Latest news with #Indo-Pacific
Hans India
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
MyVoice: Views of our readers 21st June 2025
Trump's strange moves President Donald Trump is emerging as another Goebbels with his repeatedly trumpeting narratives about the recent ceasefire accord arrived between India and Pakistan, even after a flat denial by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. What is more, he has the audacity to say that Modi is a fantastic man, whatever that to mean. If he thinks that this way, India can be bullied, nothing can be farther from truth. His explicit statement that he loves Pakistan once again reveals his lack of sincerity and diversion from the avowed goals of fighting terrorism tooth and nail. Seshagiri Row Karry, Hyderabad India should have been tough with Pak The opposition took strong exception to Mr Trump's 'ceasefire' announcement of war between India and Pakistan. They opposition were wanting the PM to make it clear whether Mr Trump had engineered the ceasefire using 'trade' card. All the while the PM never reacted to the opposition's call, but now in the sidelines of G7 outreach Mr Modi said the truce was reached at the request of Pak, and that India would never allow any nation to mediate. Not everything is obvious though. Why did India not demand Pak to surrender the intruding killer terrorists, in return for truce? P R Ravinder, Hyderabad Increasing working hours, regressive move The Karnataka government is now preparing to increase daily working hours from 10 to 12, following the path already taken by Andhra Pradesh. This decision is being labelled as 'industrial development,' but in reality, it is a direct attack on the lives of millions of workers. Working 12 hours a day like machines will not only increase physical exhaustion but also lead to mental stress, strained family life, and the destruction of social balance. This raises a crucial question: Is economic progress only possible at the cost of workers' blood and sweat? While developed countries are moving toward fewer working hours and a better lifestyle, such steps in India signal regression. If governments truly want development, they must introduce policies that treat humans not as machines but as citizens deserving a dignified life. Otherwise, this so-called 'development' will one day lay the groundwork for social discontent and labour rebellion. Prof RK Jain 'Arijeet', Barwani (MP) India's balancing act This refers to 'Modi snubs Trump, decline US invite' (June 19). How one sees his action as 'right' or 'wrong' depends on perspective. From a diplomatic protocol and sovereignty standpoint, it aligns with India's established position. From a public relations angle, it sends a clear message about India's self-reliance in regional matters. It also sends a message to other global players: India will engage, but on its own terms. At the same time, Modi's cordial 35 minutes telephonic talks on Operation Sindoor and invitation to Trump for the upcoming Quad Summit in India is being viewed as a balancing act. It keeps the door open for cooperation on broader Indo-Pacific strategy, climate, and trade, while drawing a red line around bilateral issues with Pakistan. This divergence could create short-term friction, but it's unlikely to derail the broader India-U.S. relationship. The two countries share deepening ties in defence, technology, and regional security. The upcoming Quad Summit may serve as a reset point. Dr O Prasada Rao, Hyderabad Modi needs to take everyone along India has two groups; one which believes that PM Modi can do no wrong and the other which feels everything he does is wrong. An objective assessment is rare. Therefore, the edit on 11 years of Modi role is something of a rarity in the media. Modi's biggest contribution has been in infrastructure. One only hopes the roads and bridges will last the time they were designed for. It also seemed that the foreign policy was being done right until we failed to find support for Operation Sindoor. One personal fault of Modi has been his inability to take everybody along. The criticism that the BJP is now run by two and a half men is valid. His inability to control the motor mouths of his party and take any meaningful action against them goes into one of his minuses. But his biggest failure has been on the black money front which was promised to be brought back during his first them. Social cohesion is on a downtrend and the PM will have to address these issues, if he wants to be considered as the greatest PM of India! Anthony Henriques, Mumbai
Korea Herald
11 hours ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
'Standard' of 5% GDP defense spending applies to S. Korea, Asian allies: Pentagon
The Pentagon said Thursday that South Korea and other Asian allies are also subject to the "global standard" of spending 5 percent of gross domestic product on defense, a proposal that US President Donald Trump has put forward for European allies Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell made the remarks, a day after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing that there is now a "new standard for allied defense spending that all of our allies around the world, including in Asia, should move to." South Korea's defense spending last year stood at around 2.8 percent of its GDP. "As Secretary Hegseth said today and at Shangri-La, our European allies are now setting the global standard for our alliances, especially in Asia, which is 5 percent of GDP spending on defense," Parnell said in response to a question from Yonhap News Agency. "Given the enormous military buildup of China as well as North Korea's ongoing nuclear and missile developments, it is only common sense for Asia-Pacific allies to move rapidly to match Europe's pace and level of defense spending." He added, "It is common sense because it is in our Asia-Pacific allies' own security interests, and in that of the American people's to have more balanced and fairer alliance burden-sharing with our Asian allies. And