Category: Politics

Tuesday’s meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Egyptian President Abdelfattah al-Sisi in Cairo focused on regional de-escalation and covered $5 billion in new Saudi investments. According to Sisi’s administration, both leaders called for ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon, expressing worries over prolonged regional violence associated with the Palestinian issue.

The decision to strengthen mutual investments and the establishment of a Saudi-Egyptian coordination committee were among the outcomes of the conference. They talked on “regional security and stability” prior of Prince Mohammed’s journey to Brussels for an EU-Gulf summit, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

In light of Egypt’s economic difficulties, the crown prince proposed a $5 billion investment in Egypt last month, indicating the kingdom’s support for Egypt’s privatisation initiatives. Mostafa Madbouly, the prime minister, hinted at impending statements about the privatisation of banks and airports.

As Cairo battles a serious economic crisis, Saudi investments are essential to Egypt’s economic recovery and complement larger backing from the UAE and international organisations. Concerns about transparency and initiatives to enhance Egypt’s investment climate have caused development to be sluggish despite recent investment pledges.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has arrived in Islamabad for the 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government (CHG) session. On October 16, 2024, Pakistan will host the summit, which will emphasize member-state trade and economic cooperation.

The attendance of Jaishankar, according to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, highlights India’s strong participation in the SCO. He made it clear that he was just there for the summit and not for one-on-one discussions with Pakistan. “This visit is about supporting the SCO framework, not India-Pakistan relations,” Jaishankar said.

As foreign delegations, including some 900 participants, assembled for the conference, Pakistan imposed strict security measures in Islamabad. The Pakistan Army and Rangers are among the security personnel that have been positioned near important government locations, especially the Red Zone region. To maintain safety, authorities in Rawalpindi and Islamabad have temporarily closed key routes and businesses.

14 accommodation spots have been reserved for the visiting delegates, and 124 cars are ready for transportation, 40 of which are for other officials and 84 of which are for heads of state.

India signed a ₹32,000 crore agreement with the US to acquire 31 MQ-9B Predator drones, significantly enhancing its defence capabilities. The agreement, reached during the recent Quad Leaders’ Summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden, includes the establishment of an MRO facility in India.

The drones will be distributed across India’s defence services, with 15 Sea Guardians for the Navy and eight Sky Guardians for the Army and Air Force. In addition to UAVs, India will acquire modern weapons, such as 170 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles and 310 laser-guided Small Diameter Bombs.

The Cabinet Committee on Security approved the procurement, which includes basing privileges at four Indian locations: INS Rajali, Porbandar, Sarsawa, and Gorakhpur. The purchase, previously valued at ₹34,500 crore, was accelerated to meet the Defence Acquisition Council deadline.

The MQ-9B drones, which are known for their stealth and endurance, can fly at speeds of up to 442 km/h and at altitudes of 50,000 feet. They have an operational range of 2,000 miles without refuelling and can transport payloads weighing up to 1,700 kg. These drones can handle both air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, providing extended mission capability in all weather circumstances.

Australia is aggressively pursuing stronger ties with Thailand through four strategic methods, indicating a willingness to cooperate despite changes in Thailand’s political scene. Bilateral commerce remains a focus, providing an opportunity to expand expertise across a wide range of areas.

Nicholas Moore, Australia’s Special Envoy for Southeast Asia, stated that despite changes in Thailand’s government, Australia remains committed to long-term collaboration. “Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s strategy, aiming towards 2040, highlights that while short-term challenges exist, the future of Thai-Australian relations looks promising,” he told reporters.

Amid complicated regional dynamics, Australia is seeking to increase its influence and capitalise on trade and investment opportunities. Ambassador Angela Macdonald stated that since her appointment, Australian businesses have found various prospects in Thailand, thanks to the Board of Investment and the Eastern Economic Corridor office, which have addressed business problems promptly.

While China’s Belt and Road Initiative expands its influence, Moore emphasised that Australia’s established connections with Southeast Asian countries secure long-term commerce. He emphasised the necessity of mutual understanding in increasing trade volumes and researching market-specific tactics.

Looking ahead, Australia is willing to support Thailand’s climate resilience projects. Collaborative projects, such as Bangkok’s flood management plan under the Mekong-Australia Partnership, demonstrate Australia’s commitment to tackling climate concerns together.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Vientiane, Laos, for a two-day visit to attend the 21st ASEAN-India Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit. He was greeted with a guard of honour and met with Vilayvong Bouddakham, Laos’ Minister of Home Affairs.

Before his departure, Prime Minister Modi emphasised the importance of the East Asia Summit as a forum for discussing Indo-Pacific peace and security. This year commemorates a decade of India’s Act East Policy, which has strengthened ties with ASEAN countries, particularly Laos, through common cultural linkages like Buddhism and the Ramayana.

During the visit, he will evaluate the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN and talk about future collaboration. He expressed confidence in further expanding bilateral relations with Laos, saying, “I look forward to my meetings with the Lao PDR leadership to deepen our bilateral ties.”

The Ministry of External Affairs emphasised the East Asia Summit’s importance in developing strategic confidence and offering a forum for regional leaders to discuss critical concerns. The ASEAN-India Summit will assess developments in India-ASEAN ties and identify potential areas for collaboration.

PM Modi’s visit highlights ASEAN’s significance in India’s Indo-Pacific Vision, which prioritises regional security through the SAGAR program.

