Latest news with #Indo-PacificStrategy
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Canada-India ties: Modi, Carney to hold talks at G7 summit
Calgary, Alberta: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to meet, for the first time, G7 host and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the margins of the global summit on Tuesday. According to the outlet Globe and Mail, they will have a 'one-on-one meeting'. The format of that meeting has yet to be reported. Modi is scheduled to arrive in Calgary on Monday evening (local time) and travel to the summit venue, the resort of Kananaskis the next morning for the G7 outreach session. During the course of a press conference in Calgary on Sunday, Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand said that as the host of the G7, Carney 'must engage with global leaders on issues of global concern – on economic strength and trade diversification, on AI digital technology, on protecting green space from forest fires, on ensuring that defence and security are top of mind'. Asked about the principal irritant in the relationship, the killing of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18, 2023, she said, 'On the bilateral front, it is fundamentally important to realise and to continue to recognise that the rule of law and system of investigation that the RCMP is undertaking will not compromised.' 'There is a law enforcement dialogue which is occurring between the two countries now,' she added. There are positive signals about the dialogue, as indicated by RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme in an interview with the network CTV on June 12. He said, 'The RCMP is engaged with its counterparts in India, and we are rebuilding that relationship. We want to fight the same crimes. We have common interest in it, and it's important to keep on building that relationship with our Indian counterparts.' 'We are rebuilding these relationships. The conversations have been positive and we're looking at planning other meetings with them as well,' he added. Both countries are aiming for a reset in the troubled relationship and that could also return India to its position as a significant factor in Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy. When it was originally released in November 2022, that Strategy, it defined India as 'a critical partner in Canada's pursuit of its objectives.' Among the nations at the G7, as many as four – Japan, India, Korea and Australia – are from the region, while another, Indonesia was unable to participate. Global Affairs Canada, the country's foreign ministry, has recently been highlighting that strategy. That is part of Canada's 'review of foreign policy in general to reduce dependence on the United States, ' Vina Nadjibulla, the Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada's vice-president, research and strategy, said, adding, 'It shows Carney wants to diversify Canada's economic and security partnerships.' She noted that while two years have been lost between India and Canada when it comes to the diplomatic and political fronts, commercial and economic ties. The 'Indo' in the Strategy will 'come into greater focus' if the two PMs are able to take the relationship forward, she said. The Indian PM's visit to Canada, the first since he came on a bilateral trip in April 2015, will be brief, lasting under 24 hours, before he leaves for Croatia.
Asia Times
13-06-2025
- Business
- Asia Times
UK's strategic defense posture still includes East of Suez roles
Originally published by Pacific Forum, this article is republished with permission. The launch of the United Kingdom's Strategic Defence Review has finally set down a clear direction for the UK's strategic posture for at least a parliament, perhaps longer. The most instrumental element in the paper is the decision to focus on the Euro-Atlantic as the priority region. This was already understood, but there have been at least two decades of the UK flirting with an East of Suez strategy. This included development of a robust defense attaché network in Southeast Asia, the long courtship of China – and then India – for growth, and the resurgence of UK military assets to the region in the name of defending maritime sea lanes and a 'free and open' Indo-Pacific. While it's true that this SDR was written by externals, led by Lord George Robertson, Dr. Fiona Hill, CMG, and General Sir Richard Barrons, the Labour government has already stamped its seal of approval by accepting all 62 recommendations. So what exactly does it say about the UK's 'Indo-Pacific strategy?' Well, the document is a realization that the US 'Pivot' to the Indo-Pacific region is here to stay. This was made clear after the Biden administration re-released an Indo-Pacific Strategy in 2022 to put its stamp on the Trump strategy of 2019. Both strategies began with the starting point that the United States as an 'Indo-Pacific power' or 'Indo-Pacific nation.' While resources and political attention have – at times – remained stubbornly centered around the Middle East and CENTCOM and with Europe and EUCOM, the arrival of Elbridge Colby (a one-time Pacific