City (GIFT City), and cooperation in developing industrial parks in India. PM Modi oversaw the signing of four MOUs between India and Singapore in the areas of digital cooperation, education and skills development, health and medicine, and semiconductor ecosystem cooperation.
East Asia
On September 10, Admiral Sam Paparo, Head of the US Indo-Pacific Command, held a video telephone call with his Chinese counterpart Wu Yanan of the Southern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). This was the first theatre-level commander talk between the US and China. The official readout of the Chinese military stated that the two sides had an “in-depth exchange of views on issues of common concern”. Admiral Paparo characterised the discussions as “constructive and respectful” and urged PLA “to reconsider its use of dangerous, coercive and potentially escalatory tactics in the South China Sea and beyond”.
On September 10, Admiral Sam Paparo, Head of the US Indo-Pacific Command, held a video telephone call with his Chinese counterpart Wu Yanan of the Southern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). This was the first theatre-level commander talk between the US and China. The official readout of the Chinese military stated that the two sides had an “in-depth exchange of views on issues of common concern”. Admiral Paparo characterised the discussions as “constructive and respectful” and urged PLA “to reconsider its use of dangerous, coercive and potentially escalatory tactics in the South China Sea and beyond”.
West Asia
Continuing the deepening of India-UAE partnership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in New Delhi on September 9. The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the substantial progress in bilateral relations through the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT). In addition to signing MoUs/agreements on nuclear cooperation, LNG supply, crude storage, and food park development, they stressed the need to explore new areas of cooperation in nuclear energy, critical minerals, green hydrogen, artificial intelligence, and cutting-edge technologies. Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar attended the first India–GCC Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on September 9.
Continuing the deepening of India-UAE partnership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in New Delhi on September 9. The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the substantial progress in bilateral relations through the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT). In addition to signing MoUs/agreements on nuclear cooperation, LNG supply, crude storage, and food park development, they stressed the need to explore new areas of cooperation in nuclear energy, critical minerals, green hydrogen, artificial intelligence, and cutting-edge technologies. Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar attended the first India–GCC Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on September 9.
Central Asia
A meeting of the Secretariat of the C5 1 format, which brings together the Central Asian states and the United States of America, was held in Bishkek on September 3. Delegations from all Central Asian countries and the permanent co-chair from the United States, Ms. Kaitlyn Setola, participated in the event. Participants discussed key issues regarding the coordination of the Secretariat's work, enhancing cooperation between working groups, and implementing strategic projects in the fields of security, economy, energy, and the environment. The delegates emphasized the importance of strengthening regional cooperation and institutionalizing the C5 1 platform. The Kyrgyz Republic, in its role as co-chair, highlighted the need to further strengthen the Secretariat’s role and to develop concrete steps for the implementation of the roadmaps adopted at previous meetings.
Indian Ocean Region
On September 9, 2024, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan unveiled the Joint Doctrine for Amphibious Operations during the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) meeting in New Delhi. The doctrine aims to provide essential guidance to military commanders for conducting amphibious operations in today’s complex military environment. It enhances the Indian Armed Forces’ capability to execute a wide range of operations in the Indian Ocean Region. It exemplifies the cohesion and integration among the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Following the earlier release of the Joint Doctrine for Cyberspace Operations, this document marks the second joint doctrine released in 2024.
