Category: Politics

According to Sri Lanka’s Power and Energy Minister, Kanchana Wijesekera, discussions between India and Sri Lanka on grid connectivity and collaborative renewable energy sources are progressing. After nearly two decades of planning, the two countries are accelerating efforts, aligning with their green energy ambitions.

Officials from Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), Power Grid Corporation, and India’s Central Electricity Authority (CEA) are reviewing technical reports. The grid connection is poised to be a joint venture with India’s Power Grid Corporation.

Feasibility studies have been conducted, and a joint consultant will be appointed to guide investment decisions. The focus extends to ongoing projects, notably the solar energy venture involving India’s NTPC Ltd. and the Ceylon Electricity Board, with power purchase agreements for the initial 130-MW phase expected soon.

Sri Lanka explores offshore wind potential and plans to invite expressions of interest, particularly from Indian firms. Feasibility studies for offshore wind energy are underway, suggesting surplus capacity in Colombo, potentially for export, be it as electricity or green hydrogen.

With a target to source 70% of electricity from renewables by 2030, Sri Lanka aims to integrate an additional 5,000 MW into its grid, comprising solar, wind, or floating solar capacity. Collaboration between India and Sri Lanka signals progress towards sustainable energy goals.

The head of the European Commission, along with Spain’s prime minister, is set to visit Mauritania to address the issue of irregular migration to Europe. During the visit, Ursula von der Leyen and Pedro Sanchez are expected to promise 200 million euros ($215 million) in aid to Mauritania, with a focus on curbing the growing number of departures.

Migration is poised to be a key issue in the upcoming European Parliament elections, particularly with the rise of anti-immigration rhetoric from right-wing parties. Mauritania’s strategic significance has increased due to mounting migration pressure and escalating instability in the Sahel region. According to a Spanish government source, Spain aims to bolster its ties with Mauritania through the European Union (EU) and provide support to address these challenges.

The influx of migrants entering Spain irregularly by sea has seen a drastic surge, with a nearly 300% increase in January alone, primarily via the Canary Islands. Spanish officials note that approximately 83% of the dinghy boats arriving in the archipelago originated from Mauritania.

The country, with a population of fewer than five million people, grapples with widespread poverty and has been coping with an influx of tens of thousands of people from neighbouring Mali since 2012.

Argentina’s firebrand President, Javier Milei, has embarked on a groundbreaking diplomatic journey, commencing with a visit to Israel amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Milei is a prominent figure in Argentina’s right-wing libertarian movement and an accomplished economist who assumed office in December.

Milei will visit Italy, where he will have an intriguing encounter with the pontiff, despite his past contentious remarks regarding the pope. His itinerary includes crucial meetings with Italian conservative Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, along with prominent figures from business and religion on Feb. 12.

During his time in Israel, Milei plans to engage with prominent rabbis, explore revered Jewish landmarks in Jerusalem, and hold talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He will later pay tribute to the victims of the October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel.

In Italy, Milei will partake in the Vatican’s canonization ceremony for Maria Antonia de Paz y Figueroa.

Milei’s overseas endeavours coincide with his ambitious legislative agenda aimed at enacting sweeping reforms in Argentina. His proposed bill, set to overhaul government-owned entities and curtail state subsidies, reflects his unwavering commitment to transformative economic and political change.

South Korea and Saudi Arabia have solidified their defence cooperation by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand defence cooperation. The deal was confirmed by Seoul’s Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA). The MoU establishes a joint committee to facilitate collaboration in weapons systems research, development, and production.

The agreement was formalised during the visit of South Korea’s Defence Minister Shin Won-sik to Riyadh for the World Defence Show where he and his Saudi counterpart, Khalid bin Salman Al Saud, were present during the signing ceremony. South Korea aims to bolster its arms sales and solidify its position as a major global weapons supplier. However, the specific details of the agreement were not disclosed.

South Korea’s arms exports surged to $17 billion in 2022 from $7.25 billion the previous year. According to the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the nation’s arms shipments to the Middle East increased almost ten times between 2013 and 2022.

South Korean companies such as Hanwha, Poongsan, and LIG Nex1 have already secured deals worth approximately $989 million with Saudi Arabia for various defence systems. This signing underscores South Korea’s commitment to expanding its defence partnerships and capitalising on opportunities in the global arms market.

New Zealand has agreed to formally investigate the possible benefits of joining the Aukus deal. This move indicates Wellington’s willingness in the security accord primarily intended to oppose China.

Foreign affairs and defence ministers of both nations affirmed that Australia will send delegations to NZ to discuss pillar two of Aukus. It will focus on collaboration in strategically sensitive domains such as quantum computing and AI.

Judith Collins, NZ’s defence minister, remarked at a joint news conference that Australian officials have been tasked with collaborating with their New Zealand counterparts to explore the opportunities presented by Aukus Two for New Zealand. It particularly emphasises the vast prospects available for its space and technology sectors.

Signed in September 2021, the Aukus pact has primarily garnered attention for its first pillar, wherein London and Washington pledged assistance to Canberra in establishing its fleet of nuclear-powered submarines by the 2040s. Notably, NZ, which maintains a nuclear-free policy, is solely interested in pillar two. Last year, the multibillion-dollar plan for the new fleet of submarines aimed at navigating the Pacific to counteract China’s escalating assertiveness in the South China Sea and surrounding Taiwan.

