Last week at a public rally in Pakistan, Prime Minister Imran Khan Niazi had praised India and Indian Foreign Policy. Well, that should be your first clue on what’s going on and why top world leaders and their respective officials are visiting New Delhi for a discussion. From Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to his Mexican counterpart Marcelo Ebrard Casaubónan and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Deputy NSA Daleep Singh have come to India. Later, Prime Minster of Nepal Sher Bahadur Deuba also arrived for a 3-day state visit. Prime Minister of Israel Naftali Bennett was supposed to arrive on the 3rd of April, but the summit got canceled as the Wuhan Virus-infected him too. Other EU, NATO, and top Ukrainian officials are also in the loop to visit New Delhi for talks. All these are due to India’s very successful foreign policy, and the foundation credits should be given to three people, Late Former Foreign Minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj, incumbent Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, and the Indian Diaspora for creating a great positive view towards India in the foreign lands.
Here, we will discuss the consequences and impacts of all these official state visits.
Visit of Sri Lankan Foreign Minister and Finance Minister:
In February 2022, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G.L Peiris arrived in India for a 3-day state visit. But he was here for money and security. Later, in March 2022, Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa visited India and got them USD 1 Billion as direct financial aid and USD 2.5 Billion credit line help for food, medical and fuel supply. Agriculture, renewable energy, digitalization, tourism, and fisheries were also discussed in this meeting. India will provide 100,000 kg of Nano-Nitrogen enriched fertilizer to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka has also signed three strategically important defense deals with India, one was publicly announced, and two were not. These deals will give us an edge over the CCP’s aggression in the Indian Ocean and our southern neighborhood.
So, what were those defense deals?
- India will provide a Floating Dock to increase Sri Lankan Maritime Patrol capabilities.
- A Dornier 228 STOL Twin Engine Turboprop aircraft also to increase Sri Lankan Maritime Patrol capabilities. India will train the Sri Lankan pilots and engineers to fly and maintain them.
- India and Sri Lanka will also set up seven sub-unit bases in Sri Lanka, and India will offer 6 Million USD for that. This will help the Sri Lankan Navy and Coast Guard rescue people and coordinate with India during any major disaster.
Apart from that, Trincomalee Oil Tank Firm and Three Power Development Projects were now given to India, stripping them away from China. These steps may look like that, but Sri Lanka is returning to India. But there is more in the story.
Sri Lanka is also turning to China, whose debt trap made them so feeble that every School, College, and the University of Sri Lanka had to cancel examinations as the entire country ran out of paper. Street Lights are now turned off due to extreme power shortages, and regular clashes between common people due to fuel have also become common.
This way, Sri Lanka is trying to become Nepal and taste the sweet dollar bills from both nations. Hope it helps the Sri Lankan people as they have endured years of civil war, civil unrest, terrorism, and now food, energy, and even medical crisis. India is trying to become the big brother and help Sri Lanka out once again. Let’s see what the future holds. As this article is written, Sri Lanka has imposed a nationwide Financial Emergency as people started rioting outside the Rajapaksa residences throughout the island nation.
Prime Minister of Japan: Fumio Kishida’s Visit To India:
Before becoming Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida had visited India back in January 2015 as Foreign Minister of Japan. This official visit by PM Kishida was enormously important in several ways. Let us discuss the main strategic points one by one at this 14th India-Japan Summit.
- A much freer, more open, and more inclusive Indo-Pacific region.
- Both being members of QUAD nations, talks on progress in defense and security and regional context also took place.
- India and Japan had signed a Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services Agreement (RPSS), and further talks were also held.
- Act East Forum: Further straightening of the decision which was taken back in the 2017 Summit to establish the India-Japan Act East Forum. This meeting bolstered the objectives of coordinating the developmental projects in North-East India to improve connectivity, forest management, disaster management, disaster risk reduction, and capacity building.
Furthermore, several projects, including the up-gradation of highways in the North-East states of Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram, were also part of the talks. LAST YEAR, the PM had laid the foundation stone of a 20 km-long bridge over the Brahmaputra River between Assam and Meghalaya.
- The Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI): – The meeting among the Trade and Finance Ministers of India, Japan, and Australia launched the SCRI project on the 27th of April 2021. The initiative seeks to enhance the resilience of supply chains in the Indo-Pacific Region, develop dependable sources of supply, and attract foreign investments.
Our take:
Over the upcoming five years, Japan will invest 5 Trillion Yen or around 42 Billion USD in India under various FDI Schemes.
There will be a 2+2 Dialogue between India and Japan’s Defense and Foreign Ministers.
Japan will also offer 300 Billion Yen as a Loan to reduce carbon emissions in India.
The meeting was also very crucial in terms of the Russia-Ukraine war. Although Japan is financially very strong, they had to rely on USA and NATO members for defense. But now, being a member of QUAD and while trying to tackle the common enemy, the CCP, Japan is also arming itself, and India can become a great partner of Japan in this arming procedure.
Visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi:
CCP’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited India last week, one of the highest-level state visits made by either side after the Galwan Clashes in June 2020. Wang Yi was here on a mission to revive the bilateral ties with India and China, but his comments on the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir got him a very cold welcome; not even a red carpet was there for him.
Wang Yi met his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval, but both remained him the border situation. India wants de-escalation at the border first and a guarantee from CCP that they will do no more salami-slicing misadventures with Indian territories. Basically, Wang Yi came and went back empty-handed.
But there was perhaps an even stronger message conveyed by Indian Armed Forces. Between 24th and 25th March, when Wang Yi was in India, the Indian Army had conducted an ‘Airborne Insertion and Rapid Response’ exercise in the strategically-sensitive Siliguri Corridor. This Siliguri Corridor is a 20-22km wide corridor that connects the North-Eastern states with the rest of India. If India loses this narrow strip of land, all the North-Eastern states will disconnect from the mainland. This is why China and India had a stand-off in Doklam in 2017, as CCP wanted to make an assertion through Bhutan into the ‘Chicken-Neck’ of India.
Wang Yi’s visit was also coming at the moment of Russia’s Ukraine invasion. As China is somewhat openly supporting Russia, and the guillotine of sanctions can also get dumped over them, China needs an ally. Who could be a better friend than India?
Deputy NSA of USA Daleep Singh’s Visit to India:
On the 31st of March, 2022, Deputy National Security Advisor of USA Daleep Singh visited India in his official capacity, but his main objective was to threaten India with Chinese Aggression and Russian support. His words were in simple terms, “Russia won’t come to help India if China crosses the LAC.” He also warned India regarding importing Russian Oil. His main objective was to force India to choose the West’s side, support the Ukrainian cause, and stop being Neutral.
India’s responses were simple, we will keep purchasing more oil from Russia at a discounted price. Daleep Singh, a 3rd Generation Indian-American whose great granduncle Dalip Singh Saund was the first Asian-American Congressman in the USA, perhaps forgot that India is not in the 90’s anymore when anyone, especially the US and the West, could threaten us with Sanctions. After President Joe Biden’s ‘Shaky’ comment against India, his comments came.
As Germany, France, and other EU and NATO nations are buying Oil and Gas from Russia, why should India boycott the lucrative deals we are getting from Russia? If the USA wants to sanction, they can and should start sanctioning from Europe, but they know it will probably be the last discission ever taken by Joe Biden if he even thinks of sanctioning European nations other than Russia and Belarus.
British Foreign Secretary Liz Strauss’s visit to India:
Her visit was coincided with and largely overshadowed by the visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. On her single-day visit, she met with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, and finally Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to promote the G-7 strategy to throw Russia out of G-20 support Ukraine in the ongoing war with Russia. But her main objective was to persuade India to reduce ‘Strategic Dependency’ on Russia and get the needs fulfilled by the West. But so far, India has responded by buying more discounted oil from Russia.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s visit to India:
Against the backdrop of Russia decimating Ukraine city after city since last month, perhaps in terms of the Russia-Ukraine war, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made the highest priority visit to India. During his 2-day state visit, Foreign Minister Lavrov met with his Indian Counterpart, S. Jaishankar, and later Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strengthen India-Russia bilateral ties.
Key Takes:
- India to get USD 35 per barrel discount on crude oil purchases from Russia. India will buy more 15-million-barrel crude oil from Russia.
- India also pushed for the ‘Faster and Confirmed’ delivery of S-400 systems.
- Sergey Lavrov also iterated that India could become the mediator for the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. As the West has shut its doors over the war and India has successfully maintained the ‘Neutral’ status, India can now host the leaders from the warring nations for de-escalation of the war.
- Before visiting India, Lavrov visited China also. His visits are mainly to check whether the weather in India and China on Russia’s favor or not, both political and social.
Being the most sanctioned nation, Russia needs friends, support, and money, all three only India and China can provide. So, Sergey Lavrov’s visit probably made the India-Russia ties even stronger.
But this is probably a wake-up call for the world and India. As India imports more than 50% of the defense materials from Russia, it is necessary to ensure India resolves the demands of her weapons procurements by manufacturing them in India. This way, when the suppliers are at war, we don’t have to worry a bit about the procurement of weapons.
But, there is one more complex thing we need to mention: Acquiring of Companies. As the Russian Stock Exchange is plummeting, the share prices of all registered companies are falling. This is where China comes into action and tries to acquire large portions or even control shares in those companies. This is extremely dangerous for Russia and devastating for the whole world. As China is trying to penetrate the Defense, Banking, Food Products, and Energy sector of Russia, and as we know China, they do not think except the CCP or now Xi Jinping.
For example, the world’s largest and one of the best quality protective equipment manufacturers, 3M, could not deliver its products outside of China as the Chinese or CCP Authorities prohibited or prevented them from shipping the surgical or medical supplies to other nations hoarded to the fullest levels. This created a high artificial demand for the N95 masks, PPE kits, and medical gloves. Later, China supplied them to the West at a higher price, and for African nations, they were given as ‘Generous Gifts’ from the CCP.
