Category: Politics

On Tuesday, Brazil and France initiated a joint investment programme aimed at safeguarding the Amazon rainforest in Brazil and Guyana, committing 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) from public and private sources over four years. 

French President Emmanuel Macron announced the initiative during his visit to Brazil, where he met with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Belem.

In a joint statement, both leaders pledged to collaborate in protecting tropical forests, aiming to halt Amazon deforestation by 2030 to mitigate global warming. This commitment precedes Brazil’s hosting of the COP30 climate talks in 2025. Their agenda includes developing financial instruments and market mechanisms for environmental preservation. 

Macron and Lula met with Indigenous elders and went to see a sustainable chocolate production plant. Raoni Metuktire, an Indigenous leader, received the Legion of Honour from Macron for his environmental advocacy.

A 1,000-kilometre railway called Ferrograo, supported by soy growers, alarmed Raoni because of what she saw as its detrimental effects on Indigenous communities. After disagreements during President Jair Bolsonaro’s administration, ties between France and Brazil are mending despite prior hostilities. Officials from France voiced hope for the revival of bilateral relations.

On Tuesday, the Indian Coast Guard ship Samudra Paheredar, a specialised Pollution Control Vessel stationed in Manila Bay, Philippines, participated in a bilateral maritime cooperation initiative. The vessel is equipped with advanced marine pollution control gear and a Chetak Helicopter.

This deployment will be from March 25 to April 12 and will address marine pollution concerns and enhance cooperation with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). This step marks the third consecutive mission to ASEAN countries. Earlier, it visited Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia in 2023.

To provide equipment demos and training on pollution response, the ship arranges port calls in Muara, Ho Chi Minh City, and Manila. Additionally, the ship is carrying 25 National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets who will take part in beach cleanup efforts as part of the ‘Puneet Sagar Abhiyan’.

By strengthening the current Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with the Coast Guards of the Philippines and Vietnam, this tour also strengthens bilateral connections. Professional exchanges, cooperative exercises, and visits aimed at enhancing capacity are all on the programme, demonstrating India’s dedication to regional maritime security and safety.

 General Sudhir Ravindran, the Samudra Paheredar, has a proven track record in various Coast Guard operations, including pollution response, surveillance, counter-crime, and search and rescue missions.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken praises the significant growth in defence cooperation with the Philippines, reaffirming the US commitment to protect the Philippines against aggression in the South China Sea. Blinken’s visit to Manila highlights US support for regional allies.

Amidst China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea, Blinken’s visit aims to reinforce solidarity with the Philippines, particularly following recent incidents involving Philippine and Chinese vessels.

Blinken emphasises the security and economic interests of the Philippines, stressing the region’s strategic significance while reaffirming the United States’ commitment to safeguarding its allies by establishing mutual defence treaties. However, China disapproves of American intervention in the South China Sea and asserts that it lacks jurisdiction over maritime disputes.

Blinken’s current visit precedes a trilateral summit in Washington involving US President Joe Biden, President Marcos, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, focusing on promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific. During the visit, Blinken is expected to reassure

Marcos continued US security commitments, particularly regarding potential armed attacks against Philippine assets, invoking the 1951 US-Philippines mutual defence treaty. Marcos has expressed concern over recent tensions with China, prompting diplomatic exchanges between Manila and Beijing.

On Monday, Mexico’s top presidential contender, Claudia Sheinbaum, pledged continued support for state-owned Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) while advocating for renewable energy. In contrast to the perspective of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Sheinbaum is committed to strengthening Mexico’s renewable energy capabilities.

Additionally, she plans to maintain Pemex’s daily crude production at approximately 1.8 million barrels, meeting additional demand for renewable energy. She confirms that Pemex and the Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) will continue to operate as public entities, with strategies to increase refinery efficiency, reduce petroleum imports, and broaden Pemex’s involvement in lithium extraction and renewable energy production via thermal processes.

Furthermore, she emphasises strengthening Pemex amid climate change challenges while maintaining its significance to Mexico. Key aspects of her plan include halting gas flaring, enhancing Pemex’s sustainability, and ensuring stable fuel and electricity prices.

She proposes boosting energy transmission networks, upholding CFE’s dominance in the electricity market, and implementing stricter emissions and energy efficiency standards. Sheinbaum further places emphasis on the expansion of the electric vehicle industry.

The strategy emphasises her dual approach, which involves encouraging renewable energy initiatives while maintaining Pemex’s traditional role in oil production. This is done in support of a balanced energy strategy that is in line with climate objectives.

On Tuesday, Hong Kong’s legislature passed a new national security law, known as Article 23, unanimously within two weeks of its proposal. This legislation targets offences like treason, sabotage, and espionage, imposing sentences ranging from years to life imprisonment.

The leader of Hong Kong has hailed the law as a historic moment, and it is soon to go into effect. Despite concerns about potential consequences, including sanctions and international criticism, lawmakers expressed their determination to prioritise national security. After a brief period of public consultation, the pro-Beijing members of the Legislative Council swiftly approved the bill.

However, there are fears that its extraterritorial reach may restrict free speech beyond Hong Kong’s borders. Critics, including the US government, warn that the law will further curtail freedoms and suppress dissent. Foreign governments, notably the UK, express grave concerns, viewing the law as a breach of Hong Kong’s autonomy and the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration.

