Modi’s Singapore visit, Jaishankar in the Gulf, Germany and Switzerland
In this week’s edition, I discuss EAM Jaishankar’s visit to the GCC, Germany and Switzerland, along with PM Modi’s visit to Singapore last week and the Quad’s engagement with the island country.
Credits: Ministry of External Affairs, India
Gulf Cooperation Council Visit
During his visit to Riyadh in early September 2024, EAM Jaishankar participated in the first India-GCC Foreign Ministers' Meeting. The discussions revolved around strengthening ties in trade, energy security, and defence cooperation. A key outcome was the agreement on a Joint Action Plan (2024-2028), aiming to enhance collaboration across sectors like infrastructure development, transportation and culture. The focus was also on expediting negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which could further boost India-GCC trade relations.
India has been working to strengthen its engagement with West Asia as part of its extended neighbourhood policy. Once focused primarily on oil imports, India's interactions with the region have expanded to include diverse areas such as technology, food security and agriculture.
Germany
In Berlin, Jaishankar’s visit concentrated on advancing India-Germany strategic relations. He held high-level meetings with Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, discussing a wide range of topics such as defence cooperation, green technology, and labour mobility. The discussions also laid the groundwork for the 7th India-Germany Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC), set for October 2024. A key element was the focus on expanding renewable energy cooperation and emerging technologies to address global challenges like climate change.
Switzerland
Jaishankar’s stop in Geneva highlighted India’s engagement with global multilateral institutions. He inaugurated a new building for India’s Permanent Missions to the UN and WTO and paid homage to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, reflecting India's commitment to social justice and inclusivity. The EAM also participated in a meeting with Swiss Foreign Minister Mr. Ignazio Daniele Giovanni, focused on boosting trade and investment between India and EFTA states (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and the Principality of Liechtenstein).
Strengthening Indo-Pacific Alliances: Modi's Singapore Visit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Singapore from September 4 to 5 at the invitation of Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. Both leaders emphasised the importance of the India-Singapore partnership, which has been growing steadily across sectors such as sustainability, digital technologies, advanced manufacturing, and connectivity. Modi's visit to Singapore comes after the second India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) held late last month.
The two countries signed four Memorandums of Understanding in the areas of:
digital cooperation,
education and skills development,
health and medicine, and
semiconductor ecosystem cooperation.
One of the key outcomes of the visit was the decision to elevate the India-Singapore relationship to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” to reflect the commitment of both sides to further deepen and broaden the bilateral relationship. They also discussed the potential for India and ASEAN to complement each other’s growth and build stronger supply chain linkages. They looked forward to celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations in 2025, a significant milestone for both nations.
Singapore and the Quad
This was the first time the Quad was mentioned in an India-Singapore joint statement. Both nations welcomed the Quad's support for ASEAN centrality, including its agenda to support the priorities and needs of countries in the Indo-Pacific region. This follows the recent threat of a military conflict between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea.
While Singapore is not a formal member of the Quad, it maintains close ties with all four member states and supports the Quad’s initiatives, especially in areas like maritime security, supply chain resilience, and sustainable development. Since maritime domain awareness (MDA) is a focus area for the Quad, the Information Fusion Centre at the Changi Naval Base in Singapore has become an important node to tackle maritime security challenges, such as piracy, smuggling, illegal fishing, and maritime terrorism.
The IFC serves as a fusion centre that collects and analyses data from various sources, including satellite imagery, shipping databases, and regional surveillance systems. It then shares this information with participating countries to enhance collective maritime security. This capability is crucial for the Quad’s goal of strengthening the IPMDA.
Economic Relationship
India and Singapore have a strong trading relationship underpinned by the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), signed in 2005. Singapore is India’s 8th largest trade partner and largest trade partner in ASEAN. It is also one of the largest sources of foreign direct investment (FDI) in India. According to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Singapore accounted for approximately 23% of total FDI inflows into India in the financial year 2022-2023.
The U.S. is one of Singapore’s largest trading partners, with bilateral trade exceeding $100 billion. The U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USSFTA), signed in 2004, was one of the first free trade agreements the U.S. entered with an Asian country.
Japan is also one of Singapore’s key Asian trading partners, having signed the Japan-Singapore Economic Partnership Agreement (JSEPA) in 2002. Their bilateral trade amounts to around $35 billion annually, with Japan’s primary exports being high-tech goods, machinery, and automotive products.
Australia and Singapore have a robust trading relationship, with bilateral trade exceeding $50 billion. This relationship is supported by the Singapore-Australia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA), first signed in 2003 and updated in 2020. The key sectors include energy, education, financial services, and agriculture.
Hence, Singapore has Free Trade Agreements with all four Quad countries, facilitating trade, investment, and economic integration. It also plays the role of a stabilising presence in Southeast Asia, leveraging its strategic location and diplomatic network to support open trade and regional security in alignment with Quad's vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
India-Philippines Consultation Talks and Defence Cooperation
India and the Philippines recently held two high-level meetings: the 14th India-Philippines Policy Consultation Talks in New Delhi on September 9, 2024, and the 5th India-Philippines Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting in Manila on September 11, 2024. These discussions are part of the broader efforts by both nations to enhance bilateral relations and strengthen cooperation in defence, security, and other strategic areas.
At the Policy Consultation Talks, both nations reaffirmed their commitment to deepening ties within India's Act East Policy framework. They also exchanged views on critical regional issues, including ASEAN and the South China Sea developments. The JDCC meeting in Manila focused on consolidating defence cooperation further. Indian Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and the Philippines' Senior Undersecretary of National Defence, Irineo Cruz Espino, co-chaired the meeting, which discussed enhancing joint military training, maritime security, and the defence industry.
India also invited the Philippines to participate in co-development and co-production initiatives to promote self-reliance in defence production. Both sides committed to addressing shared security challenges, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, and boosting defence collaboration through deals like the BrahMos Missile System that India delivered to the Philippines earlier this year.
Finally, the White House has confirmed that the Quad Leaders’ Summit 2024 will be held in Wilmington, Delaware, on Saturday, 21st September. In the upcoming week, we will provide comprehensive coverage of the key topics and expected outcomes of the discussions.
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