Table of Contents
PM NARENDRA MODI ON 5-DAY ASEAN TOUR
•Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off his three-nation tour to
boost India’s ties with the southeastern nations –
• Indonesia, Singapore and Malyasia.
WHAT MODI’S INDONESIA VISIT CAN ACHIEVE
• In a bid to underscore the salience of maritime proximity between the two countries, Modi was to embark on his visit on board a ship from Port Blair to Sabang, a port city in the Aceh
province of Indonesia.
• However, those plans had to be cancelled due to logistics issues and bad weather in Sabang.
PORT SABANG: A KEY TAKEAWAY FROM MODI’S INDONESIAN VISIT
• Granting India access to the Port of Sabang appears to hold more significance for New Delhi than it does for Jakarta. In the longer term, however, it could pave the way for closer maritime
co-operation between both countries which will also serve Indonesian strategic interests.
• The deal may also even help to attract the investors needed to upgrade the port facilities and boost its capacity to host military vessels.
NOTES
•India and Indonesia have agreed to upgrade their ties to comprehensive strategic
partnership as the two countries signed 15 agreements including one on defence
cooperation after extensive talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesia
President Joko Widodo in Jakarta.
• SABANG, INDONESIA: Its position at the mouth of Malacca Strait makes it crucial. Malacca Strait is the main shipping lane between Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean and one of the busiest sea routes. The deep sea port (deep enough for submarines too) will help counter China’s rising maritime influence in the region.
• DUQM, OMAN: India gained military access to the port on Oman’s southern coast this year. Duqm, on the northwestern edge of Indian Ocean, provides easy access to Red Sea.
• CHABAHAR, IRAN: This one is close to Pakistan’s Gwadar port where China has invested heavily. It also falls on the North-South Transport Corridor (NSTC) that links India to Central Asia and Europe.
• ASSUMPTION ISLAND, SEYCHELLES: On paper, this is purely an infrastructure project. The agreement had to be revised due to political opposition in Seychelles but broadly it signals a step forward for India’s strategic interests.
MALACCA STRAIT PATROLS-
Established in 2004, the MSP is a quadrilateral arrangement between Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand for intelligence exchange, coordinated
air (eye-in-the-sky) and sea patrol through the vital straits.
MODI, WIDODO VIST ARJUNA CHARIOT STATUE IN JAKARTA PM MODI VISITS ISTIQLAL MOSQUE WITH THE INDONESIAN PRESIDENT WIDODO IN JAKARTA ISTIQLAL MOSQUE
• This national mosque of Indonesia was built to commemorate Indonesian independence and named “Istiqlal”, an Arabic word for “independence”.
PM MODI, AT SINGAPORE SHANGRI-LA DIALOGUE
THE ASIA SECURITY SUMMIT
•Joining Modi and Mattis on the podium at this year’s SLD is the strongest-ever cohort of defence ministers, including Marise Payne of Australia, Harjit Singh Sajjan of Canada and Song
Youngmoo of the Republic of Korea.
•This is the first time an Indian Prime Minister addressed the event.
PROTECTIONISM
What we seek is a level playing field for all. India stands for open and stable international
trade regime.
•We will also support rule-based, open, balance and stable trade environment in the
Indo-Pacific Region, which lifts up all nations on the tide of trade and investment.
NARENDRA MODI IN SINGAPORE TRADE
•In contrast, two-way trade between China and Asean stood at $452.31 billion in
2016.
HARIMAU SHAKT
• The exercise was conducted in Hulu Langat forest of Malaysia under harsh and humid conditions. •India-Malaysia’s joint exercise focusing jungle warfare.
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