Forum 'young leader') on the strategic scene in the United States has for now crowned the Indo-Pacific Pivot as the United States' priority region. The rise of China in this region, and the shift of political, military, and economic weight from Europe to Asia has cemented this shift. Colby's ratification as undersecretary of defense for policy has also added an explicit message to the Europeans: The dribbling of small amounts of assets to the Indo-Pacific is unnecessary; the United States would infinitely prefer that European powers – France, Germany and the UK – focus on the Euro-Atlantic and deal with Russia. The SDR wisely accommodates this resource imperative, while still providing a place for UK interests and support to the US and its allies in the region. If one looks at the number of times 'Indo-Pacific' is mentioned in the document (17), it is notable that this is down from a high of 32 mentions in the 2021 Integrated Review. Still, it is still better than the Strategic Defence Review of 1998 or the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review, documents which mentioned 'Asia' five times and two times respectively. The 2025 SDR states that NATO-first does not mean NATO-only, putting the list of priorities as Euro-Atlantic, Middle East, and Indo-Pacific in that order. It states that 'the Indo-Pacific is strategically important to the UK as a global economic and political powerhouse and arena of increasing geopolitical tension.' It notes the strong partnerships the UK has in the region – ASEAN, Australia, Brunei, Japan, India, Indonesia, Nepal, New Zealand and Pakistan come in for special mention – and, of course, China. The SDR's position on China is probably closest to that of the UK Ministry of Defence and –sadly – does not reflect broader opinion across government in Whitehall. China is a 'sophisticated and persistent threat,' which behaves aggressively in the South China Sea and has escalated tensions in the Taiwan Strait. It notes the fact that China has supported Russia in its invasion of Ukraine and that the US-China relationship will be a 'key factor' in global security. It also notes the threats provided by Beijing's military build-up, nuclear modernization and technological and cyber capabilities and recommends the maintenance of UK-China military-to-military communications. Given that US-China mil-to-mil relations are extremely limited now and constantly under pressure from China over US arms sales to Taiwan, this might prove a helpful channel in time. Notably, it recognizes that most of the UK's adversaries will likely field Chinese technology – an important observation in its own right. The SDR's integrated approach toward the Indo-Pacific region is consistent with the US Indo-Pacific Strategy, and consistent with the overall security interests of its closest partners, Japan and Australia, which are rapidly becoming the more important partners of choice across a number of different metrics. First, both are key partners in intelligence-sharing, both work closely with the United States to demonstrate deterrent capability in military exercises in the region and both are defense industrial partners of choice. With Japan, the UK is developing the Meteor, a joint new air-to-air missile (JNAAM) and the Global Combat Air Programme (with Italy), though this latter effort is under pressure. With Australia, there is even more by way of 'production deterrence' in the form of the AUKUS submarine and technology programs. The rotation of UK Astute-class submarines to HMAS Stiling, in Australia, planned as early as 2027 will be an immense boon to deterrence and warfighting capability. So what's missing from the SDR? Well, with respect to the authors, there are a few things: The recent murmurings of disquiet about a lack of progress in AUKUS Pillar 2 is an issue. London and Canberra now need to press upon newly arrived Trump officials their thoughts on the blockage and what can be done to expedite things at the resourcing, regulatory, and organizational level. This needs to be done at a time when the White House is shifting the US trade environment, so this will be difficult. In addition, the UK Ministry of Defence needs to think about what posture it needs to 'surge' military forces into the region in a crisis. The MOD needs to provide options and these range from inter-changeability exercises for UK assets visiting the region to developing a more mature presence in INDOPACOM – through a mid-size consulate in Honolulu run at the ambassadorial level by someone with close links to MOD. The options include joining the Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience – if this has not already occurred – and supporting 'production deterrence.' It might mean co-production on long-range munitions in the wide expanse of the Pacific. And, finally, it needs to develop – alone or in tandem with the US – hubs for maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) so that it can operate at the long-distances required by the operational environment. Dr. John Hemmings (john. @ is deputy director at the Council on Geostrategy in London and senior advisor at Pacific Forum.
