Latest news with #DefenceCooperation
Times of Oman
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Indian Army, Russian Land Forces bolster defence ties at IRIGC meet in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg: Indian Army strengthens ties with Russian Land Forces at the 4th Indo-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission (IRIGC) Sub Working Group (Land) meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia from June 25 to 27. The interaction between the Two Armies focused on enhancing bilateral Defence Cooperation, including exchanges in niche technologies such as Drones, C-UAS, Electronic Warfare, and operational logistics equipment. The event also included a visit to Mikhailovskaya Artillery Academy and the 56th Guards District Training Centre, Leningradsky Military District, the Indian Army said. Strengthening the bilateral defence engagement further, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' meeting in Qingdao, China. The meeting came shortly after Singh arrived at the venue on Thursday, where he was received by Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun. Upon his arrival, Singh joined Admiral Dong and other participating leaders for a group photograph ahead of the official proceedings. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif arrived at the venue after Singh. The SCO Defence Ministers' meeting, being held from June 25 to 26, brings together member states to discuss key regional and global security issues. The discussions are expected to focus on international and regional peace and security, counter-terrorism cooperation, and enhanced collaboration among the defence ministries of SCO member states. In a press release, the Ministry of Defence stated, "Defence Ministry is expected to highlight India's continued commitment to the principles and mandate of the SCO, outline India's vision towards achieving greater international peace & security, call for joint & consistent efforts to eliminate terrorism & extremism in the region, and stress on the need for greater trade, economic cooperation and connectivity within SCO. He will also hold bilateral meetings with the Defence Ministers of some participating countries, including China and Russia, on the sidelines of the meeting." India, the Ministry noted, places special importance on the SCO as a platform for promoting multilateralism and cooperation across politics, security, economy, and people-to-people ties in the region. "SCO pursues its policy based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity of nations, non-interference in internal affairs, mutual respect, understanding and equality of all member states," the Ministry added. The SCO is an intergovernmental organisation established in 2001. India became a full member in 2017 and held the rotating chairmanship in 2023. Member countries include India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus. China has assumed the Chair of the SCO for 2025 under the theme "Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move."
News.com.au
18-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Anthony Albanese to negotiate on security and defence pact with the European Union
Anthony Albanese has officially confirmed that Australia will commence negotiations on a Security and Defence Partnership with the European Union, as Australia firms up strategic support with allied countries in a precarious global environment. Mirroring similar partnerships the EU has with Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom, the agreement moves to boost defence co-operation between the two countries in areas such as defence industry, counter terrorism, and critical technologies. It would not be legally binding or considered a treaty, and Australia would not be required to send troops should an EU member be attacked. The Prime Minister confirmed he had accepted the invite following a trilateral meeting with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa on Wednesday, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles set to lead negotiations. The agreement will create a framework for how the two countries will work together on issues like cyber security, and counter-terrorism. Mr Albanese said the partnership was a 'key takeout' of his meetings at the G7. 'I very much welcome the EU's offer for a Security and Defence Partnership and Australia will warmly take it upand commence work immediately,' he said. 'This will open the door to joint defence procurement opportunities and will benefit both our industries and our security. 'At a time of global uncertainty, it is our collective responsibility to work together to uphold peace, security and economic prosperity. The need for greater allied collaboration also featured heavily in Mr Albanese's bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday (AEST). Both men spoke about growing collaboration between Australia and Japan to maintain a 'free and open Pacific' amid increasing aggression from China. Mr Ishiba said the state of international affairs was 'becoming more complex,' naming conflicts in Ukraine, Middle East and China's military presence in the Indo-Pacific. 'Under such circumstances, I think Japan (and) Australia co-ordination really continues to set an example of what a like-minded country's co-operation is, and going to going forward together, I would like to make sure that free and open in the Pacific will be realised,' he said. Mr Albanese said Japan and Australia shared 'a very special partnership and a strategic relationship'. 'Increasingly in recent years, our defence ties have become more important,' he added. 'Both countries are strong supporters of free and fair trade, and that is something that has brought prosperity to not just our nations, but to our region.' Mr Albanese's appearance at the G7 also coincides with a sudden 30-day Pentagon review of the AUKUS security pact by the Trump administration, which prompted fears the 2018 agreement could be scrapped. While it was expected to be a prominent topic of conversation during a 20-minute conversation between Mr Albanese and Donald Trump, the talks were put on ice after the US President departed the summit early due to the escalating violence between Israel and Iran. Fears for AUKUS were still somewhat allayed after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer backed in the deal during a press conference with Mr Trump. 'Yep, we're proceeding with that,' Sir Keir said following his bilateral meeting with Mr Trump. 'I think the person that is doing a review – we did a review when we came into government, so that makes good sense to me. But it's a really important deal.' Although Mr Trump didn't go as far to back in AUKUS, he said of the UK and the US: 'We're very long-time partners and allies and friends, and we've become friends in a short period of time.'