Dr. Munir Al-Dasouki, President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), gave a presentation on Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030-driven efforts to promote innovation at the Science and Technology in Society (STS) Forum in Kyoto, Japan. He underlined how science and technology may be used to address global concerns like food security, climate change, health problems, and advances in artificial intelligence.

By 2026, Saudi Arabia hopes to produce 600 tonnes of green hydrogen, which will cut annual carbon dioxide emissions by almost 5 million tonnes. To further demonstrate its dedication to sustainability, the monarchy has constructed carbon capture and storage facilities that will have a capacity of 9 million tonnes by 2027 and 44 million tonnes by 2035.

Dr. Al-Dasouki discussed the public health accomplishments of KACST, pointing out that eco-friendly techniques would result in a 70% decrease in dengue fever cases by 2027. He also presented a platform for tracking farming practices that, by 2027, will save 9 billion cubic meters of groundwater.

To promote digital transformation, Saudi Arabia launches projects in gaming, Web 3, and AR, investing in young scientists. By bringing lab ideas to market, the “Garage” incubator supports 200 entrepreneurs from more than 50 nations.

The 12th Meeting of the India-UAE High-Level Joint Task Force on Investments (HLJTFI) in Mumbai highlighted opportunities for increased economic engagement, particularly in food parks, digital payments, and green energy.

The meeting,  co-chaired by Piyush Goyal, minister of commerce for India, and Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, managing director of ADIA, showcased the expanding collaboration, strengthened by the CEPA.

India and the UAE decided to expedite the establishment of food parks to improve food security in the UAE, generate employment, and raise farmer incomes. ADIA’s subsidiary at GIFT City and the India-UAE office of Invest India were among the new initiatives revealed. The previous BIPPA was superseded by the Bilateral Investment Treaty, which guarantees investors equitable treatment and dispute settlement.

One of the topics of discussion was how to connect the UAE’s AANI and India’s UPI to facilitate easier cross-border payments for the more than 3 million Indians living in the UAE. Goyal pointed out that these programs encourage investment, innovation, and sustainable development.

The Joint Task Force continues to play a critical role in enabling investments in industries such as energy, digital currency, and aerospace, hence promoting economic progress for both India and the United Arab Emirates.

During Vietnamese President To Lam’s recent visit to Paris, Vietnam and France formally upgraded their bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, Vietnam’s highest degree of diplomatic connection. This significant movement highlights Vietnam’s crucial role in international supply chains, establishing it as a vital French ally and demonstrating its flexible foreign strategy, sometimes known as “bamboo diplomacy.”

Lam and French President Emmanuel Macron reached a consensus to enhance collaboration in multiple areas, with a specific emphasis on defence and security. The partnership’s foundation was further strengthened by the announcement on Monday of new areas of collaboration, which included improvements in artificial intelligence, aircraft, and airport transportation infrastructure.

With eight countries, Vietnam currently has complete strategic alliances, exhibiting its expanding impact. These important allies also include South Korea, Japan, Australia, China, India, and Russia in addition to France.

According to official figures, commerce between Vietnam and France has been growing, with total trade transactions reaching US$3.4 billion in the first eight months of 2024, up 6.9% from the same period the previous year. This economic expansion highlights the significance of the strengthened relations and portends a future in which both countries would benefit.

South Korea and Singapore are set to become strategic partners in 2024, commemorating 50 years of diplomatic relations. During South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s visit to Singapore on October 8, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong made the announcement about the collaboration. In addition to establishing closer ties in trade, defence, artificial intelligence, and climate change, the countries have signed an extradition treaty.

Wong said, “This upgrade signifies deeper cooperation,” pointing out that both countries have a history as “Asian Tigers” that have had notable economic growth. He underlined their dedication to advancing regional stability and a global system based on norms.

South Korea, the third-largest LNG importer, and Singapore, an LNG hub, signed an agreement on LNG supply cooperation in an effort to strengthen energy security. The collaboration can involve supply chain crisis management techniques, cooperative buying, and LNG exchanges.

Four agreements on supply chains, tech innovation, food safety, and startup ecosystems were also inked by the nations. Yoon emphasised Seoul’s enhanced military cooperation with ASEAN, which includes coordinated drills and work with the defence sector.

Along with this, the leaders promised to fight new challenges including cyber and international crime.

In response to growing security concerns in the region, Presidents Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines and Yoon Suk-yeol of South Korea have decided to enhance bilateral ties through increased defence cooperation. The leaders discussed the Korean Peninsula and the South China Sea tensions during their meeting at the presidential palace of the Philippines. Coastguard cooperation and nuclear energy were among subjects of the pacts they signed.

During his first official visit to Manila in over a decade, Yoon took the opportunity to convey South Korea’s readiness to assist the Philippines in its military modernisation efforts. This includes the possible acquisition of advanced weapons such fighter jets and submarines.

Previously, the Philippines has been supplied with navy vessels and FA-50 fighter jets by South Korea, which aspires to become the world’s fourth-largest arms exporter by 2027.

An international rules-based order in the South China Sea was stressed by the leaders, who also denounced North Korea’s nuclear aspirations. They also signed a memorandum of understanding to investigate the possibility of restarting the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP), which has been inactive since 1984 in the Philippines. The elimination of coal and the improvement of energy security are two goals of the Philippines’ nuclear power program.

Yoon will travel to Laos and Singapore for regional meetings after his stop in Manila.