common sense is what President Trump's approach is all about." Asked to confirm if the global standard applies to South Korea as well, a Pentagon official said that he believes that interpretation was "correct." During the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual defense forum in Singapore last month, Hegseth made an emphatic call for Indo-Pacific allies to bolster their defense spending. "It doesn't make sense for countries in Europe to do that, while key allies and partners in Asia spend less on defense in the face of an even more formidable threat, not to mention North Korea," he said during the forum. The remarks came amid speculation that Trump might call for a rise in South Korea's defense expenditures or its share of the cost for stationing the 28,500-strong US Forces Korea. The standard for the allies' defense spending comes as Hegseth has called for allies and partners to strengthen their own defense capabilities in the face of various challenges, including North Korea's nuclear program, while the Trump administration seeks to focus on countering the "pacing threat" from an assertive China. Last month, Hegseth tasked Under Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby to draw up the 2025 National Defense Strategy to prioritize increased "burden-sharing" with allies and efforts to deter Chinese threats in the Indo-Pacific. The Pentagon chief directed that a final NDS draft be provided to him no later than Aug. 31. (Yonhap)
![[Lee Byung-jong] President Lee's pragmatic diplomacy](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwimg.heraldcorp.com%2Fnews%2Fcms%2F2025%2F06%2F19%2Fnews-p.v1.20250619.e28f3fe356a24854bdece6b379c122c6_T1.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Korea Herald
15 hours ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
[Lee Byung-jong] President Lee's pragmatic diplomacy
Less than two weeks into office, President Lee Jae Myung is already busy shaping a new course for South Korea's foreign policy — one he describes as 'pragmatic diplomacy.' His packed diplomatic calendar signals both urgency and ambition. Earlier this week, he attended the G7 summit in Canada at the invitation of the host, marking South Korea's return to global diplomacy after six months of absence during the country's turbulent leadership transition. Later this month, he is scheduled to travel to the Netherlands to participate in the NATO summit as a representative of the alliance's Indo-Pacific partners. Despite criticism over the rushed pace and pending domestic challenges, Lee is determined to reestablish South Korea as a central player on the global stage. 'Democratic Korea is back,' declared national security adviser Wi Sung-lac. Still, many are asking: What does 'pragmatic diplomacy' actually mean in practice? Lee's approach marks a distinct departure from the 'values-based diplomacy' of his predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol, who prioritized alliances with countries sharing democratic values. In contrast, Lee's strategy is rooted in flexibility and realpolitik — prioritizing economic interests and strategic outcomes over ideological alignment. In today's volatile geopolitical environment, with mounting tensions among global powers, Lee seems to be betting that ideological rigidity is a liability, not an asset. While the full contours of Lee's diplomatic doctrine are still emerging, his initial moves offer important clues. The order of his phone calls to world leaders in his first days in office has been particularly telling. As expected, his first call was to US President Donald Trump — a nod to the enduring importance of the South Korea-US alliance, especially on issues of trade and security. The 20-minute call reaffirmed the long-standing priority Korean presidents place on their alliance with Washington. More surprising was his second phone call — to Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru. Coming from a liberal background, Lee had been expected by some to reach out to China's Xi Jinping next, following the pattern of previous liberal leaders like President Moon Jae-in. Lee has, in the past, been critical of Japan's stance on historical issues, leading many to doubt whether he would prioritize Tokyo early on. However, this decision was widely interpreted as a signal of Lee's practical mindset and willingness to improve ties with Japan despite lingering historical grievances. Lee's third call to Xi Jinping was hardly unexpected, given that China remains South Korea's largest trading partner. But his fourth and fifth calls did raise eyebrows: He spoke with the leaders of the Czech Republic and Vietnam, countries often overlooked in the early stages of diplomatic outreach by past presidents. His rationale, again, was pragmatic. The Czech Republic recently awarded a 26 trillion-won nuclear power plant construction deal to a South Korean bid — a hard-won contract that edged out fierce competition from France. Lee's outreach aims to solidify that economic relationship and possibly expand it. Vietnam, meanwhile, is South Korea's third-largest trading partner and the leading destination for Korean foreign investment, making it a natural choice for early engagement. The sequence of these conversations echoes one of Lee's key refrains: 'The economy is security, and security is the economy.' His decision to attend the G7 and NATO summits underscores this philosophy. At the G7, discussions focused heavily on global trade friction — particularly the fallout from President Trump's protectionist tariffs. With trade accounting for 80 percent of South Korea's GDP, these are matters Seoul cannot afford to ignore. His participation in the NATO summit is more delicate. Lee had previously expressed reservations about Korea getting too involved in European security matters, especially the war in Ukraine. However, Europe is now a growing market for South Korean defense exports. From that angle, attending the NATO meeting is less about ideology and more about ensuring access to new economic