S Jaishankar, the minister of external affairs, will visit Singapore, the Philippines, and Malaysia this month to enhance bilateral ties and talk about regional concerns.
It is anticipated that Jaishankar will travel to Singapore first. The purpose of the visit is to strengthen bilateral ties between the three nations and to offer a forum for discussion of shared regional concerns.
Jaishankar’s discussions with his counterparts in the three nations are probably going to touch on the general state of affairs in the crucial waters, which include the South China Sea and Red Sea. China’s expansive claims of sovereignty over the whole South China Sea, a major source of hydrocarbons, have raised worries throughout the world. There are counterclaims from a number of nations in the area, including Brunei, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
India and many other democratic nations have been advocating for the application of international law, particularly the UNCLOS (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea), and for a peaceful resolution of the conflicts.
In recent years, there has been an increase in India and the Philippines’ defense and strategic ties. India and the Philippines signed a USD 375 million agreement in January 2022 for the supply of three missile batteries. The nation in Southeast Asia will shortly start receiving missile supply.
Jaishankar and his counterparts in the three nations might also discuss the current state of affairs stemming from the Houthi terrorists’ targeting of different cargo ships in the Red Sea and other vital waterways in the area.
