Category: Politics

Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam was greeted ceremonially at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday by President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking his first state visit to India. The visit coincides with the 60th anniversary of India-Singapore diplomatic relations.

President Tharman emphasised Singapore’s strong relationship with India, citing India’s acceptance of Singapore’s independence in 1965. He hailed the bilateral relationship as a “natural partnership,” citing Singapore as India’s largest investor and vital defence ally.

During Prime Minister Modi’s September 2024 visit to Singapore, he mentioned the upgrade to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Both countries are currently investigating collaborations in advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, net-zero industrial parks, and new industry training. Furthermore, digitisation and sustainability are major priority areas.

“Singapore is deeply invested in India’s ambition to achieve Viksit Bharat by 2047,” President Tharman added.

On Wednesday, he held high-level meetings with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar about semiconductors, industrial parks, digitalisation, and trade. He will meet with President Murmu and Prime Minister Modi, accompanied by a delegation of ministers and officials, before heading to Odisha.

The Ministry of External Affairs reiterated the strong ties between the two countries, which are founded on friendship and trust, and emphasised the importance of the visit in forging deeper cooperation.

India welcomed Israel and Hamas’ cease-fire agreement, expressing optimism for continued humanitarian supplies to Gaza, where over 40,000 Palestinians have died during the 15-month conflict. The Ministry of External Affairs remarked, “We support the agreement for hostage release and truce in Gaza. We hope that this assures safe and ongoing humanitarian aid. India has continuously called for a cease-fire, hostage release, and talks.

The arrangement, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, comes ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, during which he warned Hamas of serious consequences if hostages remained captive.

The cease-fire, which takes effect on January 19, is divided into three parts. Phase one entails a six-week truce in which Hamas releases 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children, and the elderly, in exchange for Palestinian inmates. The second phase will see the release of all hostages, with the goal of achieving a permanent peace and complete Israeli disengagement. Egypt, Qatar, and the UN will oversee the third phase, which will include humanitarian aid, reconstruction, and the return of deceased victims to their families.

Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam landed in New Delhi on Tuesday night on a five-day state visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations in a variety of areas. This is his first visit to India as President of Singapore, accompanied by a high-level team. Union Minister Jitin Prasada met him at the airport.

The visit commemorates the 60th anniversary of India and Singapore’s diplomatic ties. External Affairs Ministry spokeswoman Randhir Jaiswal emphasised the significance of the occasion, remarking on ‘X,’ “A special celebration of the 60th anniversary of #IndiaSingapore diplomatic relations.”

Tharman will be greeted ceremonially at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday before meeting with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the visit would boost bilateral relations, which were upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Singapore in September 2024.

The visit will also officially kick off the celebrations of six decades of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Tharman is expected to visit Odisha from January 17 to 18.

This visit highlights India and Singapore’s long-standing and growing partnership, highlighting shared commitments to regional stability and economic cooperation.

Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam will visit India from January 14 to 18, 2025, accompanied by a high-level delegation. This is his first visit to India as president, and it coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, according to the MEA.

On January 16, President Tharman will be welcomed ceremonially at Rashtrapati Bhawan and will meet with President Droupadi Murmu, who will organise a banquet in his honour. Meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and other dignitaries are also planned. His schedule includes a visit to Odisha from January 17 to 18.

India and Singapore have a longstanding relationship based on trust and mutual respect. The cooperation was upgraded to comprehensive strategic cooperation during PM Modi’s September 2024 visit to Singapore. Defence, security, education, artificial intelligence, fintech, and green corridor projects are all important areas of collaboration.

Singapore is India’s major trade partner in ASEAN and the world’s sixth largest. In 2023-24, bilateral trade totalled $35.61 billion, representing 29% of India’s ASEAN trade. Singapore is also the leading source of foreign direct investment, with $11.77 billion spent in 2023-24 and a total FDI of $159.94 billion since 2000.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is in the UAE for a three-day working visit, with a focus on strengthening economic and strategic partnerships.

On Monday, Anwar met with heads of UAE sovereign wealth funds, including Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority Managing Director Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Mubadala CEO Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak. Later, he travelled to Dubai to meet with UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at Za’abeel Palace. Discussions included renewable energy, food and energy security, artificial intelligence, data centres, and global challenges.

Anwar’s visit, at Sheikh Mohammed’s request, will include attendance during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW 2025). Key activities include a dialogue about ASEAN’s future energy and trade, the Zayed Sustainability Prize Awards, and the ‘Youth 4 Sustainability’ forum.

On Tuesday, Anwar will meet with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and witness the signing of the Malaysia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which will enhance trade and investment.

The UAE is Malaysia’s second-largest Middle Eastern commercial partner, with bilateral trade expected to reach RM39.53 billion (US$8.61 billion) by 2024.

According to a senior Indian government official, India is close to finalizing a preliminary deal with Mongolia on geology and exploration. The agreement comes as India looks to diversify its supply of vital minerals. 

Mongolia, a landlocked country, has huge supplies of copper and coking coal, which are critical to India’s expanding demands in power generation, building, electric vehicles, and steel manufacturing.

