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Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on Saturday highlighted the importance of Bangladesh in India's strategic plans for regional cooperation and security stating that neighbouring country is crucial for India's SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine and its vision for the Indo-Pacific region. Addressing a special press briefing on the State visit of Bangladesh PM to India today, Kwatra also stated that renewing the disaster management agreement will improve response and capacity building. Additionally, they will focus on reducing and managing disaster risks, which is a key part of the Indo-Pacific Oceans initiative. «Bangladesh is a key part of India's SAGAR doctrine and the Indo-Pacific vision. The renewal of the MoU on maritime cooperation and blue economy that was signed in exchange earlier today aims to develop our ocean-based blue economy and maritime cooperation,» said Kwatra

US-India military partnership amidst evolving security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. The 'Partners in Progress' symposium in Bengaluru featured Assistant Chief of Indian Naval Staff Rear Admiral Nirbhay Bapna, who praised the comprehensive global strategic partnership between the two nations. According to a TOI report authored by Chethan Kumar, he emphasized their shared commitment to a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific through enhanced information sharing and maritime domain awareness.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi — fresh from declaring victory in India’s election — offered few details on the agenda for his third term

Singapore: US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Saturday the Indo-Pacific region remained a «priority» for Washington, saying the United States was secure «only if Asia is». Lloyd made the remarks at a major security forum in Singapore, a day after he met with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun. «The United States can be secure only if Asia is and that's why the United States has long maintained its presence in this region,» Austin told the Shangri-La Dialogue, which in recent years has become a barometer for US-China relations.

India’s expanding defence role and partnerships in Indo-Pacific region will likely further contribute to the increasingly competitive nature of India–China relations, pointee out International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS), leading international think tank in its recent report. The 11th edition of the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment (APRSA) released on the occasion on Shangrila Dialogue beginning on Friday in Singapore noted, “For India, being a ‘preferred security partner through defence partnerships, from combined exercises to arms transfer, increases its regional presence, which in turn enhances its influence with Asia-Pacific countries while countering Beijing’s regional influence. India’s defence engagement is and will continue to be focused on the Indian Ocean region, although it is working to increase its presence in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Ocean. India’s expanding defence role and partnerships will likely further contribute to the increasingly competitive nature of India–China relations.’’ It may be noted that India has stepped up its maritime security partnership across SE Asia including deputing Navy ships to the region regularly.

Kyung-wha Kang, President and newly appointed CEO, Asia Society, a leading global think tank in an interview with ET's Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury described India as the fastest-growing economy with a lot more potential, and noted that India is diplomatically in a very sweet spot. All countries are courting India. And India has a greater role and greater space to have a voice in steering regional dynamics. Priority for Asia Society in India The Asia Society India Center fosters a nuanced understanding of Asia-Pacific affairs, with a focus on educational programming geared towards community-building in South Asia, and arts programming that encourages contemporary South Asian artists and engages arts enthusiasts and professionals. The Asia Society Policy Institute in Delhi, founded in 2022, conducts policy research and promotes increased awareness of India’s strategic priorities and decision-making. Building on the Asia Society India Center’s deep networks in business and arts, we’re working to foster more holistic engagement in India and South Asia.

Chinese military drills in the straits of Taiwan in 2023 practiced manoeuvres key to an invasion of the island, although an actual attack was not imminent or inevitable, a senior US general in the region said on Thursday. In the exercises, the People's Liberation Army simulated a maritime and air blockade of Taiwan, amphibious assaults and counter-intervention operations, Deputy Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Lieutenant General Stephen Sklenka, said in a speech in Canberra. Sklenka's comments come as Taiwan's military mobilised its forces on Thursday after China started two days of «punishment» drills around Taiwan in what it said was a response to «separatist acts».

TAIPEI: Taiwan's military is prepared for any moves China may make around the time President-elect Lai Ching-te takes office later this month, the island's deputy defence minister said on Wednesday. China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has a strong dislike of Lai, believing him to be a dangerous separatist, whose repeated offers of talks it has rejected, including one this month. Lai, like current President Tsai Ing-wen, rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims; both say only the island's people can decide their future. Lai, now vice president, will be inaugurated on May 20.

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida says he will stress the need for a rules-based international order when he attends a meeting of the Organizations for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris

Fumio Kishida’s visit to the United States in April 2024 was a historical visit because the agreement indicated that Japan will take charge of a more wider security role in the East China Sea, Taiwan and the South China Sea as a trustworthy ally of the United States. Firstly, Japan and the United States are planning to make Tokyo to be main headquarters of military operation in this region. Currently, Japan has been planning to establish the integrated headquarters of its ground, maritime, and air Self-Defence-Forces in Tokyo by next March 2025. Along with it, during this Kishida’s US visit, the US decided to strengthen its headquarters in Tokyo to make seamless collaboration with the Japanese side. The rank of commander of the headquarter will rise from three star general to be four star general. The four-star general is at the same level with the current Indo-Pacific Commander in Hawaii. The strengthening of the seamless command chain of armed forces in Tokyo is very important step. Currently, China is provoking countries in the East China Sea, Taiwan and the South China Sea at the same time. For China’s strategy, these areas are one set. For example, if China wants to invade Taiwan, China should dominate the East China Sea and the South China Sea to isolate Taiwan. And government in Beijing can control all these areas under one integrated strategy.

