The coastal radar systems were part of Japan’s Official Security Assistance programme for fiscal year 2023, the year the grant framework for like-minded countries was launched. “The South China Sea is a vital sea lane for many countries through which a large portion of our trade and energy supplies pass. Safety, openness, and stability of these waters are therefore of direct importance to our own security and prosperity,” Japanese Ambassador Kazuya Endo said during the handover ceremony. He added that enhancing the Philippine Navy’s maritime capabilities would contribute to both re
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil the name of the building complex Seva Teerth on February 13, 2026, at around 1:30 PM, followed by its formal inauguration along with Kartavya Bhavan–1 & 2 at approximately 6 PM. The Prime Minister will also address a public programme at Seva Teerth on the same day. The inauguration marks a significant milestone in India’s administrative governance framework and reflects the government’s commitment to creating a modern, efficient, accessible, and citizen-centric governance ecosystem. For decades, several key government offices and ministrie
India and Malaysia on Sunday, February 8th, 2026, vowed to significantly expand cooperation across key sectors, including trade and investment, defence, energy, advanced manufacturing, and semiconductors, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim held wide-ranging talks in Kuala Lumpur. The two sides signed 11 agreements to strengthen bilateral engagement, notably a framework pact to deepen collaboration in the semiconductor sector. Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s firm stance on terrorism, stating that there would be “no double standards, no comp
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Malaysia began on a warm and symbolic note, highlighting the shared values and expanding strategic partnership between the two nations. Addressing a large gathering of the Indian diaspora in Kuala Lumpur, Modi said that India–Malaysia relations are entering a new phase, driven by mutual trust, cultural bonds, and growing economic ambition. He described the diaspora as a “living bridge” connecting the two countries and celebrated the deep-rooted Tamil heritage, centuries-old links, and strong cultural continuity that unite Indian and Malaysian co
The World Government Summit 2026 began on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026, in Dubai under the theme “Shaping Future Governments,” bringing together more than 35 global leaders and 150 government delegations from across the world. The summit focuses on evolving policy frameworks and strengthening international cooperation to address key economic, social, and technological challenges. One main topic is economic governance, mainly how global supply chains are managed and made stronger. John Denton, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce, emphasised that tough supply chains
In the Union Budget 2026-27, Defence Services have received the highest allocation among all ministries, amounting to ₹7.85 lakh crore. The Ministry of Defence said the allocation stands at around 2 per cent of the estimated GDP for the next financial year and reflects a significant increase of 15.19 per cent over the Budget Estimates of 2025-26. It also noted that the defence budget accounts for 14.67 per cent of the total Central Government expenditure. Of the total allocation to the Ministry of Defence, 27.95 per cent has been earmarked for capital expenditure, 20.17 per cent for reve
The United Arab Emirates participated in the second Arab-India Energy Dialogue held in Goa, India, as part of efforts to strengthen strategic cooperation in the energy sector between India and member states of the League of Arab States, and to explore opportunities for expanding partnerships in support of mutual interests. The dialogue featured high-level discussions involving ministers, senior officials, and experts, focusing on enhancing bilateral and multilateral cooperation and identifying new prospects across conventional and clean energy sectors. Eng Ahmed Al Kaabi, Assistant Underse
In a significant development, the United States has approved two major arms deals with Israel and Saudi Arabia, valued at $6.67 billion and $9 billion, respectively. The approvals were cleared by the US State Department late Friday, 30th January, 2026, coinciding with the Trump administration’s peacekeeping efforts in Gaza and rising tensions with Iran. Under the deal, Israel will receive a substantial defence package that includes 30 Apache attack helicopters equipped with rocket launchers, along with 3,250 light tactical vehicles, armored personnel carrier power packs, and light utilit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Acting President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, have agreed to further expand and deepen the bilateral partnership between India and Venezuela across multiple sectors. During a telephone conversation, the two leaders discussed enhancing cooperation in areas including trade and investment, energy, digital technology, health, agriculture, and people-to-people ties. They also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest and underscored the importance of their close cooperation for the Global South. Both leaders expressed a shared visi
Days after signing a ‘Letter of Intent’ for a Strategic Defence Partnership with the United Arab Emirates, India, on Wednesday, January 28th, 2026, held a security dialogue with Saudi Arabia in Riyadh. Senior officials from both countries conducted a comprehensive review of ongoing security cooperation and discussed global and regional threats posed by terrorist groups. The 3rd India-Saudi Arabia Security Working Group was co-chaired by Vinod Bahade, Joint Secretary (Counter Terrorism) in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and Ahmed Al-Eissa, Director General of Legal Affairs and