“The Indian cabinet has approved the MoU, and both nations are expected to sign it soon,” said the official. While the Indian federal mines ministry and Mongolia’s Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry have yet to react, major Indian corporations such as Adani, Hindalco, and Vedanta are allegedly interested in purchasing copper from Mongolia.

Indian and Mongolian officials are looking into supply routes, with India preferring the Vladivostok route in Russia over the more accessible Chinese option. “Despite the longer distance, we prefer the route through Russia,” the official said, reflecting India’s fragile relationship with China following the 2020 border confrontation.

Industry analysts emphasize Mongolia’s ability to produce high-quality coking coal. According to reports, JSW Steel and the state-run Steel Authority of India (SAIL) are already in discussions about importing coking coal from Mongolia to fulfil increased demand.

During a delegation-level discussion with his Maldivian counterpart, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reaffirmed India’s steadfast commitment to improving its ties with the Maldives. The meeting aimed to strengthen cooperation and identify opportunities for collaborative growth between the two countries.

Singh reflected on President Mohamed Muizzu’s recent state visit to India, recognizing its importance in altering bilateral relations. “President Muizzu’s visit in October 2024 gave a new direction for our partnership. “The Joint Vision Document, which was released during the visit, serves as a guiding principle for our shared goals,” he explained.

Additionally, he added that both nations have strong spiritual, cultural, and ethnic links, describing their relationship as “close, cordial, and multidimensional.” He highlighted the Maldives’ critical position in India’s Neighbourhood First Policy, which aims to promote security and prosperity in the Indian Ocean area.

Furthermore, Singh emphasized India’s support for capacity building through training programs, joint exercises, and equipment provision. “India remains a trusted partner, committed to supporting the Maldives National Defence Force in its development and welfare efforts,” the minister said.

India’s long-standing cultural and economic links with the Maldives, backed by strategic geographical proximity, remain the foundation of their collaboration.

Malaysia and Singapore have announced plans to establish a special economic zone at the Johor-Singapore border, to increase investment opportunities and streamline people and goods movements. The zone, located in Malaysia’s southern Johor state and connected to Singapore by a bustling causeway, will benefit from one of the world’s busiest land border crossings, which is utilised by over 300,000 people every day.

The zone, which spans 3,571 square kilometres—nearly five times the size of Singapore—provides Singaporean enterprises with much-needed expansion space, access to low-cost labour, and a wider talent pool. For Malaysia, the program improves access to Singapore’s world-class maritime and air connectivity. Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong praised the project as an opportunity to “jointly attract more investments,” highlighting both countries’ complementing assets.

Malaysia’s economic minister, Rafizi Ramli, proposed incentives like tax exemptions, subsidies, and streamlined procedures, with the goal of creating 20,000 skilled jobs through 50 projects over the next five years. Furthermore, infrastructure funds and specific support mechanisms will encourage enterprises to start operations.

Meanwhile, Singapore is still open to reviewing proposals for a high-speed rail link that was shelved in 2021, highlighting the region’s collaborative attitude.

Indonesia has officially joined the BRICS bloc of developing economies as a full member, the group’s presiding country, Brazil, declared on Monday. This milestone comes after Indonesia’s endorsement by BRICS leaders in August 2023, as announced by Brazil’s Foreign Ministry, which holds the group’s leadership in 2025. Despite getting previous approval, Indonesia chose to register its entry only after forming a newly elected government last year.

“The Brazilian government welcomes Indonesia’s entry into BRICS,” the Brazilian government announced. “As Southeast Asia’s largest economy and most populous nation, Indonesia aligns with the bloc’s commitment to reforming global governance institutions and strengthening South-South cooperation.”

Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that its participation indicates the country’s increased involvement in global issues and commitment to advancing multilateral collaboration.

BRICS was founded in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China and expanded to include South Africa in 2010. Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates have recently joined the bloc, diversifying it even further. China applauded Indonesia’s inclusion, acknowledging its potential as a “major force in the Global South.”

Prior to Indonesia’s admission, BRICS accounted for approximately 45% of the world’s population and 35% of GDP assessed by purchasing power parity.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the Bharatpol platform in New Delhi on Tuesday, signalling a transformative step in India’s crime-fighting capabilities. Designed to improve international investigations, the site allows for seamless communication between Indian law enforcement authorities and Interpol, closing significant gaps in global crime-fighting efforts.

Shah noted that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was previously the only agency that communicated with Interpol. BHARATPOL enables all Indian law enforcement agencies and state police forces to communicate directly with Interpol, expediting processes such as issuing Red Notices and monitoring international fugitives.

The web would also allow agencies to evaluate worldwide crime trends, enabling them to predict and prevent crimes in India. Shah stated that Bharatpol’s advanced features will enable Indian law enforcement to discover, trace, and apprehend criminals operating locally or abroad.

Furthermore, Bharatpol enables the effective transmission of criminal data among Interpol’s 195 member countries, resulting in timely responses to global crime threats. Shah praised the platform’s ability to transform crime prevention strategies and boost India’s position in international law enforcement.

Additionally, at the inaugural event, Shah also presented 35 CBI officers with honours, including the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to investigation and law enforcement.