Both Sri Lanka and Maldives are the classical example of how small nations with limited resources can be victims of China’s “debt-trap policy” in their zeal to develop infrastructure in their respective countries
The support of grant assistance was in response to a specific request made by Government of Niger,, which is hosting the AU Summit for the first time
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a mechanism for multilateral cooperation that plays an important role in maintaining regional peace and stability and in facilitating the prosperity and development of the Member States.
The SCO is a China-led eight-member economic and security bloc with India and Pakistan being admitted to the grouping in 2017.
It is in this backdrop that Modi’s visits to Maldives and Sri Lanka – his first official overseas destinations in his second term as Prime Minister – is expected to herald the second chapter for Modi’s Neighbourhood First policy. Its second edition is expected to mark a shift from India’s immediate to extended neighbourhood and from disputed land borders to maritime expanse making Modi an Indo-Pacific Prime Minister.
The ASEAN region along with India accounts for 1.85 billion people, which is one fourth of the global population and their combined GDP has been estimated at over $3.8 trillion.
Photo: PTI/PIB
The prime minister is no stranger to the international arena. During his first term (2014-19) he acted as a hands-on de-facto Foreign Minister, investing considerable time and energy in shaping the country’s foreign policy.
IDSA’s Africa Day Commemoration has become a platform to reinforce India’s relations with its African partners
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif proposes connecting Pakistan’s Gwadar port to its “complementary” port Chabahar in southeastern Iran, during his visit to Islamabad
Photo: Dawn/Naveed Siddiqui
The SCO members commit to jointly oppose any form of unilateralism and trade protectionism; all but India endorse China’s Belt and Road Initiative
Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kyrgyzstan