Category: Politics

On September 17, 2022, the Indian Navy hosted the sixth edition of the Japan India Maritime Exercise, JIMEX 22 in the Bay of Bengal. India’s Eastern Fleet conducted a week-long exercise under the command of Rear Adm Sanjay Bhalla and Japan’s Escort Flotilla Four under Rear Adm Hirata Toshiyuki.

As a result of JIMEX 22, two navies conducted some of their most complex exercises together. In addition to advanced anti-submarine warfare, air defence exercises were performed by both sides. Also participating in the exercise were shipborne helicopters, fighter aircraft, and submarines. A Reciprocal Provision for Supply and Services (RPSS) agreement between the Indian Navy and JMSDF allowed the ships to replenish each other at sea.

As part of the exercise, which marked the tenth anniversary of JIMEX since its inception in 2012, both navies strengthened their mutual understanding and interoperability. Taking place in the Bay of Bengal, JIMEX 2022 is the sixth edition of the trade show hosted by the Indian Navy. Sahyadri, a stealth frigate, and Kadmatt and Kavaratti, anti-submarine warfare corvettes, were all indigenously designed and built.

Moreover, the Indian Navy reported that guided missile destroyers Ranvijay and Jyoti, along with offshore patrol vessels Sukanya, submarines, MIG 29K fighters, Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft and ship-borne helicopters also participated in the exercise.

The Indian Air Force plans to move forward with its Project Cheetah under the Make in India route since all major import deals have either been put on hold or scrapped by the Narendra Modi government. Indian defence manufacturers will equip Israeli Heron drones with strike capability through the project.

Project Cheetah aims to upgrade the Indian Air Force’s fleet of Israeli-origin Heron unmanned aerial vehicles with improved communication capabilities and missiles that can target enemy positions from a distance. In accordance with plans, Israeli weapon manufacturers were to complete the project.

According to the government source, “Now the IAF is planning to go ahead with the upgrade of its drones by involving Indian defence firms under ‘Make in India in defence”. Along with Israeli drones in the Navy and the Army, the IAF is leading the project to upgrade them with strike capabilities and better surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

Searcher II and Heron UAVs, constructed by the Israeli Air Force, have been the three services’ primary reconnaissance and snooping tools for a long time. In addition to obtaining pinpoint intelligence about hideouts in locations where men have to be involved in operations, the forces on the ground would also be able to snoop on the targets.

Iran has signed a memorandum of understanding to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO.

The decision was announced by Iran’s Foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in a tweet on Wednesday. He is accompanying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to the city of Samarkand for the SCO Summit.

Iran and the SCO initiated a formal process for Tehran’s addition to the bloc in March.  The Iranian administration later approved Iran’s membership. Iran will attend the SCO as a permanent member of the Summit to be hosted by India next year.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to meet the Iranian President in Samarkand in what would be their first meeting since Raisi was elected the Iranian president in 2021. A big visit to strengthen Indo-Iranian ties is also expected soon.

Iran’s addition to the SCO will aid India’s Eurasian outreach ensuring smooth coordination between India and Iran and Eurasian states except for Russia, sources said. India also says that the entry of Iranian oil into the market will look into global energy security to some extent. Iran plays a vital role in India’s plan to promote engagement with Russia and Central Asia, besides the remaining part of Eurasia.

India will host the G20 Leaders’ Summit on September 9-10, next year, and its presidency of the strategic multilateral platform — in which developed and emerging economies come together- beginning December 1 this year will witness the government hosting 200 meetings in different parts of the country.

India will take on the presidency for one year — from December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023, the government officially announced on Tuesday.

The inter-governmental organization of the world’s major developed and developing economies consists of 19 countries and the European Union. Other than the member-states and international organizations which take part in the summit, India will also be inviting Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain, and the UAE as guest countries, and the ISA (International Solar Alliance), CDRI (Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure) and the ADB (Asian Development Bank) as guest organizations. Bangladesh is the only closest neighbor to be chosen in India’s guest list.

“Whilst our G20 priorities are in the process of being firmed up, ongoing conversations inter alia revolve around inclusive, equitable and sustainable growth; LiFE (Lifestyle For Environment); women’s empowerment; digital public infrastructure and tech-enabled development in areas ranging from health, agriculture and education to commerce, skill-mapping, culture and tourism; climate financing; circular economy; global food security; energy security; green hydrogen; disaster risk reduction and resilience; developmental cooperation; fight against economic crime; and multilateral reforms,” said the government in a statement.

On Wednesday, India and France agreed to establish an Indo-Pacific trilateral framework to advance development projects, expanded strategic cooperation and vowed to work closely on pressing global challenges, like the food crisis caused by the Ukraine war.

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said Russia is waging a destructive war of aggression on the territory of a sovereign state after wide-ranging talks with her Indian counterpart S Jaishankar. She emphasized that France is determined to work with India to tackle the war’s “terrible consequences.”

She said many challenges have emerged in the Indo-Pacific because of China; France and India are concerned about this as well, since they recognize the role China plays and want to avoid any imbalance.

Separate trilaterals with Australia and the United Arab Emirates were also decided by India and France in the Indo-Pacific. A level of solidarity and trust like that between France and India is “rare and precious” today, said Colonna.

In regard to the global food crisis, she suggested that an initiative could be proposed at the G20 summit in Indonesia to ensure that the most vulnerable countries don’t remain too vulnerable.

Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, she said, “When the core principles of the international rules-based order are flouted anywhere, they are weakened everywhere, including in the Indo-Pacific, where respect for international law has been undermined for some time now. India knows this better than anyone else.”

