Diplomacy

After making his first ministerial visit to Africa over three years ago, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interest in deepening India’s trade relationship and security cooperation with the continent has swelled. Though their trade relationship dates centuries, Indo-African trade stood at just $1 billion 25 years ago. With present bilateral trade valued at over $60 billion, the Modi government hopes to improve the figure to $150 billion by 2023.

According to a person familiar with the planning of the tour, the visit could take place as early as the second half of February. However, the timing will depend on the duration of the US Senate trial, expected to start this week, to determine if Trump should be removed from office in impeachment proceedings, the person added.

In an official statement, Pradhan said, “We are keen to explore the new northern sea route to source crude oil and LNG through Russia’s Arctic. The route has the potential to cut the cost and time for transporting LNG from Russia to India. A sea line between Far-East Russia and the East coast of India will also facilitate sourcing of coking coal from the region.”

This marks his first visit abroad after he was appointed Prime Minister by his younger brother President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

“With profound sorrow, the Government and People of India have received the sad news of the demise of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, Sultan of the Sultanate of Oman.,” a statement from MEA noted. The Minister of Minority Affairs is also carrying a message from PM Modi to His Majesty Sultan Sayyed Haitham bin Tariq bin Taimur Al-Said, Sultan of Sultanate of Oman.

The policy will discourage organisations from running programmes that can hamper Nepal’s relations with the neighbouring countries, it said.

Congressman Scott Perry (Republican-Pennsylvania) recently made a statement in the House in support of Government of India’s initiative in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). He was the sixth Congressman to support India’s moves in J & K.

The three-day event, co-hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and Observer Research Foundation, will also see the participation of many deputy foreign ministers, former Prime Ministers, former Presidents, national security advisors, military chiefs and other high level policy-makers, scholars and officials.

“The entirety of the state of Jammu and Kashmir is part of sovereign India, and people that ask for UN resolution to be implemented ignore the first resolution, which is that Pakistani military forces should leave Kashmir to re-unite the state,” Blackman said at the “Balidan Divas” or Day of Sacrifice event held in London.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for the ratification of Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement between India and France. The Agreement was signed in March, 2018 during the State Visit of the French President to India.