Category: Politics

The Biden administration has reaffirmed its commitment to support India’s permanent membership in a reformed UN Security Council and New Delhi’s entry to the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group. It also praised India for its significant contributions as a member of the 15-membered apex decision making body of the UN. In a joint statement issued at the conclusion of the India-US 2+2 ministerial here, the United States congratulated India for its significant contributions as a member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the term 2021-2022. The Defense Ministers of both the countries reiterated their commitment to work together in close coordination at the UNSC and in international organisations. The US reaffirmed its continued support for India’s permanent membership in a reformed UNSC and for India’s entry to the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group.

US also expressed its appreciation for India’s management because the Chair of the 3 committees of the Safety Council: the 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee, the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee and the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee. Bearing in mind rising nationwide safety threats from each state and non-state malicious cyber attackers, the ministers recognised the significance of an open, interoperable, safe, and dependable Web and strong our on-line world.

On Sunday, Electoral results released by The Gambia’s independent electoral commission showed Barrow’s NPP won 19 of the 53 contested parliamentary seats, overturning the United Democratic Party’s (UDP) majority.

A narrow victory for Adama Barrow’s party in the legislative elections in the Gambia has left it short of being able to govern the country alone.

Five other members of parliament can be appointed by the president, including its speaker, who will be selected in the coming days from his party. However, Barrow’s party does not have a majority in the 58-seat chamber.

According to the results, the UDP claimed 15 seats while independents placed third with 11. It is the second term for Barrow in office after claiming 53% of the vote in the presidential election the previous year. Thursday will see the swearing-in of the new parliament

57-year-old president will have to face numerous challenges including soaring inflation national reconciliation along with the fight against corruption. In September 2020, the outgoing parliament rejected a draft constitution that limited the president to two terms, which he promised to introduce before the end of his term.

His victory in 2016 bought an end to Yahya Jammeh’s rule of more than 20 years.

As part of the UN’s aid coordination office, Britain, Germany, and Qatar have launched their largest-ever appeal for funds for a single country in an attempt to collect USD 4.4 billion to help Afghanistan. A decidedly ambitious bid to assist the impoverished country again run by Taliban militants at a time when most of the world’s attention is fixed on the war in Ukraine.

Head of the U.N. Office for the coordination of the Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffith said that Ukraine is of vital importance, but Afghanistan calls out souls for commitment and loyalty. Ahead of the pledge drive, the humanitarian program is appealing to save lives.

Griffith said that he has no doubt that they will not achieve the target of $4.4 billion tomorrow in pledge but, they will work on it. It is three times what the agency asked for Afghanistan a year earlier, an amount donors met.

​​The Afghanistan economy is in free fall less than a year after Taliban fighters toppled its internationally supported government. The UN estimates that 23 million people are food insecure.

The aid agency suggested that while donor countries have mostly shunned the Taliban, fearful that its repressive rule might return, political and economic engagement from abroad should return one day as well.

On Thursday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is set to meet Moroccan King Mohammed VI on his two-day visit to Rabat. The meeting will signify a resolution of diplomatic issues surrounding Morocco’s contested Western Sahara area.

Morocco now seeks reassurance that Spain’s backing for the autonomy proposal represents a fundamental shift in the country’s foreign policy. Last year, King Mohammed stated that Morocco will not enter into any commercial agreements with countries that oppose Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.

As per the Spanish government official, the king will invite Sanchez with his family for an iftar meal to break the day’s fast during the month of Ramadan.

Officials call the meeting an opportunity to open a “new stage” in ties with Morocco on the basis of “mutual respect”. It further said they will also discuss “restraint from any unilateral action to honour the importance of all that we share and to avoid future crises”.

Last April, relations between the two countries, which are separated by the Strait of Gibraltar, were extremely strained. At the request of Morocco’s neighbour Algeria, an ally of pro-independence Sahrawis, Spain allowed the leader of the pro-independence movement for Western Sahara to obtain medical treatment for COVID-19 at a Spanish hospital.

On Tuesday, Indian Army Chief General Manoj M Naravane called Singaporean Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen to discuss regional geopolitical development between the two countries.

As per the Indian Army, the strong and long-standing bilateral defence relationship among the nations was re-affirmed in the meeting.

General MM Naravane is in Singapore for a three-day visit from April 4–6. During his visit, he was given an overview of the area’s cultural and historical significance.

The Indian Army tweeted, “General MM Naravane#COAS called on Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Defence, #MINDEF, #Singapore & discussed regional geopolitical developments. The strong & long-standing bilateral defence relationship between both Nations was re-affirmed”.

The Chief of the Army Staff also met with Brigadier General David Neo, the Singapore Army’s Chief of Army, to discuss the strategy for enhancing defence cooperation between the two countries.

