Strategic Partnership

India, US commit to strengthen strategic defence ties during key Delhi meet

India and the US held a key two-day military cooperation group meeting ending on Wednesday during which both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding the scope of the bilateral military cooperation with a shared understanding of the dynamic challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region. The 21st edition of India-US Military Cooperation Group (MCG) meeting was conducted from November 5-6 at the Manekshaw Centre here. Senior officials from both countries took the opportunity to review the ongoing initiatives and explore new areas of cooperation. "The meeting covered a wide range of topics, including capacity building, training exchanges, defence industrial cooperation and the advancement of joint exercises that bolster preparedness for conventional and hybrid threats," the Indian Defence Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. The meeting was co-chaired by Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Lieutenant General J P Mathew, representing India, and Deputy Commander of the US ...

Philippines, S Korea excel security cooperation for strategic partnership

South Korea and the Philippines, each faced by increasingly hostile rival nations, elevated their ties to a strategic partnership on Monday, including broader defence and security cooperation between the two US treaty allies. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is on a state visit to the Philippines, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr announced the upgrade in overall relations after talks in Manila. Under the strategic partnership, the two countries agreed to strengthen cooperation between their coast guards. Yoon also pledged to help modernise the Philippine military. The two leaders discussed regional issues such as territorial disputes in the South China Sea and tensions on the Korean Peninsula, they said. Marcos said in an opening statement that as the geopolitical environment is only becoming more complex, we must work together to achieve prosperity for our peoples and to promote a rules-based order governed by international law. Philippine and Chinese coast g

UK's CMA clears Microsoft's staff hiring, partnership with Inflection AI

The CMA said that even before being bought, Inflection had a small portion of UK visits for chatbots and AI tools and, unlike its rivals, couldn't significantly grow or maintain its chatbot users

Blinken wishes Indians on Independence Day; says US, India share deep bond

Predicting a bright future for the US-India strategic relations, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that the two countries share a deep bond, which is founded on their shared commitment to democracy, freedom, and human dignity. Congratulating the people of India ahead of the country's Independence Day, Blinken said: "On this momentous day, we celebrate the rich and diverse history of the Indian people and the bright future of US-Indian relations." India is celebrating its 78th Independence Day on Thursday. "Our comprehensive global and strategic partnership is grounded in the deep bonds between our peoples, our economies, and built on the foundation of our shared commitment to democracy, freedom, and human dignity," Blinken said in a statement. The US-India cooperation is expanding at a rapid pace as the two countries continue to work together to advance our shared vision of a free, open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, he said on Wednesday. The US, India and several

India continues to be important strategic partner for US: Mathew Miller

The Biden administration asserted that India was an important strategic partner of the US and added that the status of the relationship is expected to remain unchanged. US State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller was responding to a question at a press conference on Monday on the US-India relationship in the context of some articles and opinion pieces critical of the Indian government published ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in India. To a question on alleged concerns about democratic backsliding in India and the recent statements by the State Department regarding the alleged crackdown on opposition, Miller said, India is the world's largest democracy. It is an important strategic partner of the United States and I expect that to remain true. US officials in the recent past have called India a "very important partner and that the relationship between the two countries continues to grow. However, after the historic Official State Visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Whi

EAM's Malaysia visit amplified efforts to deepen strategic partnership: MEA

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visit to Malaysia and his meetings with the country's top leadership presented an opportunity to reiterate commitment to further develop the bilateral Enhanced Strategic Partnership, an official statement said on Thursday. Jaishankar was in Kuala Lumpur from March 27 to 28 as part of the last leg of his three-nation tour to Singapore, the Philippines and Malaysia. He called on Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Bin Ibrahim and thanked him for his support in deepening bilateral ties under the India-Malaysia Enhanced Strategic Partnership, India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. Jaishankar's visit to Malaysia provided an opportunity to reiterate commitment to further develop the Enhanced Strategic Partnership, it said. Anwar gave his commitment to facilitate the establishment of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) branch campus in Malaysia, the official Bernama news agency reported. The Prime Minister also expressed ...

US dy secy of State meets Indian officials, discusses strategic partnership

The US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma has met with senior Indian ministers and officials in New Delhi to advance the US-India global strategic partnership and ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific region, according to his spokesperson. Verma, the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, is the highest-ranking Indian American in the State Department. The former US Ambassador to India was on an official visit to India from February 19 to 21. He met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, and Deputy National Security Advisor Vikram Misri in New Delhi, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said here on Thursday. Verma's meetings explored opportunities to strengthen US-India cooperation and people-to-people ties to ensure a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, Miller said. He also met with Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal to discuss further expanding t

India-US relationship has moved in positive direction, says USISPF chief

The relationship between India and the US has moved in a positive direction ranging from trade to defence and the two nations have shown a sense of deep understating of each other's differences, the head of a top India-centric business and strategic group has said. Mukesh Aghi, CEO of the US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) said that there is more alignment between the two countries when it is looked at from the geopolitical QUAD perspective. I think in every aspect we (India-US relationship) have moved in a positive direction. You look at trade, which has gone up. You look at the military exercises, we're doing more and more of those. We also have signed a lot of agreements with the US, especially in defence and space. We have agreed to repair the ships in our ports," Aghi said on Wednesday. "When you look at it from the geopolitical QUAD perspective, there's more alignment between the two countries, Aghi told PTI in an interview. What I see is that 2023 is a year of

EAM meets Australian counterpart for Foreign Ministers' Framework Dialogue

The two leaders will hold discussions on advancing the strategic partnership between the two countries

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India, Greece elevate ties to level of strategic partnership: PM Modi

India and Greece on Friday elevated their ties to the level of strategic partnership with Prime Minister Naredra Modi and his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis resolving to give a new momentum to the relationship, especially in areas of defence and security, trade and emerging technologies. Modi said both sides also set a target of doubling bilateral trade by 2030 and decided to firm up a migration and mobility partnership pact soon to facilitate skilled migration between the two countries. "Prime Minister Mitsotakis and I decided to take India-Greece relations to the level of strategic partnership," Modi said after his talks with his Greek counterpart. In his media statement, the prime minister said that it was agreed that there should be an institutional dialogue framework between India and Greece at the level of national security advisors. "We have decided to boost cooperation in areas of defence and security, infrastructure, education, new and emerging technologies, and ...