opportunities. But Lee's pragmatic diplomacy will soon face its toughest challenge: North Korea. A purely practical foreign policy could falter if Lee reverts to the liberal camp's traditional approach of engagement with Pyongyang at the expense of alignment with key allies. President Moon Jae-in, for example, pursued such a strategy, which strained Seoul's trilateral coordination with Washington and Tokyo. That fragile alliance, revitalized under President Yoon, President Biden, and former Japanese Prime Minister Kishida in the 2023 Camp David summit, could be tested once more — especially now that all three leaders have exited the political stage. Despite his calls for pragmatic diplomacy, Lee may find himself pulled back toward a more ideological, nationalistic foreign policy. Personnel choices offer early signs of this tension. National security adviser Wi Sung-lac is widely viewed as an advocate of strong alliances, particularly with the US and other democratic partners. But Lee's pick for National Intelligence Service chief, Lee Jong-seok — a former Unification Minister — is a well-known proponent of an independent foreign policy that places inter-Korean relations above external alliances. These two key advisers, representing opposing schools of thought, could end up pulling President Lee in divergent directions, risking confusion and inconsistency in policy execution. In short, President Lee's diplomatic approach shows promise in its economic focus and global engagement. His outreach to non-traditional partners and participation in key summits signal an intent to broaden South Korea's international standing. But this pragmatic posture will only succeed if it can maintain consistency and resist being derailed by ideological pulls — especially when it comes to North Korea. The balancing act between idealism and realism, between national pride and global cooperation, will define the credibility and effectiveness of Lee's foreign policy in the years to come.
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Pakistan-Italy ties highlighted: Minister attends reception aboard ITS Antonio Marceglia
KARACHI: Minister of State and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Digital Media, Fahd Haroon, was warmly received at the reception held onboard the Italian ship ITS Antonio Marceglia by the ship's Commanding Officer, Captain Alberto Bartolomeo, in the presence of the Ambassador of Italy to Pakistan, Her Excellency Marilina Armellin, and Consul Fabrizio Bielli. The ship is berthed at Karachi Port until June 20 during its Indo-Pacific operational campaign promoting naval diplomacy and international cooperation. The event was attended by senior military officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and prominent business leaders. The gathering provided an opportunity to reaffirm bilateral ties and explore avenues of mutual interest. Held in a warm and dignified atmosphere onboard the ITS Antonio Marceglia, the event celebrated the enduring friendship and shared commitment between Pakistan and Italy to regional peace, stability and cooperation. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
India, Canada agree to restore high commissioners after Modi-Carney meeting
After months of diplomatic strain over the previous Justin Trudeau government's tirade against India, New Delhi and Canada have agreed to restore high commissioners to each other's capitals. The breakthrough was achieved after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Canada to attend the G7 Summit, held a "positive and constructive meeting" with his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney. Foreign secretary Vikram Misri said on Wednesday that the restoration of high commissioners is the first in "calibrated steps" to restore stability to the 'very important relationship". "The meeting discussed the importance of the India-Canada relationship, which is based on shared values, democracy and the rule of law, people-to-people contact and many other commonalities," Misri said in a video statement. The official assured that other diplomatic steps will follow to restore India-Canada diplomatic relations. Also read: 12 meetings in 10 hours: PM Modi's packed day at G7 Summit in Canada In due course, the two prime ministers also agreed to resume senior and working-level mechanisms and discussions in a host of areas related to trade, people-to-people contact and connectivity, intended to bring greater momentum to the relationship. India and Canada's diplomatic ties hit rock bottom last year after India recalled its high commissioner and five other diplomats after Ottawa attempted to link them to the killing of pro-Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. New Delhi expelled an equal number of Canadian diplomats. Misri said the two nations have decided to hold talks on trade negotiations, which had been paused due to the strain. "In view of the trade negotiations between the two countries that are currently paused, the two leaders also decided to instruct their officials to take it up at an early date," he added. Canada also issued a statement after the Carney-Modi talks, saying the discussion reaffirmed the importance of Canada-India ties based upon mutual respect, the rule of law, and a commitment to the principle of sovereignty and territorial integrity. 'The leaders agreed to designate new high commissioners, with a view to returning to regular services to citizens and businesses in both countries,' the statement added. They also discussed the Indo-Pacific and commercial links between Canada and India. Carney 'raised priorities on the G7 agenda, including transnational crime and repression, security, and the rules-based order,' the statement added. In October last year, India strongly dismissed Ottawa's allegation that it was involved in Nijjar's murder. This was after Canada declared high commissioner Sanjay Verma a "person of interest" in connection with the murder of the man, who was declared a terrorist by India. With inputs from PTI
