DPG Indo-Pacific Monitor
Indo-Pacific Monitor
Authors Commodore Lalit Kapur (Retd.)
, Divya Rai
Date: August 01, 2024
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Moscow for the annual bilateral summit on July 08-09, signalling that India continues to prioritise its strategic autonomy in the face of Western pressures to cut links with Russia over the Ukraine conflict. The signal was reinforced by INS Tabar visiting St. Petersburg on July 27-30 to participate in Russia’s Navy Day celebrations.
NATO celebrated its 75th anniversary at a summit in Washington D.C. from July 9-11. Four Indo-Pacific partner countries, Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand, joined in the final day’s deliberations for the third time.
Vietnam officially submitted its claim for an extended continental shelf in the South China Sea to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) on July 18, drawing a protest from China.
The Philippines and China reportedly reached an agreement on resupply arrangements by the Philippines in the Second Thomas Shoal on July 21. Differences, however, remained on the content of the agreement, with the two sides officially contradicting each other’s version of what had been agreed to.
Three 2+2 dialogues took place during the month. The first was Japan-Philippines, which was held on July 08 and witnessed the signing of a Reciprocal Access Agreement. The Japan-US 2+2 followed on July 28, resulting in upgrading of the US Military Command and Control arrangements in Japan. The US-Philippines 2+2 followed on July 30.
Quad Foreign Ministers met in Tokyo on July 29, reaffirming their commitment to a Free and Open Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient. They expressed serious concern about the situation in the South and East China Seas, as well as about militarisation of disputed features and coercive and intimidating manoeuvres in the South China Sea.
Meetings of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers and post AMM dialogues took place on July 27. Separate bilateral meetings between the Foreign Ministers of India, China and the US were held on the sidelines.
The July edition of the IMF World Economic Outlook projects world growth at 3.2% in 2024, rising to 3.3% in 2025. Emerging and developing Asia remain the world’s fastest growing region, while India remains the fastest growing major economy, with growth projected at 7.0% in 2024 and 6.5% in 2025.
An IAF contingent comprising Su-30 MKI fighters and associated support aircraft arrived at Darwin, Australia to participate in Exercise Pitch Black-2024. The exercise runs from July 12 – August 02.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group exercised with the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force in the Arabian Sea on July 12.
The first three Royal Australian Navy officers began practical training on the UK’s Astute-class submarines during the month.
The future INS Triput, the first of the two Project 1135.6 frigates being built by Goa Shipyard for the Indian Navy, was launched on July 23.
DRDO successfully flight-tested its Phase-II Ballistic Missile Defence System on July 24.
These and other developments are covered in this Indo-Pacific Monitor Vol. V, Issue 7. To read about them, please see the PDF attached.
NATO celebrated its 75th anniversary at a summit in Washington D.C. from July 9-11. Four Indo-Pacific partner countries, Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand, joined in the final day’s deliberations for the third time.
Vietnam officially submitted its claim for an extended continental shelf in the South China Sea to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) on July 18, drawing a protest from China.
The Philippines and China reportedly reached an agreement on resupply arrangements by the Philippines in the Second Thomas Shoal on July 21. Differences, however, remained on the content of the agreement, with the two sides officially contradicting each other’s version of what had been agreed to.
Three 2+2 dialogues took place during the month. The first was Japan-Philippines, which was held on July 08 and witnessed the signing of a Reciprocal Access Agreement. The Japan-US 2+2 followed on July 28, resulting in upgrading of the US Military Command and Control arrangements in Japan. The US-Philippines 2+2 followed on July 30.
Quad Foreign Ministers met in Tokyo on July 29, reaffirming their commitment to a Free and Open Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient. They expressed serious concern about the situation in the South and East China Seas, as well as about militarisation of disputed features and coercive and intimidating manoeuvres in the South China Sea.
Meetings of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers and post AMM dialogues took place on July 27. Separate bilateral meetings between the Foreign Ministers of India, China and the US were held on the sidelines.
The July edition of the IMF World Economic Outlook projects world growth at 3.2% in 2024, rising to 3.3% in 2025. Emerging and developing Asia remain the world’s fastest growing region, while India remains the fastest growing major economy, with growth projected at 7.0% in 2024 and 6.5% in 2025.
An IAF contingent comprising Su-30 MKI fighters and associated support aircraft arrived at Darwin, Australia to participate in Exercise Pitch Black-2024. The exercise runs from July 12 – August 02.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group exercised with the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force in the Arabian Sea on July 12.
The first three Royal Australian Navy officers began practical training on the UK’s Astute-class submarines during the month.
The future INS Triput, the first of the two Project 1135.6 frigates being built by Goa Shipyard for the Indian Navy, was launched on July 23.
DRDO successfully flight-tested its Phase-II Ballistic Missile Defence System on July 24.
These and other developments are covered in this Indo-Pacific Monitor Vol. V, Issue 7. To read about them, please see the PDF attached.