Apple should end deal drought by buying ESPN from Walt Disney, says analyst

An acquisition or strategic partnership with the sports channel would be "a no brainer," wrote analyst Dan Ives. He said that buying ESPN would probably cost more than $50 billion

India looks forward to strengthening partnership with Sri Lanka: Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said India looks forward to continuing and strengthening its developmental partnership with Sri Lanka. Welcoming Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who had called on Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here, she said Sri Lanka occupies a special place in India's Neighbourhood First' Policy and SAGAR (Security and Growth of All in the Region) vision. "India's multi-pronged support to Sri Lanka in the last one year to tide over its economic challenges is a testament to India's long-standing commitment to bilateral relations with Sri Lanka," the president said. She emphasised that India has always stood with Sri Lanka during its hour of need and would continue to do so in future as well. The president said India looks forward to continuing and strengthening its developmental partnership with Sri Lanka under the leadership of President Wickremesinghe, according to a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Murmu said "our partnership is endur

India, France to bolster talks with nations to end plastic pollution

India and France have stepped up their collaboration in combating climate change and in environmental protection, and announced that they will constructively engage other like-minded countries to strengthen the negotiations for an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution. After talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron here on Friday, the two countries made a joint commitment to eliminate single-use plastic products pollution, including a ban on single-use plastic products which have low utility and high littering potential. Addressing a joint press event with Macron, Modi said climate change and environmental protection have been the common and main priority for both India and France. "In this direction, we had already established the International Solar Alliance, which has now become a movement. We now want to work fast on the roadmap for blue economy and ocean governance," the prime minister said. "We will move forwa

PM Modi arrives in Paris on 2-day visit to boost strategic ties with France

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived here on Thursday on a two-day visit during which he will hold wide-ranging talks with President Emmanuel Macron and join him for the French National Day celebrations as the Guest of Honour. Ahead of his departure, Modi expressed confidence that his visit will provide a new impetus to the bilateral strategic partnership. Expansion of bilateral defence ties is expected to be a key focus of Prime Minister Modi's talks with Macron. "I look forward to meeting President Macron and holding wide-ranging discussions on taking forward this longstanding and time-tested partnership over the next 25 years," Modi said in his departure statement. "We also work together on regional and global issues," he added.

Rajnath Singh on 3-day visit to Malaysia to boost bilateral defence ties

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday on a three-day visit that is aimed at further boosting bilateral defence and strategic ties. Singh is scheduled to hold wide-ranging talks with his Malaysian counterpart Dato' Seri Mohamad Hasan, besides calling on Prime Minister YB Dato' Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim. "Delighted to arrive in the beautiful city of Kuala Lumpur. Looking forward to my engagements with the political leadership of Malaysia, further strengthening of bilateral defence ties and Enhanced Strategic Partnership," Singh tweeted. Malaysia is among a handful of countries showing keen interest in procuring India's indigenously developed Tejas aircraft. Tejas is a single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft capable of operating in high-threat air environments. On Saturday, the defence ministry said Singh and Hasani will review defence cooperation between the two countries and explore new initiatives to further strengthen the engagements. "India and Malaysi

BRICS Sherpas exchange views on enhancement of strategic partnership

Secretary (Economic Relations) Dammu Ravi participated in the extraordinary meeting of the BRICS Sherpas/Sous-Sherpas in South Africa's Durban and exchanged views on the development and enhancement of the strategic partnership within the association.Taking to Twitter, the Russian Embassy in India said, "On July 5-6, #Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov participated in an extraordinary meeting of the #BRICS Sherpas/Sous-Sherpas in Durban, #SouthAfrica.""A thorough exchange of views on development & enhancement of the strategic partnership within the association, including taking into account priorities outlined by the South African chairmanship, took place. A common intent to increase international role of #BRICS was expressed," it was also added.The discussions also encompassed topical issues of preparations for the upcoming 15th BRICS Summit, which is scheduled to take place in Johannesburg on August 22-24, 2023.Meanwhile, in Russia's Kemerovo, the names of the ...

DPIIT identifies 106 companies from 30 countries for strategic investments

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has identified as many as 106 companies across sectors from 30 countries under its strategic investment targets initiative, an official said. The initiative is aimed at promoting investments in the country. The initiative was recently discussed during a meeting convened by the Commerce and Industry ministry with industry and exporters. "An outreach was conducted through the ministry and meetings and video conferences are being set-up with leadership of these companies," the official said, adding that under the initiative, there is also a plan to engage with people of Indian origin (PIO). The government is taking a series of measures such as reducing the compliance burden, easing foreign direct investment norms, rolling out of logistics policy, announcement of production-linked incentive scheme for 14 sectors, and easing procedures through the national single window system to promote investments into the country. T

TCS enters strategic partnership with Standard Life International DAC

With this partnership, TCS will set up a customer operations centre in Germany and a future-ready life and pensions digital platform for Germany and Austria

PM Modi's US visit: Next chapter of strategic partnership in focus

Higher bilateral engagement in emerging technologies across telecom, space, and manufacturing to be discussed