Latest news with #I2U2
News18
4 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Align On Iran, Pivot Away From China: Decoding Trump's Lunch Message To Asim Munir
Last Updated: Trump has promised Pakistan unprecedented access to American defence technology in return for unconditional military and strategic support against Iran US President Donald Trump, in a high-stakes diplomatic manoeuvre, hosted Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Field Marshall Asim Munir for a closed-door lunch at the White House on Wednesday. According to top diplomatic sources in Washington, the meeting was anything but ceremonial as Trump laid out a series of sweeping demands and bold offers aimed at reshaping the regional power balance. Pakistan remains the only nuclear nation in the region not firmly aligned with the US-India-Israel-Gulf alliance architecture, including coalitions like I2U2 and US-GCC pacts. Trump's overtures to Munir are widely viewed as an attempt to bring Pakistan into this strategic fold—especially as the US shores up regional support in the face of escalating tensions with Iran. Experts believe this could be the most significant shift in US-Pakistan relations since the post-9/11 War on Terror alliance. However, Pakistan's response—especially regarding its strategic ties with China—remains to be seen. About the Author Manoj Gupta First Published:
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Business Standard
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Expecting US to consider visa requests of Indian students on merit: Govt
India on Thursday said it expects the US to consider visa applications of Indian students on merit amid growing concerns over the Trump administration halting new student visa interviews. The changes effected by the US in its visa regime have triggered widespread uncertainty among students world-wide including in India. "We saw some guidance coming from the United States on student visa matters," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing. "There we made a point that while it is a sovereign function, we expect and we hope that application of Indian students will be considered a merit, and they will be able to join their academic programs in the US on time," he said. Jaiswal said the welfare of Indian students abroad remains of "utmost priority" of the government of India. "While we note that issuance of visa is a sovereign function, we hope that the application of Indian students will be considered on merit," he said. There have been concerns among the students planning to pursue studies in the US over the Trump administration's plan to expand social media vetting of student visa applicants. Jaiswal said about 330,000 Indian students were in the US in 2023-24. On Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's ongoing visit to the US, Jaiswal said he met Under Secretary Jeffrey Kessler to advance India-US cooperation in critical and emerging technologies. Misri also led a delegation comprising the deputy NSA for the inter-agency discussions on India-US COMPACT (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce and Technology) for the 21st century. The initiative, aimed at driving transformative change across key pillars of cooperation, was launched following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's talks with President Donald Trump in Washington DC in February. This meeting focused on implementing the TRUST initiative, which again is about critical minerals and critical and emerging technology partnerships. "They also discussed cooperation in the area of defence and energy domains, as well as strengthening the Quad, IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor), I2U2 initiatives," Jaiswal said. The I2U2 is a strategic grouping comprising India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the US. The foreign secretary also had a meeting with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and they discussed all aspects of India-US relationship. "In particular, they agreed that technology ' tech, trade and talent will shape the India-US partnership in the 21st century and they both reaffirmed commitment to further strengthening the India-US comprehensive global strategic partnership," Jaiswal said. All issues of mutual interest were discussed between India and the US, he added.