Meanwhile, China accused Australia of becoming a nuclear threat and Aukus would “harm the peace and stability in the region.”

The drone agreement between the United States and India signifies a pivotal milestone in fostering strategic technological collaboration between the two nations. The procurement of MQ-9B drones marks a significant leap in enhancing joint military capabilities.

With an impressive maximum flight endurance of 36 hours, these Predators offer unparalleled surveillance capabilities, enabling precise monitoring of designated areas. The acquisition of up to 31 Predator drones, announced during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the United States, highlights the growing partnership between the two countries.

The US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, said, “So I’ll say that generally, the US-India Defence Partnership has seen significant growth over the past decade. This is a proposed sale that was announced during Prime Minister Modi’s visit last year.”

President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Modi lauded India’s decision to invest in General Atomics Predator drones, a move that will facilitate extensive repairs of US Navy vessels at Indian shipyards.

The leaders welcomed India’s commitment to acquiring General Atomics MQ-9B HALE UAVs, which will bolster the armed forces’ ISR capabilities across all domains. Moreover, General Atomics pledges to establish a comprehensive global MRO facility in India. The pact strengthens military cooperation and propels strategic technology collaboration with India, heralding a new era of defence innovation.

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced the launch of an exclusive programme called “Classes Internationales” (international classes) for Indian students. On January 26, President Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a joint statement. The programme aims to enhance educational and cultural exchange between the two countries.

Starting in September, this special programme will offer Indian students the opportunity to spend a year in France learning French before pursuing their chosen degrees.

As per a statement from the French Embassy, students who complete a foundational year of immersive language training at an institution will be eligible for admission to undergraduate programmes taught in French at higher education institutions in France. The admission will be irrespective of whether they are native speakers or complete beginners.

Additionally, Indian students will receive instruction in French language, methodology, and academic content at prestigious French universities. The initiative aims to welcome over 30,000 Indian students to France by 2030.

France aims to increase opportunities for Indian students, which is evident in programmes like Classes Internationales, and 5-year short-stay Schengen visas for alumni. As of right now, the nation receiving the most number of French academic scholarships is India.

Vietnam and the Philippines have signed an agreement to enhance cooperation in safeguarding the South China Sea to prevent untoward incidents in the region.

The announcement came during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s state visit to Hanoi, underscoring the strategic importance of collaboration amid escalating tensions. With China laying claim to nearly all of the $3 trillion in annual shipborne trade passing through the South China Sea, both Southeast Asian nations find themselves in competition over vital maritime territories.

The bilateral agreement, consisting of two memoranda of understanding on security, addresses crucial areas such as “incident prevention in the South China Sea” and “maritime cooperation” among coastguards. The latest agreement between Vietnam and the Philippines may provoke Beijing, given its extensive deployment of coastguard fleets throughout the South China Sea to enforce its territorial claims. However, details of the agreement reached in Hanoi have not been revealed.

Marcos stressed Vietnam’s role as the Philippines’ sole strategic partner in Southeast Asia ahead of his meeting with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong. He highlighted the foundation of their relationship, emphasising maritime cooperation.

Additionally, Vietnam, one of the world’s leading exporters of rice, has solidified agreements on rice trade and agricultural cooperation with the Philippines, a key importer of the crop.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has set the stage for a fresh era of collaboration with Africa during a pivotal one-day summit. In an unveiling of long-awaited plans, Meloni outlined a vision aimed at fortifying economic ties, establishing an energy hub for Europe, and mitigating migration pressures.

In a bid to kickstart this ambitious agenda, Meloni committed an initial investment of $5.95 billion, which includes state-backed guarantees. Meloni said, “We are only at the beginning; there is a very long road ahead of us. This day is a restart.” She outlined the need for swift action to start working on projects that would have a practical impact.

However, amidst the optimism, dissenting voices emerged among the attendees. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairman of the African Union Commission, highlighted the importance of honouring commitments and expressed disappointment over Africa’s exclusion from priority-setting discussions.

Critics who point to Italy’s staggering debt levels cast doubt on the nation’s ability to compete with global powers like China, Russia, and the Gulf states in Africa. Italy is likely to face great challenges as other nations seek to expand their power due to the continent’s abundant natural resources.

On Tuesday, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese affirmed that Australia stands as the premier “security ally” for its close neighbour Papua New Guinea (PNG), following revelations that China had initiated discussions for a policing and security arrangement.

PNG Foreign Minister Justin Tkachenko said that China approached PNG in September with proposals to support its police force through training, equipment provision, and surveillance technology. He emphasised that discussions were in preliminary stages and assured that PNG remained committed to its security relationships with Australia and the United States, prioritising their integrity.

In December, PNG sealed a security agreement worth A$200 million with Australia aimed at enhancing police training after a defence agreement with the United States was forged in May, both awaiting implementation.

Early this month, a Chinese ambassador to Australia stressed Beijing’s intentions were mainly focused on policing, not defence, to alleviate Australia’s concerns about Beijing’s growing regional influence.

Tkacheno said China’s offer of policing and internal security assistance was “being carefully assessed, as we do not want to duplicate or compromise agreements already in place with our traditional security partners, Australia and the United States of America.”