Russia knows that whatever happens, they should not let their strategic assets into the hands of CCP and finally lose the battle in their home. Furthermore, CCP also claims Vladivostok as they believe it was part of China since ‘Ancient Times.’ Therefore, Russia-China or Russia-CCP relationship is not natural. It is more like a necessary relationship where one partner tries to destroy the other before someone else destroys it.
India can start investing in Russia, especially the Russian Defense and Energy Sectors. India and Russia have jointly developed one of the Best Supersonic missiles, BrahMos Missile Systems. ONGC of India has long and time-tested dealings with Russian Oil Agencies and helped search for new oil fields for Russia. But due to Western Pressure, Indian companies like Infosys had to shut down their Russian office. As Russia is losing the ‘Information Warfare’ against Ukraine and the West, they badly need a reliable Ally, and China could not become one overnight.
Nepali Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s Visit To India:
Prime Minister of Nepal Sher Bahadur Deuba is currently in India for his first official visit to India during his current term after assuming office in July 2021. This could be the best chance for India to revive the India-Nepal ties, which are currently under pressure due to the previous regime of K.P Sharma Oli and his ties with the Chinese Communist Party. When Russia is invading Ukraine, and the CCP is preparing to invade Taiwan, Nepal knows it’s about when the CCP’s greed will turn towards them, and they will become a part of China just like Tibet. China has successfully encroached into 11 districts of Nepal. But Nepal also needs money, just like Sri Lanka, and China has deeper pockets than India. Therefore, this visit is extremely crucial in terms of India’s or Nepal’s National Security and the financial securities of both countries.
India and Nepal have had open borders since the 1950s. This border was sometimes used by terrorists to infiltrate Indian borders.
Apart from the Wuhan Virus pandemic, Nepal is suffering very badly. They also need a vaccine and other financial support; India should be the best bet for Nepal.
PM Modi and PM Deuba jointly flagged off the first India-Nepal Railways Services on this trip. The train will run between the Indian State of Bihar’s Jayanagar Station to Nepal’s Kurtha Station. The train line should be extended more than 17km and reach Bijalpura.
PM Deuba also met with BJP President J.P. Nadda at BJP Headquarters. This could signify a shift in the political situation in Nepal. As Nepal has always been highly influenced by Communism and Nepali Communist Party has come nothing but an arm of the Chinese Communist Party, the people of Nepal have now started to understand the dangerous side effects of Communism. In recent times, the Anti-China protests in Nepal are the key example of these situations.
K.P. Sharma Oli also created a border dispute with India in the Indian state of Uttarakhand by claiming three areas Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiadhura. It can be hoped that PM Deuba addresses that issue and solve it.
Some Minor Yet Very Crucial Visits from Different Countries:
As the world leaders and top officials are ‘Beelining’ into India, many other top officials have visited India this year before and after the war broke out.
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias’s Visit To India:
Greek Foreign Minister Dendias visited India for a 2-day official state visit to strengthen the multi-faced bilateral ties further. After a successful meeting with Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, it can be easily stated that the India-Greece relationship has become much further pleasant than ever. The two ministers also discussed the hot issue in hand Ukraine and Indo-Pacific and Eastern Mediterranean situations.
Canadian Minister of International Trade Mary Ng’s Visit To India:
Canadian Minister of International Trade Mary Ng visited India two weeks after the Russia-Ukraine war. On her 4-day state visit, the main focus was to revamp the India-Canada relationship deetiolated under the Justin Trudeau regime. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had been very active in every anti-India and anti-government and especially anti-Modi movements. He was also found supporting Khalistan and their terrorist elements in his own lands and actively supported the months-long Farmers Protests to repeal the new firm laws.
Trade Minister Ng’s visit has finally opened doors for the exports of Canadian Pulses. Now India will import more pulses from Canada. The Indian Agricultural sector can also benefit from another deal as Canada has agreed to work on market access for Indian-grown crops such as sweet corn, baby corn, and banana. Apart from that, Canada has also agreed to simplify organic food imports from India.
Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism, and Investment Dan Tehan’s visit to India:
In February 2022, before the Russia-Ukraine war broke out, Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism, and Investment Dan Tehan visited India to further strengthen the bilateral relationship and improve the trade relations. Australia wanted a Free Trade Agreement with India, and the talks progressed quite positively with the Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal. The Free Trade Agreement or FTA has been named a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (CECA), which will be signed by the end of 2022.
In the Financial Year 2020-2021, India’s exports to Australia were refined petroleum products, medicines, and surgical items, railway vehicles including hovertrains, precious gems like pearls and gems, various jewelry items, and textile articles- were soaring USD 4.04 billion, while imports were USD 8.24 billion. The Indian Imports included coal, copper ores and concentrates, gold, vegetables, sheep wools and woolen articles, fruits, nuts, and lentils.
A Memorandum of Understanding or MoU was signed to promote easier access to Australian Universities for Indian students and easier travel guidelines for Indian Tourists in Australia and vice-versa.