Times of Oman
30-05-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
New Zealand Dy PM highlights defence, security, and trade ties with India
New Delhi: New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, on Friday emphasised the strengthening partnership between New Zealand and India in various areas. He noted India's emergence as a geopolitical giant and vital security actor in the region. "In an increasingly multi-polar world, India is emerging as a geopolitical giant and a vital security actor both regionally and globally...", said New Zealand Dy PM Peters. Speaking at Ananta Aspen Centre in New Delhi, Peters highlighted the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Air New Zealand and Air India, which aims to explore codeshare agreements across 16 routes. This move is expected to boost tourism, educational exchanges, and business links between the two nations. "A significant step forward came with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Air New Zealand and Air India, aiming to explore a codeshare agreement across 16 routes covering India, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand," he said. "This move will ease travel between our nations, strengthening tourism, educational exchanges, and business links... But our partnership with India extends far beyond economics. It reaches into defence and security -- a growing priority for New Zealand in the Indo-Pacific," he added. He further noted that both nations have taken deliberate steps to "build closer defence ties" with India, with a recently signed defence cooperation arrangement "paving the way for greater collaboration" between India and New Zealand's armed forces. "The New Zealand Navy currently leads Combined Task Force 150, tasked with securing vital trade routes and countering terrorism, smuggling, and piracy in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden. India's role as deputy commander in this mission is a strong signal of our growing strategic alignment... The impact is real -- the taskforce has already disrupted over USD 600 million worth of illegal drug trade," he said. Highlighting the vast untapped potential of the India-New Zealand partnership. Peters stated, "For New Zealand, India represents immense untapped potential." Peters noted that despite India's significant economic scale, it remains New Zealand's 12th largest trade partner, accounting for only 1.5 per cent of New Zealand's exports. "Despite India's economic scale, it remains our 12th largest partner in trade, accounting for just 1.5 per cent of our exports. We are determined that we're going to work to change that. Our strengths, from food and beverage products to agriculture, forestry, horticulture, education and tourism, are world-class. And our innovation in areas like outer space and renewable energy will find a welcome partner in India," he said. Winston Peters has highlighted the potential for his country to support India in meeting its growing food demands. During a fireside chat with G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, Peters stated, "We know that there are going to be certain areas of barrier of concern... For example, India will need 35 per cent more food in the next 35 years, and our country, rather than being an opponent, can be a serious help." New Zealand's Foreign Minister, Winston, also commended the stability and continuity in the Indian government, stating that it has facilitated more effective communication and cooperation. During a fireside chat, Peters said, "Until recent times, it was really hard to talk to the Indian government getting a breakthrough... The stability and continuity are a big help." Peters, who has known his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar since 2019, appreciated the consistency in the Indian government's leadership, stating, "I've known your foreign minister since 2019. And he's still there, and this is good because you can walk into the room and take up from what happened yesterday. I don't have to start all over again, if I can say that's been a blessing."
The Guardian
07-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Challenges facing Europe ‘enormous', says Merz on first trip abroad
France and Germany will seek to jumpstart their relationship, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz have said on the new German chancellor's first trip abroad, working 'systematically together' in a 'new push for Europe'. Merz told the two leaders' joint news conference in Paris on Wednesday that a reset in Franco-German relations was vital to help Europe become more secure, competitive and unified so it can overcome 'enormous' security and economic challenges. 'We will only be able to meet these challenges if France and Germany stand even more closely together than in the past,' Merz said. 'That is why Emmanuel Macron and I have agreed on a new Franco-German push for Europe.' The two countries will 'set up a joint defence and security council that will meet regularly' as part of efforts to boost defence cooperation and investment, the French president said. They would also aim to coordinate economic reforms, he added. The Franco-German engine has traditionally helped drive the European project but has all but stalled of late, due most recently to infighting and inaction within former chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-way coalition which collapsed in November. Merz, who was confirmed as chancellor after a shaky start on Tuesday, takes office as Europe scrambles to boost its defences amid Russia's war on Ukraine and growing doubts over US security commitments to Europe under Donald Trump. The conservative former MEP has said he wants to fix relations with Germany's top European allies and pledged to be 'a very European chancellor', as the EU also seeks a trade accord with the US after Trump's announcement of sweeping tariffs. 'After years of internal bickering and political navel-gazing under the previous government, what's needed now is German leadership that doesn't just observe European policy, but helps shape it,' said Jana Puglierin of the ECFR thinktank. Puglierin was cautiously optimistic that Merz had made a good start, pointing to his plan to centralise foreign and European policy in the chancellery and the fact that both the chancellery and the foreign ministry would be run by the same party. Observers have also said, however, that the two rounds of voting Merz needed to be elected chancellor by parliament underscored potentially damaging disunity in the governing coalition of his centre-right CDU/CSU alliance and the Social Democrats. Merz, who was travelling to Poland later on Wednesday to meet the prime minister, Donald Tusk, called on all EU members to boost defence spending, saying it was the 'only way we can close our capability gaps and collectively support Ukraine'. He said that he wanted discuss nuclear deterrence in Europe with France and the UK. Asked how Germany could seek to influence talks on a possible peace deal in Ukraine, Merz said there was a proven format of Berlin working with France and the UK, with whom he would 'consult intensively'. Merz added that he hoped to consult with Poland as well. skip past newsletter promotion Sign up to Headlines Europe A digest of the morning's main headlines from the Europe edition emailed direct to you every week day Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion Macron said France and Germany were in close contact in their 'unwavering support' for Ukraine. 'There is only one question: is Russia ready for a ceasefire lasting at least 30 days in order to be able to build a solid and lasting peace?' he said. Merz said he was hopeful a permanent ceasefire could be agreed soon, but added that the war could not end 'without a continued involvement of the United States of America. This is not something that Europeans can substitute for'. Analysts expect the relationship between Macron and Merz to be a big improvement on that between the French president and Scholz, noting that Merz has a business background and is a committed European, transatlanticist and Ukraine supporter. Macron congratulated Merz on Tuesday, saying they could 'make the Franco-German motor stronger than ever' in order to 'accelerate our European agenda for sovereignty, security and competitiveness. For the French, for the Germans and for all Europeans'. Merz is more open than Scholz to sending German long-range missiles to Ukraine and to deploying German troops as part of a peacekeeping force. The new German coalition agreement emphasises 'strengthening friendships' with France and Poland. The document says the three countries should 'align closely on all relevant parts of European policy so that we can act in the most united way possible for the benefit of the whole EU'.