The Hindu
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
India says issuing visas is U.S. prerogative, hopes Indian students will be considered on merit
Issuing visas is a sovereign issue for the U.S. government, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday (May 29, 2025), but added that the government hopes that the process will be completed in time for Indian students to join the U.S. universities they have gained admission to this year. This comes amidst reports that the U.S. missions in India and around the world have temporarily paused scheduling new visa appointments as they await instructions from the U.S. State department on how to enhance their screening of applicants' social media profiles. 'Sovereign function' MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the welfare of students was of 'utmost priority'. 'We have seen reports suggesting the U.S. government updated guidance regarding Student and Exchange Visitor visa applicants,' Mr. Jaiswal said at a weekly media briefing. 'While we note that issuance of visa is a sovereign function, we hope that the application of Indian students will be considered on merit and they will be able to join their academic programmes on time,' he added. Mr. Jaiswal also pointed out that more than 3,30,000 Indian students were studying in the U.S., as of 2023-24. Indians made up nearly 30% of the roughly 1.1 million international students in the U.S. that year, the biggest bloc from any country. Foreign Secretary meetings The controversy over the student visas, the latest hiccup to hit India-U.S. relations, came even as Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri ended his three-day visit to Washington. The MEA spokesperson did not confirm whether the pause in visas, or the Trump administration's latest repetition of claims that the U.S. mediated the India-Pakistan ceasefire using trade as leverage, were issues raised during Mr. Misri's meetings, particularly his talks with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. '[Mr. Landau and Mr. Misri] agreed that technology, trade, and talent will shape the India-U.S. partnership in the 21st century,' Mr. Jaiswal said, adding that they committed to strengthening the comprehensive global strategic partnership between the two countries. 'So whether this particular issue was raised [or not], I would say that all issues of mutual interest was discussed between India and the United States. Mr. Jaiswal said that Mr. Misri had also discussed defence and energy cooperation, as well as efforts to strengthen the Quad, IMEEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor), and I2U2 (Israel-India-UAE-U.S.) initiatives. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is due to travel to Washington at the end of June for a meeting of Quad Foreign Ministers, and India is expected to host the Quad summit in November.
Japan Forward
26-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Forward
India Leads New Strategic Vision While Japan Looks Away
Since Shinzo Abe stepped down from office, especially following his assassination, India's interest in Japan appears to have declined. During his tenure, Abe launched the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad, among Japan, the United States, Australia, and India. He even introduced the term "Indo-Pacific" to replace "Asia-Pacific" as a new framework for understanding the region. These moves were a kind of forward-looking investment in India's future. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greatly valued these gestures and forged a deep personal bond with Abe. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (©Reuters/Kyodo) Japan-India relations have since neither markedly regressed nor accelerated. One could call the current state stable — or simply dull. Today, India is turning its gaze westward, where both change and opportunity are rapidly unfolding, rather than looking east to Japan. The Japanese government, which has in turn lost interest in India, seems oblivious to this shift. In New Delhi, attention has begun to shift from the Quad toward a newer multilateral framework known as "I2U2." This grouping brings together India and Israel, along with the United States and the United Arab Emirates — two nations beginning with "I" and two with "U," hence the name. Beneath the surface, however, lies a deeper strategic foundation. On September 15, 2020 (the very day Abe's administration officially ended in Japan), then-President Donald Trump presided over a historic diplomatic event. It was the day diplomatic relations were normalized between Israel, Bahrain, and the UAE, in what became known as the Abraham Accords. Later, Morocco and Sudan (despite political instability) joined the accords. In May 2025, Trump visited the Middle East and strongly advocated for Saudi Arabia to join. US President Trump shakes hands with Crown Prince Mohammed (right) in Saudi Arabia. May 13 (Photo provided by the Saudi Royal Family / Reuters). If Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's holiest sites and self-styled leader of the Arab world, signs on, the accords will carry even greater weight. As the name suggests, "Abraham" refers to the prophet common to Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The Abraham Accords became a catalyst for the official launch of I2U2 in July 2022. The four I2U2 countries agreed to collaborate in six key sectors: These are all civilian sectors, and all traditional areas of Japanese expertise. I've quietly advocated for Japan to join as a fifth member, forming an "I2JU2" alliance. With its deep capabilities and trusted ties, Japan could serve as a crucial bridge, anchoring the framework and discouraging any wavering in US policy. Yet the wall of indifference in Kasumigaseki (Japan's bureaucracy) and Nagatacho (its political center) remains dauntingly high. Meanwhile, with its focus turned westward, India has launched a sweeping new infrastructure vision. This vision is known as the IMEC — the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor — unveiled at the G20 summit hosted by India in September 2023. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by seven countries and one regional bloc: Saudi Arabia, the European Union, India, the UAE, France, Germany, Italy, and the US. Under IMEC, cargo from Mumbai will be shipped to Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, then carried by rail across Saudi Arabia to Haifa Port in Israel. From there, it connects to Piraeus Port in Greece, Trieste Port in Italy, and Marseille Port in France, linking to Europe's inland transportation networks. Designed as a counterweight to China's corridor through Pakistan and Iran, IMEC aims to strengthen ties among US allies across the region. For Israel, it also extends its strategic footprint. The Abraham Accords lay the political groundwork, I2U2 provides the cooperative framework, and IMEC builds upon both to create a bold new infrastructure vision. If container transfers between sea and land operate smoothly, Mumbai and Marseille could be connected in just five days — an ambitious goal, but one that promises far greater speed and security than the Suez Canal route, with only one-sixth of the transit time and reduced exposure to Iranian-backed militant threats. I recently attended a related conference in Budapest, co-hosted by Hungarian and Israeli think tanks. The energy surrounding this vision was unmistakable. And once again, I was struck by Japan's absence. Before World War I, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany proposed the "3B Project," a railway linking Berlin, Byzantium (now Istanbul), and Baghdad. Whether today's Germany feels a similar historical pull is unclear, but Japan's indifference towards the IMEC is all too evident. When Japanese media mention "IMEC," they often confuse it with Belgium's semiconductor research institute of the same name. Coverage of the actual corridor initiative is virtually nonexistent. A plan to connect Saudi Arabia and Israel by rail should be thrilling — a bold and historic undertaking. Yet post-Abe Japan wasn't even approached by India to participate. Perhaps that's because both the Japanese government and private sector have grown too passive, too detached from the developments unfolding to India's west. Still, it's not too late. The Japanese government should start by paying attention and begin charting a course for meaningful involvement in this ambitious project. (Read the article in Japanese .) Author: Tomohiko Taniguchi, Special Advisor to Fujitsu FSC, Former Cabinet Secretariat Advisor
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
UAE Deputy Prime Minister Shiekh Saif visits Russia as President Trump announces his first GCC visit
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Amid ongoing U.S.-Russia tensions over the war in Ukraine, the UAE has maintained a neutral stance, pursuing diplomatic overtures with both sides. A high-level visit to Moscow by Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, reinforced this balancing act. Though framed as a mission to enhance cooperation in security and child protection, the visit also signaled a willingness to deepen ties with Moscow at a time when much of the world is distancing itself from Russia. Notably, the UAE and Russia share a close relationship with the broader regional context, the UAE's efforts to present itself as a stabilizing force stand alongside other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Saudi Arabia is mediating between the U.S. and Russia, and Oman plays a key role in backchannel talks with Iran. However, the UAE's position—marked by its embrace of the Abraham Accords and participation in the West Asian Quad (I2U2)—suggests a deeper alignment with with the US, while it has developed strong credibility in the Middle East and UAE's centrality to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) further underscores its ambitions to be a regional linchpin. Its steadfast support of India, even in controversial moments, and its close ties with both Russia and Israel, have cemented its role in a complex geopolitical conclusion of Sheikh Saif's Moscow visit included a meeting with President Vladimir Putin—an event that drew attention for its timing and strategic importance. Two Memoranda of Understanding were signed with Russia's Interior Ministry, launching a Strategic Police Dialogue aimed at combating organized Saif also participated in an interfaith meeting with Rabbi Aharon Gurevich during an international forum at the Moscow Cathedral Mosque, reiterating the UAE's commitment to religious tolerance. In a world increasingly defined by shifting power dynamics and fragmented alliances, the United Arab Emirates has carved out a prominent role as a diplomatic like the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi, housing a mosque, church, and synagogue, and the inauguration of a traditional Hindu mandir in 2024 by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reflect a strong direction to position the UAE as a hub of religious May 1st, President Putin and President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan spoke by phone, during which Putin thanked the UAE for facilitating a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine. While promoted as a humanitarian success, the gesture further positions the UAE as a mediator willing to work with all recent announcement that President Trump will visit the Gulf countries, starting with a summit in Riyadh, further increases the importance of the Gulf monarchies as middle powers in a volatile world.
