Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for intensifying regional cooperation to effectively deal with terrorism, also pitching for a rules-based security architecture for the resource-rich region. At the ASEAN-India summit held in Manila, the Philippines, Modi identified terrorism and extremism as the major challenge facing the region and said the time has come for the countries of the region to join hands to collectively deal with it.
He said, “We have individually strived very hard to fight terrorism and violent extremism. It is time that we jointly address this challenge by intensifying cooperation in this crucial area.” Referring to the South China Sea (SCS) dispute, Modi said India would continue its support to the ASEAN for establishing a rules-based security architecture. “India assures the ASEAN of its steady support towards achieving a rules-based regional security architecture that best attests to the region's interests and its peaceful development.” China's aggressive military build up in the SCS was one of the main topics of deliberations at the summit.
The dragon claims sovereignty over all of SCS, which is also a huge source of hydrocarbons. The authority has, however, been questioned by several members of the group, including Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei. India has for long supported freedom of navigation and access to resources in the SCS in accordance with principles of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Modi also talked about shared values and common destiny between India and ASEAN, stating that 1.25 billion people in India were eagerly waiting to receive leaders of the ASEAN at the Republic Day celebrations in January next year.
During the two-day summit, Modi met a series of world leaders, including Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull. He held a bilateral meeting with Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc. In back-to-back meetings, he met with Japan's Shinzo Abe and Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah.
Trump, Modi vow to enhance defence ties
During the bilateral meeting between Modi and US president Donald Trump, both the vowed to enhance defence ties. Supporting India’s rise as a global power has been a US objective going back to the last two (Democratic and Republican) administrations. But never before has the goal been stated in such starkly militaristic terms.
Inasmuch as Trump has been an enthusiastic salesman for US military hardware to allies and friends, the continued reference by his administration to the ''Indo-Pacific'' region, including at the Asean summit, suggests Washington is firmly set on helping expand India’s military capabilities vis-a-vis China for geostrategic reasons, while helping its large military-industrial complex to Indian lolly.
A White House readout on the Trump-Modi meeting said ''the two leaders discussed the comprehensive strategic partnership between the United States and India and their shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. They pledged to enhance their cooperation as major defence partners, resolving that two of the world’s great democracies should also have the world’s greatest militaries.'' The read-out would not have come without an Indian nod, suggesting that New Delhi is on the same page as Washington, particularly after it has also been shepherded into the American idea of a US-Japan-India-Australia ''Quad.''
The US statement said President Trump also expressed appreciation that Indian purchases of oil from the United States have surpassed 10 million barrels in recent months, and expressed confidence that stronger energy cooperation will be a geopolitical and economic game changer for both countries.
India recently began purchasing oil from the US – half a world away – expanding its traditional sourcing from the Gulf region, a move that not only keeps Washington and its lawmakers happy, but also dilutes India's dependency on a region whose stability and reliability is always suspect.
In his opening remarks, the PM said, “India-US ties are becoming broader and deeper and you too can feel that India-US ties can work together beyond the interest of India, for the future of Asia and for the welfare of humanity in the world.”
The 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is considered one of the most influential groupings in the region and India along with several other countries including the US, China, Japan and Australia are its dialogue partners.
