International Relations - Current Affairs for September, 2017

India and Kazakhstan discussed deepening cooperation in oil and gas sector as well as expanding the International North-South Transport Corridor by linking it to the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran rail link. Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan-led a delegation to Astana for the India-Kazakhstan Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC), which is co-chaired by Kazakh Energy Minister Kanat Bozumbayev. During the meeting, the two discussed ideas for stepping up the cooperation in energy sector, trade, economic, investment, transport and connectivity, agriculture, information technology, space, healthcare and cultural spheres between the two countries. The two sides discussed the possibilities of expanding cooperation in exploration and production of hydrocarbons and investments in infrastructure projects in oil and gas sector. ONGC Videsh Ltd owns a 25 per cent stake in the Satpayev oilfield in the Caspian Sea. In the nuclear energy sector, the two sides agreed to work on application of nuclear science in the areas of health and agriculture. They explored possibility of expanding the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) by linking it to the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran rail link. Kazakhstan is strategically located between Europe and Asia and offers enormous business opportunities for investments. The country is rich in mineral resources, such as uranium, oil and natural gas. Both leaders agreed to collaborate in the oil and gas sector for mutual benefit and further strengthen the engagement by addressing issues of concerns to Indian investors, particularly in Kazakh hydrocarbon sector. Bozumbayev invited Indian investments in various sectors particularly in the hydrocarbon sector, infrastructure, peaceful use of nuclear energy, co-production of films, cooperation in food processing and Information Technology. Both sides exchanged lists containing priority export items. INSTC: Know More

• INSTC is a 7,200-km-long multi-mode network of ship, rail and road route for moving freight between India, Russia, Iran, Europe and Central Asia.
• The route primarily involves moving freight from India, Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia via ship, rail and road.
• India and Kazakh also agreed to develop and deepen bilateral relations in the field of agriculture, mining and civil aviation sector.

In the first such tri-Service wargames, India will hold a major combat exercise with Russia this year to crank up military-to-military ties between the two long-standing strategic partners. The Indra exercise, to be held in Russia, will include assets and manpower from the Army, Navy and IAF. This is the first time India will deploy the three services together for an exercise with a country. Though Russia has been India's largest defence supplier for long, notching up military sales worth over $50 billion since the 1960s, their armed forces do not exercise much together. In sharp contrast, India and US hold a flurry of exercises every year, ranging from the top-notch naval Malabar wargames (with Japan now a regular participant) to the counter-terror Vajra Prahar & Yudh Abhyas Ines between their armies. The US has also bagged Indian arms contracts worth $15 billion since 2007, even overtaking Russia in annual sales over the last four years. But India and Russia have now resolved to expand their military-to-military ties. "The first initial planning conference has already been held with Russia to discuss the exercise scenario, assets and manpower for the tri-Service Indra. Two more such conferences will be held soon to finalise everything. While Indian and Russian armies and navies have been separately holding their Indra exercises off-and-on for the last few years, the first-ever bilateral air combat exercise "Avia Indra" was held in the Astrakhan region, near the Caspian Sea, in 2014. India has also inked pacts with Russia to acquire five S-400 Triumf advanced air defence missile systems, four Grigorivich-class frigates and 200 Kamov-226T light helicopters, while also sealing the lease of a second nuclear-powered submarine after INS Chakra, all together worth around $10.5 billion.