The US Congressional-Executive Commission on China urges additional measures to protect American interests. China defends the law, emphasising its role in safeguarding stability and prosperity.

The impact on Hong Kong’s status as a global financial hub remains uncertain, with some fearing its unique character is being eroded amidst US-China tensions.

On Sunday, India and the Maldives had the third edition of their Core Group meeting in Malé, focusing on Indian personnel deployment for aviation platforms in the island nation. As India had announced earlier, the meeting emphasised the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the Maldives.

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu’s deadline for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel, set for March 10, propelled discussions. Both sides reviewed the delegation of Indian technical personnel enabling the operation of aviation platforms providing humanitarian and medical services to Maldivians.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) affirmed discussions on broad bilateral cooperation. This included expediting ongoing development projects, enhancing trade and investment, and fostering people-to-people linkages through capacity building and travel.

The high-level Core Group agreed to hold its next meeting in New Delhi. Following the second meeting, the Maldivian foreign ministry disclosed India’s commitment to replacing all military personnel in two phases by May 10.

This development follows a period of complicated relationships. Since Muizzu’s presidency, relations have been strained due to his position on the Indian military presence and perceived alignment with China.

Despite political shifts, India values its relationship with the Maldives, emphasizing bilateral cooperation in defence and security.

The Ministers of Health representing the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) gathered in Astana recently to discuss the improvement of healthcare collaboration, particularly among countries such as India. There were crucial deals and reciprocal assistance developed during the gathering, which included distinguished delegation chiefs.

Discussions with the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare centered on growing cooperation in a variety of fields, including the enhancement of medical education, technology exchange, and the production of medical devices. The participants’ dedication to improving cooperative initiatives was apparent, as delegates from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan emphasised the significance of strengthening alliances with their Kazakhstani counterparts.

The areas that were deemed crucial covered boosting academic connections, expanding the workforce in the healthcare sector, and promoting the reciprocal exchange of technologies and experiences. Kazakhstan will host the mid-2024 Summit as the current SCO chair.

India showcased how actively it promotes cooperation within the SCO by hosting the Conference and Expo on Traditional Medicine the year before. Consisting of fourteen dialogue partner countries, two observers, and nine member states, the SCO continues to be an indispensable forum for regional healthcare collaboration. The SCO Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, granted India full member status on June 9, 2017.

The largest general election in history is expected to take place in India from April to June, with the announcement of the results on June 4. The election, which will determine the 18th Lok Sabha and have around one billion eligible voters, is a significant democratic endeavour.

Almost a billion people will cast ballots in this six-week, seven-phase election extravaganza, which will see unprecedented participation. Concurrently, four state assemblies—Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim—will also conduct polls, with Odisha’s elections spread over four phases.

To facilitate this mammoth electoral process, over one million polling stations will be established across the country, accommodating more than 960 million voters. In the previous 2019 election, the PM Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won a majority. PM Modi’s leadership has significantly increased India’s economic growth and diplomatic influence, particularly in regions where emerging and developing nations represent India.

The opposition parties have escalated their criticism of PM Modi’s administration, citing worries over economic inequality and claims of religious division, even though polls suggest that the BJP is likely to retain its majority. As PM Modi runs for a third term in a row, all eyes are on the BJP’s performance, with a particular focus on any changes that might occur in the parliamentary dynamics.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is scheduled to embark on a significant five-day diplomatic mission to Singapore, the Philippines, and Malaysia, commencing on March 23. The primary objective of the visit is to strengthen bilateral relations and address shared regional concerns. Jaishankar’s itinerary begins in Singapore, where he will engage with counterparts and dignitaries. The visit, extended at the invitation of host countries, highlighted India’s commitment to enhancing ties with key partners in Southeast Asia.

According to S Jaishankar, the tour will prioritise strengthening bilateral relations with the three countries and offer a forum for discussion on regional issues of shared interest. It is expected that talks will cover the strategic dynamics of the Red and South China Seas, emphasising the promotion of peace, stability, and compliance with international law, especially UNCLOS.

India’s defence and strategic cooperation with the Philippines have notably progressed in recent years, exemplified by a substantial USD 375 million missile deal finalised in January 2022. Furthermore, discussions during the visit may also address emerging security challenges, like the recent incidents involving Houthi militants targeting cargo vessels in the Red Sea and other critical waterways.

A government panel has recommended India adopt simultaneous elections for state assemblies and the national parliament, aiming to enhance transparency, inclusivity, and governance efficiency.

Before the upcoming elections, the panel that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration appointed submitted its report to President Droupadi Murmu. However, implementing the proposed “one nation, one election” policy would require parliamentary approval and state ratification, and it might encounter opposition from states run by PM Modi’s rivals who raise federalism concerns.

The panel, led by former president Ram Nath Kovind, argued that asynchronous elections cause instability, impacting supply chains, investments, and economic growth. It implied that conducting polls concurrently could accelerate GDP growth. In the past, India held elections simultaneously; however, this tradition was interrupted, which resulted in the current staggered system.

The group suggested that local body elections be integrated within a hundred days after state and national polls, after first coordinating elections for the lower house of parliament and state assemblies. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which supports the proposal, emphasises potential cost savings and the preference for governance over electioneering. Nevertheless, the concept encounters difficulties when traversing India’s intricate federal politics.