Category: Politics

South Korea, a technological pioneer, is looking to improve connections with Southeast Asia as it embraces advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainable energy. President Yoon Suk Yeol characterises this collaboration as an important outcome of the ASEAN-South Korea comprehensive strategic partnership (CSP), which will be established during upcoming talks in Vientiane, Laos. He noted that ASEAN’s rapid expansion in the digital sector might create mutually beneficial cooperation, resulting in practical benefits for both regions.

South Korea, home to tech titans like Samsung and LG, intends to assist ASEAN by creating high-performance computer infrastructure and improving cybersecurity education. Yoon emphasised the importance of strategic coordination in politics and security, particularly given escalating regional tensions. He thanked ASEAN for its unified stance against North Korea’s nuclear activities.

South Korea intends to exchange renewable energy technology and invest in industries such as electric vehicles and biotechnology, to address climate change challenges. The 2023 Partnership for ASEAN-South Korea Methane Action focuses on reducing methane emissions and achieving carbon neutrality. With over 6,000 South Korean enterprises in ASEAN, the country’s second-largest investment destination, the cooperation is ready to move beyond trade and towards economic security.

On Sunday, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed came to India for their first bilateral visit, a watershed moment in developing relations between the two countries. Kiriti Vardhan Singh, Union Minister of State for External Affairs, greeted them when they arrived. The visit aims to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties, which have been strained in recent years.

President Muizzu will meet with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to talk about economic cooperation, maritime security, and regional issues. On Monday, he will attend a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan, lay a wreath at Rajghat, and hold high-level meetings with Modi, which could result in new agreements.

Despite his previous “India Out” campaign calling for the evacuation of Indian military personnel from the Maldives, Muizzu has now moderated his attitude, retaining strategic links with India while also balancing ties with China. The visit symbolises a rebalancing of the Maldives’ foreign policy.

Both states have recently made attempts to close diplomatic gaps. Muizzu’s visits to Mumbai and Bengaluru will involve discussions with business leaders and the Maldivian diaspora, with the goal of strengthening investment links. India has demonstrated its commitment to its maritime neighbour by providing financial assistance to the Maldives, highlighting a shared desire to strengthen bilateral relations.

India and the United States are negotiating an agreement to boost collaboration in vital minerals. The issue will focus on India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal’s visit to Washington from September 30 to October 3. The visit is at the invitation of US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.

Goyal and Raimondo will address methods for diversifying and expanding vital mineral supply networks between India and the United States. According to the Commerce Ministry, both countries are negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to capitalise on their complementary strengths and increase cooperation in essential minerals such as cobalt, lithium, nickel, and rare earth elements, which are critical for clean energy technologies such as electric vehicle batteries and wind turbines.

In addition, Goyal will meet with US Trade Representative Katherine Tai to discuss continued trade engagement through the Trade Policy Forum and prospective options for increasing bilateral trade. He will co-chair the India-US CEO Forum and the 6th India-US Commercial Dialogue on October 2 and 3, to strengthen economic connections and improve the business environment.

Goyal will also meet with American and Indian CEOs to discuss investment prospects in India, emphasising strategic collaborations in crucial sectors such as clean technology and supply chain resilience.

According to a statement issued by Greece’s foreign ministry on Wednesday, Greece and Turkey are considering beginning conversations about demarcating respective maritime zones. Both countries, NATO partners with a long history of friction, have been at odds for decades over problems ranging from airspace conflicts to marine authority in the eastern Mediterranean, as well as Cyprus’ unresolved status.

The designation of maritime zones is critical in deciding rights to potential natural gas reserves and future power infrastructure developments. While tensions were intense in the past, new efforts have been made to normalise ties. Last year, Greece and Turkey agreed to keep communication channels open and work on longstanding disputes.

On Tuesday, Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met in New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly. According to statements released by both the Turkish presidency and the Greek foreign ministry, they addressed bilateral relations.

Following their meeting, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis declared that the two leaders had directed their foreign ministries to assess if conditions were favourable to begin talks on defining the continental shelf and exclusive economic zones. The Greek prime minister’s office acknowledged that preparations for a high-level meeting in Ankara in January have already begun.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Sri Lanka’s freshly elected president, has named Harini Amarasuriya, a college professor and first-time legislator, as the country’s prime minister. Amarasuriya, 54, earned a degree in social anthropology from the University of Edinburgh and was elected to parliament in 2020 as part of Dissanayake’s National People’s Power Coalition.

Selects Harini Amarasuriya, Sri Lanka’s third woman prime minister, succeeding Sirimavo Bandaranaike and her daughter Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.

Dissanayake, a Marxist politician, was elected president on Saturday. He now faces the problem of assembling an interim administration, with some observers expecting he would dissolve parliament and call a swift general election. His party, Janatha Vimukthi Peremuna (JVP), has only three seats in the 225-member parliament.

As the new prime minister, Amarasuriya will be in charge of several crucial portfolios, including foreign affairs, education, and media. Investors are concerned about Dissanayake’s proposals to decrease taxes and renegotiate the terms of a $2.9 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout, which might cause delays in a vital $25 billion debt restructuring.