On September 11, the Indian Navy hosted the sixth edition of Japan-India Maritime Exercise 2022 (JIMEX 22). As part of its anti-submarine warfare capability, the Indian Navy is represented by three indigenously designed and built warships: Sahyadri, a multi-purpose stealth frigate, and Kadmatt and Kavaratti, interceptor corvettes.

The Indian Navy announced that guided missile destroyer Ranvijay, fleet tanker Jyoti, offshore patrol vessel Sukanya, submarines, fighter aircraft MIG 29K, Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft, as well as ship-borne helicopters, are also participating in the exercise.

Flotilla Four Commander Hirata Toshiyuki leads the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF), while Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet Sanjay Bhalla leads the Indian Navy. As the JMSDF ships Izumo, a helicopter carrier, and Takanami, a guided missile destroyer, arrived in the Bay of Bengal, Indian Naval ships welcomed them.

A sea exercise and a harbour exercise are part of JIMEX 22, which consists of two phases. In Japan, JIMEX started in 2012, and this edition marks its 10th anniversary. Also, India and Japan are celebrating 70 years since diplomatic relations were established.

In this year’s JIMEX 22, the surface, subsurface and air forces of the two countries will conduct complex exercises to consolidate their high degree of interoperability. In addition to enhancing interoperability, the exercises were designed to streamline seamanship and communication procedures.

King Charles III on September 12 gave his first speech in Parliament as Britain’s monarch during which he pledged to follow in the footsteps of his ‘darling late mother’ and carry on the legacy of selfless duty of Queen Elizabeth II in upholding “the precious principles of constitutional governance”.

 The House of Commons and Lords offered condolences to the new King at Westminster Hall in London. Queen Elizabeth passed away, aged 96 in Scotland, on September 8.

“While very young, her late Majesty pledged herself to serve her country and her people and to maintain the precious principles of constitutional government which lie at the heart of our nation,” said King Charles. “This vow she kept with unsurpassed devotion. She set an example of selfless duty, which, with God’s help and your counsels, I am resolved faithfully to follow,” Charles said.

Around 900 members of Parliament and peers had attended this stage of the constitutional ritual of State Mourning, as they pledged loyalty to the 73-year-old monarch.

After the condolence ceremony, the King left for the Scottish capital with Queen Consort Camilla to lead a royal procession behind the coffin of the late Queen as it makes its journey from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St. Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburg.

There are also long-term visions shared by leaders on both sides that contributed to the spurt in ties. The emergence of India as the fifth-largest economy and the fastest-growing economy will certainly result in further quantum leaps in strategic relations.

Rajnath Singh and S Jaishankar met their Japanese counterparts Hamada Yasukazu and Hayashi Yoshimasa at the second India-Japan 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Tokyo on September 8 to discuss all critical challenges to a rules-based global order, which is increasingly tying together the two countries and providing renewed energy to their unique global and strategic partnerships.

At the time of the meeting, tensions across the Taiwan Strait had risen as China launched five missiles into Japan’s economic zone, prompting then Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi to call it “a serious problem that threatens the safety of our citizens as well as our national security”.

According to Mr. Jaishankar, energy security and food security have become particularly pressing issues. India has extended humanitarian aid, medicines, vaccines, food grains, and many other forms of assistance tirelessly as a member of the international community.

In addition to demonstrating the commitment toward deepening bilateral security and defense cooperation, Jaishankar said the Dialogue also demonstrated the strength of the India-Japan special strategic and global partnership.

In Uzbekistan, Narendra Modi will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit scheduled for September 15 and 16. According to Indian Express (IE), this will be the first in-person summit since Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, in 2019.

PM Modi is expected to arrive in Samarkand on September 14 and return on September 16. The SCO presidency will be handed over to India for the next year until September 2023 after the 2022 summit. SCO’s next summit will most likely be held in New Delhi.

Ebrahim Raisi, Shahbaz Sharif, and Xi Jinping are among the leaders who have confirmed attendance. Sources cited in the IE report said Modi may meet with Putin and Raisi on the sidelines of the summit, although the government has not yet announced any bilateral meetings.

Last time PM Modi and Jinping met was at the BRICS Summit in 2019. This will be the first time the two leaders will meet since May 2020’s fallout between India’s and China’s armed forces in Ladakh. The troops have recently begun disengaging from the last friction point in the Gogra-Hot Springs region, Point 15. By September 12, the disengagement will be over.

A summit meeting with Uzbekistan’s president Shavkat Mirziyoyev is “certainly” on the agenda for PM Modi. The IE report stated that the leaders are likely to discuss the Ukraine conflict and the Taliban rule in Afghanistan at the summit.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday met with the Crown Prince Saudi of Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud in Jeddah and notified him of the bilateral ties between the two countries. Jaishankar arrived on Saturday on a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, his first trip to the Kingdom as India’s External Affairs Minister.

Jaishankar tweeted, “Honoured to call on HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah this evening. Conveyed the warm greetings of PM @narendramodi. Apprised him of the progress in our bilateral relations. Thank him for sharing his vision of our ties.”

Before this, Jaishankar met with the Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and jointly presided over the Political, Securit, Social and Cultural (PSSC) committee of the India-Saudi Partnership Council.

“The two Ministers will undertake a comprehensive review of the entire bilateral relationship and will discuss the progress under the four Joint Working Groups of the PSSC Committee, namely Political & Consular; Legal and Security; Social and Cultural and Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation,” the MEA had earlier stated. It added, “Both sides will also discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest, including their cooperation at the United Nations, Group of Twenty (G20), and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Jaishankar is also expected to meet other Saudi dignitaries and the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Nayef Falah Mubarak Al-Hajraf.