Diplomacy

With Quad on mind, Modi, Trump bond in Manila

- by Manish Chand

With the new geostrategic alphabet of Quadrilateral shaping up as a backdrop, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US President Donald Trump at a glitzy hotel in Manila to map an ambitious agenda for enhanced India-US strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Modi-Trump meeting is easily the show-stealer at the ASEAN summit in Manila as the region, specially China, will be watching closely how the world’s two largest democracies plan to deepen their connect in this strategically located region.
With paparazzi frenziedly clicking away, a beaming Mr Modi, with Mr Trump seated by his side at the Sofitel Plaza hotel, struck an upbeat note on the future of India-US relationship, which has acquired a new bounce under the Trump presidency.
In his opening remarks before he began talks with Mr Trump, Mr Modi spoke about deepening and expanding India-US relations and underlined that the two countries can work together not just bilaterally, but on an entire spectrum of cross-cutting issues for the benefit of the region, the world and the mankind.

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ASEAN@50: Why Manila summit matters for India

- by Manish Chand

It’s ASEAN moment in the Philippines capital – sparkling lights, giant Christmas tree and ASEAN emblems splashed all over this bustling metropolis conjure up a festive atmosphere that’s in keeping with the 50th anniversary celebrations of this vibrant grouping of 10 Southeast Asian nations. And Philippines’ maverick leader Roderigo Duterte has launched a veritable charm offensive as he rolls out the red carpet to welcome a host of world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, among others, for this defining marker in the history of ASEAN.
For India, the Manila summit will be an opportunity for Prime Minister Modi to underscore New Delhi’s strategic intent to play a bigger role in the region and impart more depth and content to its Act East policy.
On the strategic side, all eyes will be on the message coming out from the ASEAN summit on the South China Sea, where China’s suspected expansionist agenda has renewed anxiety about Beijing’s intentions and the region’s response to it. Ahead of the summit, Mr Duterte has already voiced his concerns and underlined the need for a written code of conduct that will ensure responsible behaviour by China in the disputed water body.
Looking ahead, as they celebrate 25 years of multifarious engagement across the spectrum, India and ASEAN will be looking to map new frontiers and raise the bar for this mutually empowering partnership. The message coming from the Manila summit will have a critical bearing on the future of this economically dynamic region and how it handles differences and power games to focus on the larger dream of realising the potential of an Asian Century.

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Putin and Trump Confirm Committment to Syria’s Integrity, Defeating Daesh

- by India Writes Network

Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump during their brief meeting on the sidelines of the APEC summit approved a joint statement on Syria.The presidents of Russia and the US reaffirmed their commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria and called on the parties to the conflict there to participate in the Geneva political process, and reiterated the need to destroy Daesh, according to a joint statement they issued following a meeting in Da Nang, where the APEC summit is taking place.

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India-Bangladesh bonding on upswing with launch of another train

- by India Writes Network

Imparting a new impetus to regional connectivity in South Asia, the prime ministers of India and Bangladesh have flagged off another train service that will bolster people-to-people and economic ties between the two countries.The inauguration of the weekly ‘Bandhan Express,’ which will run every Thursday between Kolkata and Khulna, was attended by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee via a video link.
“We have inaugurated two rail bridges today (over rivers Meghna and Titaash). Built at a cost of about $100 million (Rs 651.55 crore), the bridges will help strengthen Bangladesh’s rail network. Being a trusted partner in Bangladesh’s development works is a matter of pride for India,” Mr Modi said on November 9.

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Trump’s Asia tour: What’s on the table?

- by India Writes Network

Amidst tensions simmering in the Asia-Pacific with regard to North Korea’s rapid nuclear programme and the US withdrawal from the Trans Pacific Partnership, US President Donald Trump’s five-nation Asian marathon will be a testing time for American diplomacy under its unpredictable leader. Mr Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump will be visiting Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and Philippines in one of the longest tour of Asia in 25 years by an American President.

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Manhattan’s Halloween horror: Truck mows down pedestrians in suspected terror attack

- by India Writes Network

Terror returned to haunt the streets of Manhattan as at least 8 people were killed and about a dozen injured when a pick-up truck ran over cyclists and pedestrians alongside the Hudson River on the far west side of lower Manhattan. The driver has been identified as a 29-year-old Uzbek who was shot in the abdomen by the police while he was about to flee after crashing his truck into a school bus.A joint task force of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York City Police Department and other agencies probing the attack have found out that Sayfullo Saipov, the attacker, was a resident of Florida and a a number of other registered addresses in Ohio. He had been previously booked for minor traffic violations. It is also reported that he had commercial license in two states that allowed him to drive large trucks.

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India’s Chabahar moment as first shipment of wheat leaves for Afghanistan

- by India Writes Network

Opening a new chapter in enhancing connectivity to Afghanistan, India has sent the first shipment of wheat to Kabul through Iran’s Chabahar port, bypassing Pakistan.The first wheat shipment was flagged off by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani on October 29 through a joint video conference. It has been hailed by New Delhi as a landmark moment paving the way for operationalisation of the Chabahar port as an alternate, reliable and robust connectivity for Afghanistan.
With US President Donald Trump envisaging a pivotal role for India in stabilising Afghanistan, Washington has taken a softer approach towards India’s Chabahar port drive. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, during his recent visit to India, had clarified that the US would not impede any “legitimate business” between Iran and other countries in the region.

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