Former Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardene resigned on Monday, thus dissolving the previous cabinet shortly before Dissanayake took office.

The United States has maintained its support for India’s permanent membership on the United Nations Security Council. This endorsement was noted in a joint statement issued by the Quad nations—India, Australia, Japan, and the United States—that emphasised the need for UNSC reform to reflect modern geopolitical realities.

During a conversation with Prime Minister Modi, President Biden highlighted the United States’ support for India’s membership in a reformed UN Security Council. The White House highlighted the importance of changing global institutions to include India’s voice, signalling a drive for greater inclusion at the UNSC.

The joint declaration, known as the ‘Wilmington Declaration,’ emphasised the significance of establishing a more representative, inclusive, transparent, and efficient Security Council. The Quad members reiterated their shared commitment to supporting international institutions that promote global peace, prosperity, and sustainable development in accordance with the UN Charter.

The statement also emphasised the importance of extending both permanent and non-permanent seats on the UNSC to include regions such as Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. This extension intends to make the Security Council more democratic and responsible so that it better reflects the existing global order.

In a significant boost to India’s semiconductor ambitions, US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have established strategic cooperation to build the country’s first national security semiconductor fabrication factory, Bharat Semi Fab. This collaboration between India’s Bharat Semi, 3rdiTech, and the United States Space Force is the two countries’ first semiconductor cooperation, with the fab focussing on cutting-edge technology for national security and vital sectors.

The Bharat Semi Fab, dubbed “Shakti,” will manufacture infrared, gallium nitride, and silicon carbide semiconductors, which are critical for defence and commercial sectors such as telecommunications, green energy, and railways. This program is expected to lower India’s $1 billion yearly semiconductor imports, helping it achieve its objective of becoming a “net security provider” in the Indo-Pacific region.

This alliance, which analysts compare to the 2008 India-US civil nuclear pact, is viewed as a watershed moment in technology diplomacy.

The Bharat Semi Fab will position India as a semiconductor supply chain leader, alleviating global shortages while also strengthening regional security through the Quad Alliance. The engagement of the United States Space Force emphasises the project’s strategic importance, which boosts bilateral ties while countering China’s growing dominance in semiconductor technology.

India inked major agreements under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States. The agreements are aimed at creating a clean and fair economy, supporting India’s goal of self-reliance, and strengthening collaboration with other IPEF members.

IPEF, a US-led project begun two years ago, has 14 members, including Australia, Japan, Korea, and the United States. India had already approved the supply chain resilience agreement and has recently signed agreements on a clean economy (Pillar III) and fair economy (Pillar IV).

The Clean Economy Agreement promotes investments, joint projects, and workforce development in sustainable energy, whereas the Fair Economy Agreement seeks to combat corruption, increase tax transparency, and reinforce India’s fight against money laundering and terror funding.

India’s participation in these accords is intended to further integrate its businesses into global value chains and drive innovation. The Union Cabinet approved the deals earlier this month, but they were delayed owing to domestic approval requirements. Concerns exist about the potential reliance on imports for renewable energy technologies, but India intends to protect local businesses during the transition.

The Union Cabinet has approved a report by a committee chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind on the “One Nation, One Election” notion, which is an essential part of the BJP’s 2024 manifesto. The research describes a legally sound framework for holding simultaneous polls across India, with the goal of streamlining the process and lowering expenses.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the report was widely supported and unanimously approved by the Cabinet. He stated that an implementation group would be formed to carry out the panel’s recommendations and foster talks around the country. He further added, “Many political parties have already expressed support for simultaneous elections, and we will work to build a broader consensus over the next few months.”

Sanjay Jha, working president of the BJP’s ally JD(U), stated that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar supports synchronised elections, with the notion of excluding Panchayat polls from general and state elections.

Vaishnaw further stated that a sizable segment of the Indian public, particularly the youth, reacted enthusiastically to the idea of simultaneous elections. More over 80% of respondents voiced support, bolstering the government’s campaign for the “One Nation, One Election” project.

On Monday, British trade ministers began their first combined travel to the Gulf, to explore a new trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Trade Policy Minister Douglas Alexander are leading conversations with their GCC counterparts.

Trade has been a difficult sector for the UK recently, with Brexit frequently identified as a contributing cause. The administration, founded following Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party’s majority victory in July, is eager to obtain trade agreements as part of its overall economic agenda. Along with the Gulf, the UK is pursuing agreements with India, Switzerland, and South Korea to boost economic growth.

“I’m focused on securing a high-quality trade deal that supports jobs, boosts UK companies, and increases consumer choice,” Reynolds said in an interview.

The UK Business and Trade Department predicts a potential free trade agreement with the GCC may boost the economy by £1.6 billion ($2.10 billion) over time. Despite its efforts, Britain has ranked last among the Group of Seven (G7) advanced economies in export growth for goods and services since 2019, even after accounting for its considerable precious metals trade.