The Guard of Honour at the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) in Singapore was also reviewed by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS). The COAS praised the Guard for their outstanding turnout and parade.

The Chief of Army Staff also paid a visit to the Battle Box Bunker at Fort Canning on Monday, which served as an emergency, bomb-proof command centre during WWII.

The US, UK and Australia alliance announced they will develop hypersonic missiles by working together via the recently created security alliance AUKUS.

AUKUS was launched by the three countries in September by US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. The Indo-Pacific alliance decision was made after holding a check-in on the progress of AUKUS.

The announcement comes amid the growing concerns by US allies and growing military assertiveness in the pacific.

According to the statement given by the leader, they are “committed today to commence new trilateral cooperation on the hypersonic and counter hypersonic. They also commit to electronic warfare capabilities along with the expansion of sharing information and to deepening the cooperation on defence innovation.

The three nations further decided to develop hypersonic missiles which can be so fast that they cannot be intercepted by any current missile defence system.

As per the top US commander in Europe, Russia has used “multiple hypersonic missiles in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin asked the country’s arms manufacturers to develop more advanced hypersonic missiles as they wish to maintain the country’s edge in military technologies which has raised concerns among US intelligence officials.

The US State Department approved a $95 million boost to the potential sale to Taiwan of equipment, training and other items to support the Patriot Air Defence System.

According to the Pentagon’s notification released by Congress, it will include training, planning, fielding, operation, deployment, maintenance and sustainment of the Patriot Air Defence System.

It said, “The proposed sale will help to sustain the recipient’s missile density and ensure readiness for air operations. The recipient will use this capability as a deterrent to regional threats and strengthen homeland defence”.

Chinese-claimed Taiwan has claimed that Beijing has upped military pressure on the democratically run island in an attempt to force it to embrace its sovereignty.

Despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties and the indignation that such military deliveries invariably provoke in Beijing, the US is legally obligated to give Taiwan the ability to defend itself.

This is the third arms deal announced since President Joe Biden took office, according to Taiwan’s presidential office, demonstrating their “rock strong” connection.

However, there is no indication that the contract was signed or the negotiation was concluded by the US State Department.

On Thursday, China’s military termed the talks between India and China as “positive and constructive”. The talk between the two nations was recently held at the 15th round of talk to resolve the remaining issues related to the Ladakh standoff.

The two militaries held the 15th round of the China-India Corps Commander Level Meeting was held on March 11 at the Moldo/Chushul border meeting point on the Indian side. The two sides discussed continuing to promote the settlement of relevant issues in the area along the LAC in the Western Sector of the China-India border.

According to Senior Colonel Wu Qian from the Chinese Ministery of National Defence, the nations have agreed to handle the border situation in the best possible way by negotiating and consulting. However, it also firmly opposed the third parties’ interference.

He was responding to a question about US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner’s remarks that India is facing a serious situation from China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which the US is closely monitoring.

The Chinese military quoted online that Wu said, “China-India border issue is a matter between China and India”.

Nepal’s Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba accompanied by his spouse Dr Arzu Deuba is scheduled to pay an official visit to India. According to the Ministery of External Affairs, Deuba will visit the nation from 01-03 April at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

PM Deuba will also be accompanied by a high-level delegation. This will be the first bilateral visit for the Nepalese PM after taking the office in July 2021.

On 2 April, PM Deuba will call Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu to hold talks with PM Modi. EAM S Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval will call on the Prime Minister of Nepal. Apart from the official engagements, PM Deuba will be visiting Varanasi, UP.

Deuba had visited India during each of his four previous terms as Nepal’s prime minister. In 2017, he paid his last official visit to India as Prime Minister. Nepal is vital to India’s overall strategic geopolitical interests, and the two nations’ leaders have frequently referred to their age-old “Roti Beti” relationship.

Meanwhile, the impending visit will provide the two sides with the chance to examine their broad beneficial collaboration and see how far they can take it for both nations.

On Wednesday, Britain announced the withdrawal of its judges from Hong Kong’s top court to avoid legitimising oppression in the former British colony.

The British judges are sitting on the court since Since 1997 when Hong Kong was returned to China. In the midst of China’s ruling Communist Party’s efforts to assert its control and silence independent voices, the British government’s decision highlights the Asian financial hub’s growing isolation.

While England had judges on the Court of Final Appeal as part of efforts to protect the judicial system in the city, the British government declared the arrangement was “no longer tenable” due to China’s increasingly harsh legislation.

Britain’s Supreme Court President Robert Redd said, “The court in Hong Kong continues to be internationally respected for their commitment to the rule of law”. He further added that he has decided in an agreement with the government that the British judges of the Supreme Court will not continue to sit in the nation without appearing to support a government that has abandoned democratic norms such as political freedom and freedom of expression.

With immediate effect from Wednesday, two senior British judges submitted their resignations.