Category: Politics

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.”

The United States and Iraq held their first round of talks on the future of the US military presence in Iraq. Meanwhile, Baghdad discussed its expectations for creating a timeframe for the withdrawal of US troops.

On Saturday, high-ranking officials of the US-led coalition and the Iraqi military forces met with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudas in Baghdad.

PM Al-Sudani said in a joint statement, “the commencement of the first round of bilateral dialogue between Iraq and the United States of America to end the coalition in Iraq.” He further added that military experts will be in charge of concluding the Global Coalition’s fight against Daesh (ISIL).

Currently, there are 2,500 US troops deployed in Iraq. The coalition was formed in 2014 to help Iraq’s government defeat ISIL.

The US government responded by saying that it aims to set up a committee to negotiate the terms for concluding the mission, which was first discussed last year. The US highlighted that the decision to talk about pulling out of Iraq was made before October 7. However, Iraq and ISIL claimed credit for the move, claiming it “proves that the Americans only understand the language of force” and vowed to keep attacking.

India and France have solidified their dedication to joint ventures in defence equipment development, fortifying bilateral ties across a spectrum of sectors, including defence production, nuclear energy, space exploration, and harnessing artificial intelligence for public services. The collaboration encompasses the provision of helicopters and submarines to the Indian armed forces, marking significant progress in defence cooperation. Nevertheless, the precise financial details of these agreements remain undisclosed at present.

On January 26, Emmanuel Macron and PM Narendra Modi held discussions that culminated in an opulent state banquet that President Droupadi Murmu hosted. Macron’s 40-hour visit marked the fifth rendezvous between him and Modi since May, underscoring the depth of their bilateral engagement.

France’s pivotal role as India’s foremost arms supplier, notably in furnishing fighter jets over the past four decades, highlights the strategic alliance between the two nations. Additionally, endeavours such as Safran’s provision of engine repair and overhaul services in India, coupled with collaborative efforts on Rafale engines and helicopters, epitomise the expanding dimensions of defence cooperation.

In a noteworthy development, Tata Group and Airbus of France have formalised an agreement to jointly manufacture civilian helicopters. CFM International agreed to provide 150 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, fitted with LEAP-1B engines, to Akasa Air in India, highlighting the growing ties between aviation technology and business.

On Wednesday, Tshering Tobgay, the liberal politician and leader of Bhutan’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP), secured his second term as prime minister. At 58, Tobgay becomes the nation’s fourth freely elected prime minister since its transition to democracy fifteen years ago. Previously serving from 2013 to 2018, Tobgay led the opposition in the newly established parliamentary system.

A former bureaucrat, Tobgay staunchly supported Bhutan’s Buddhist culture. Situated between China and India, Bhutan is renowned for pioneering the Gross National Happiness (GNH) index, a holistic economic measure factoring in elements like leisure and mental well-being, often overlooked by GDP calculations.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck officially bestowed Tobgay with a scarf, signifying his reappointment, as announced on the monarch’s official Facebook page.

Tobgay’s challenge lies in halting the migration of young Bhutanese seeking better opportunities, particularly in Australia, and rejuvenating the $3 billion economy ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic. With India as its primary commercial partner and benefactor, Bhutan strives to maintain robust ties under Tobgay’s leadership. Despite lacking formal diplomatic relations with China, Bhutan engages in discussions to resolve border issues, a matter closely monitored by India amid its border tensions with China.