India has showcased itself as a global leader, the top intelligence official from the US Department of Defense has told the Congress that in 2023, India took steps to modernise its military to compete with China and reduce its dependency on Russian origin-equipment. «During the past year, India has showcased itself as a global leader by hosting the Group of 20 economic summit and demonstrated a greater willingness to counter PRC (People's Republic of China) activity throughout the Indo-Pacific region,» Lt Gen Jeffrey Kruse, Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency told members of the House Armed Services Committee — the subcommittee on intelligence and special operations during a Congressional hearing on defence intelligence countering China. India, he said, has advanced partnerships in the Indo-Pacific with regional South China Sea claimants, such as the Philippines, through training and defence sales and deepened cooperation with the US, Australia, France and Japan.

Kwatra is here this week for a series of meetings with senior officials from the US Government and interaction with industry leaders to advance bilateral cooperation in areas like defence and technology. Kwatra held separate meetings with Richard Verma, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources and Kurt Campbell, Deputy Secretary of State at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department. «Productive catch up with Indian Foreign Secretary Kwatra on advancing ongoing US-India cooperation and the need for our countries' close partnership for regional security and prosperity,» Verma said in a post of X. Earlier in the day, Kwatra was hosted by the US India Business Council over a breakfast meeting with its Board Chair and NASDAQ Executive Vice Chairman Ed Knight.

China need to be urgently addressed «so that the abnormality in our bilateral interactions can be put behind us.» In an interview with the digital magazine Newsweek, Modi noted that for India, the relationship with China is important and significant. «It is my belief that we need to urgently address the prolonged situation on our borders so that the abnormality in our bilateral interactions can be put behind us.» «Stable and peaceful relations between India and China are important for not just our two countries but the entire region and world. I hope and believe that through positive and constructive bilateral engagement at the diplomatic and military levels, we will be able to restore and sustain peace and tranquility in our borders.»

AUKUS security pact this week.AUKUS, formed by the three countries in 2021, is part of efforts to push back against China’s growing power in the Indo-Pacific region by focusing on military modernization through new technologies. The trio announced Monday it will begin consultations this year on collaborating with “prospective partners” around the world as part of its second phase, specifically mentioning Japan as an ally it is considering working with.Not mentioned was Canada, despite the federal government saying it is considering joining the pact Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2021 described as “a deal for nuclear submarines, which Canada is not currently or any time soon in the market for.”Speaking to reporters Monday as his government announced its long-awaited defence policy update, Trudeau said Canada was already talking with AUKUS members about working with the alliance and potentially even joining it as a member.“I think it’s really important that allies, particularly across the Indo-Pacific, work together in stronger and tighter ways, and those Canadian conversations with our partners will continue,” he said.But AUKUS members have already poured cold water on the idea of expanding the alliance beyond the core trio — and experts say even if that is possible, Canada is unlikely to be invited.“The United States and Canada are already so closely aligned that AUKUS could become CANAUKUS pretty easily, but it’s not.

Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, Chief of the Royal Australian Navy, is on an official visit to India from April 2 to 6 to bolster bilateral maritime relations between the two nations. His visit includes key cities and prominent maritime regions across India. In New Delhi, Vice Admiral Hammond met with Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, to discuss increasing operational engagements, training exchanges, and information sharing. He paid tribute at the National War Memorial and received a Guard of Honour from the Indian Navy. He is also scheduled to meet with the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of the Air Staff, and Defence Secretary during his stay. Vice Admiral Hammond's itinerary includes visits to Mumbai and Kochi, where he will meet with the respective Commanders-in-Chief and visit significant naval installations like INS Vikrant, Integrated Simulator Complex, and Naval Dockyard (Mumbai) and M/s MDL.

Britain’s foreign secretary has met with Thailand’s prime minister on his first visit to the Indo-Pacific region

Under the leadership of Dr Harbansh Lal, President of AIOS, Dr Lalit Verma, Chairman International Committee of AIOS and Professor Nitin Verma, Chair of RANZCO Committee, this partnership is set to reverse the rising rate of preventable blindness in the Pacific region.Dr Samar Basak, Incoming President of AIOS said that The Indo-Pacific currently has the highest incidence of diabetic eye disease in the world, resulting in permanent sight loss in areas where people do not have timely access to diagnostic, preventive and treatment services. Dr Santosh Honavar, Honorary Secretary of AIOS said that without urgent action, the burden of vision loss will place an increasing health, social and economic burden on countries in this region.Dr.

Rajnath Singh on Tuesday witnessed the combat prowess of aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya in a «twin-carrier» operation in the Arabian Sea and addressed the top naval commanders on the evolving maritime security scenario in view of geo-political upheavals. The inaugural session of the three-day naval commanders conference saw Singh embarking at sea to witness the Navy's ability to conduct operations deploying both the aircraft carriers. In his address to the commanders, Singh highlighted the Navy's important role in maritime security and maintaining India's sovereignty and urged the commanders to remain prepared to deal with all kinds of challenges while assuring the government's all-possible support. «If India's reputation has increased in the Indian Ocean Region and wider Indo-Pacific, it is due to the bravery and promptness of our Navy,» he said.

US Navy, David Isom, emphasised that India will play a very important role going forward in partnership with the US and all of its other partners and allies. David Isom said on Friday that India has a really important role in helping protect those international commons. Speaking to on India-US defence ties, he said, «The relationship continues to grow. I think India has a really important role in helping protect those international commons, the free and open Indo-Pacific, the freedom of commerce and the ability for all nations to have access to those open sea lanes.»

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has asked India to play a leading role in building international partnerships to meet the unprecedented challenges brought by the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and changes in climate and energy security

people of Indonesia on the successful Presidential elections and @prabowo on the lead. Look forward to working with the new Presidency to further strengthen Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Indonesia," PM Modi said. Branded as the “reformed" general, Prabowo Subianto is a former officer of the special forces and previously served as the Defence Minister of Indonesia.