Aiming to put in place a key maritime route connecting India with Northeast Asia and Western Pacific region Delhi is contemplating to put in place a major connectivity initiative - direct shipping link between Chennai and Vladivostok amid China’s ambitious Maritime Silk Route (MSR) connecting Asia with Africa. With India making concrete moves to expand its presence in Far East Russia to harness natural resources as evident through Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj’s visit to Vladivostok last week plans are in making for a maritime link connecting Chennai with the key Russian port on the Pacific. This shipping link would enable to transfer cargo between Chennai and Vladivostok in 24 days in comparison to over 40 days currently taken to transport goods from India to Far East Russia via Europe. This proposed maritime route which could be transformed into a corridor could juxtapose with Indo-Japan Pacific to Indian Ocean Corridor amid Beijing’s OBOR of which MSR is a part – virtually connecting entire SE Asia through road, shipping and rail links. Additionally, there will be a Russia Desk for facilitating Russian investments into India as assured by PM Narendra Modi during the annual summit in St Petersburg in June. This is the 3rd such Desk in India after Japan and Korea. Russia Desk would provide complete support service for any kind of Russian investment/ Businessmen/ from legislative to taxation; from personnel to finding right partner, according to informed officials. Vladivostok: Know More

• The Far Eastern Federal District (twice the size of India) is the largest but the least populated of the eight federal districts of Russia, with a population of roughly 6.3 million.
• India was the first country to establish a resident Consulate in Vladivostok in 1992.
• Current engagement of India with the region is limited to isolated pockets such as the Irkut Corporation in Irkutsk where the Mig and Sukhoi aircraft are built and over USD 6 billion worth of investments by ONGC Visesh Limited in the Sakhalin 1 project.
• The region has a wealth of natural resources such as land, timber, mineral and other resources like tin, gold, diamonds and oil and natural gas.
• The Russian government has announced several initiatives to attract investments in the region, including an agricultural SEZ, the Vladivostok Free Port Project and also invites participation in the timber industry , mining of the huge mineral resources (coal & diamonds) and precious metal deposits (gold, platinum, tin and tungsten).
• Opportunities for collaboration for Indian companies include in such sectors as agriculture, mining, port development and infrastructure, diamond processing, agro-processing.

List of MoUs/Agreements signed during the visit of Prime Minister of Japan to India (September 14, 2017) A. Disaster Risk Management

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi on Sept 5, 2017 presented a reproduction of an 1841 map of a stretch of the River Salween to President of Myanmar H.E. Mr. U Htin Kyaw. Prime Minister also presented a sculpture of Bodhi tree to the Myanmar President. This is the PM's maiden bilateral visit to the country. The Prime Minister is scheduled to meet Myanmar President Htin Kyaw, who shall host a banquet for the Indian PM. Modi will be meeting Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese State Counsellor and will likely discuss issues pertaining to security and counter-terrorism, trade and investment, infrastructure and energy, and culture.

India and Nepal on Sept 5, 2017 began their joint military exercise in the western part of the Himalayan country. This is focusing on counter-terrorism and forest fighting operations. The exercise - Surya Kiran - was being participated by around 300 troops each side in Rupandehi district. Senior Nepal Army officer Rajendra Karki inaugurated the exercise. The 12th edition of Nepal-India joint military exercise will conclude on September 16. Surya Kiran is the largest joint exercise in terms of troop participation. The battalion-level joint training between the two armies will focus on counter-terror operations in mountainous terrain by facilitating interoperability. Disaster management and joint operations for disaster relief will also be a part of the exercise. The 11th edition of the joint exercise was held in Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand. The Nepal Army said the joint exercise will provide the two armies a platform to exchange experiences, ideas and skills. Surya Kiran series of exercises are held alternately in India and Nepal.

India and Myanmar are set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the conservation of earthquake-damaged pagodas at Bagan.

This is during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Myanmar next week.

The cabinet has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Myanmar for the conservation of earthquake-damaged pagodas at Bagan, Myanmar.

Began is a renowned tourist attraction of Myanmar.

India’s role in rebuilding damaged pagodas at Began will be an opportunity to showcase India’s expertise in the restoration and conservation of monuments not only to the people of Myanmar but also tourists from other countries.

The MoU will be signed during the visit of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Myanmar on September 6-7, 2017.

This will further strengthen India’s enduring ties with Myanmar, in culture and religion.

Prime Minister’s visit will generate immense goodwill for India among the people of Myanmar due to the religious significance as well as the touristic significance of the project.