Cision Canada
09-06-2025
- General
- Cision Canada
Canadian launches mission to combat illegal fishing and protect marine ecosystems in the Indo-Pacific
OTTAWA, ON, June 9, 2025 /CNW/ - Globally, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a major contributor to declining fish stocks and the destruction of marine habitats. IUU fishing also undermines the livelihoods of legitimate fish harvesters and impacts food security in vulnerable coastal communities, affecting millions of people. Today, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) launched its third annual high seas patrol to deter IUU fishing in the high seas of the North Pacific, including near the Aleutian Island chain, focusing on migratory routes for key species like Pacific salmon. The mission, known as Operation North Pacific Guard (Op. NPG), is led by DFO fishery officers and supported by the Canadian Coast Guard and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to protect fish stocks under Canada's Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative and Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy. As a Pacific nation, Canada is committed to deepening its engagement and its role across the Indo-Pacific region as an active and reliable partner. Fishery officers and support personnel will patrol over 15,000 km while onboard the Canadian Coast Guard vessel, the CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier, a high endurance, multi-purpose vessel that is also a light icebreaker, and is biofuel capable. The expert crew will conduct high seas boardings and inspection operations under international law to ensure compliance with regulations and to detect IUU fishing. During this mission, Canada's CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier will make a special port visit during Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, where members of the public can visit the vessel and learn about Canada's role in fighting IUU. In addition to monitoring and enforcement by sea, Canada is conducting daily aerial surveillance this summer out of Hokkaido, Japan. Air patrols conducted by DFO fishery officers will monitor fishing vessels and support partner countries to ensure compliance with international law. Canada's air surveillance program has previously identified significant conservation concerns related to shark finning and illegal marine mammal harvest, including the harpooning of dolphins, and pollution events that threaten the marine environment. Continued monitoring for these activities will allow Canada to hold non-compliant vessels accountable. As a Pacific nation, Canada recognizes that the Indo-Pacific region will play a significant and profound role in Canada's future. Every issue that matters to Canadians—national security, economic prosperity, respect for international law and human rights, democratic values, public health, protecting our environment—will be shaped by the relationships that Canada, along with its partners, have with countries throughout the Indo-Pacific. Quotes "It is critical that Canada does its part to promote the rule of law on the high seas. By doing our part to support international laws, we uphold our country's significant investments and leadership in securing marine species and ecosystems at home and abroad." The Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries "Canada works closely with key partners in the Indo-Pacific to uphold the rule of law in the region as part of Operation North Pacific Guard and to advance priorities under the Indo-Pacific Strategy. The participation of Japanese, South Korean and U.S. officials in these patrols is a concrete example of increasing regional cooperation to address common challenges, including declining fish stocks, threats to biodiversity and pollution." , Canada's Ambassador to Japan and Special Envoy to the Indo- Pacific Quick Facts Canadian fishery officers have taken part in the annual Op. NPG since 2019, an annual international law enforcement operation on the high seas of the North Pacific. This year, DFO has welcomed aboard officers from the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Fisheries Agency of Japan, and the Republic of Korea Coast Guard. Fishery officers conduct patrols, under international law, to enforce the United Nations ban on high seas driftnets and to ensure compliance with regulations of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMO) that protect against IUU fishing. This year's operation includes the participation of a total of 10 DFO fishery officers, including 4 fishery officers participating in air surveillance operations in Japan. In addition to monitoring and enforcement, fishery officers will also collect environmental data and water samples to support Canada's understanding of the high seas environment, including the migration range of species of interest, such as Pacific salmon, and the levels of microplastics in the water. Associated Links Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing Indo-Pacific Strategy Canadian Coast Guard Greening initiatives Stay Connected SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada
Malaysia Sun
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Malaysia Sun
ASEAN leaders at Shangri-La Dialogue: 'We won't choose sides'
Singapore's Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing delivers his speech during the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, June 1, 2025. /VCG In a special address to the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim - as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2025 - rejected the pressure of choosing sides in geopolitical rivalries. Speaking at the final session of the dialogue on Sunday, Singaporean Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing echoed Anwar's stance. Out of geopolitical necessity, Southeast Asia must engage with both China and the United States as well as other nations, rather than take sides, he said. "If we have to choose sides, may we choose the side of principles - principles that uphold a global order where we do not descend into the law of the jungle, where the mighty do what they wish and the weak suffer what they must," Chan said. Their making clear the stance of taking no sides came after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday urged Asia-Pacific countries to increase their military spending to 5 percent of GDP to counter perceived threats from China in a speech at the dialogue. Da Wei, director of the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University, said Hegseth's attempts to drive a wedge between China and ASEAN countries will not work. "I think the U.S. attempt to divide China and Asia-Pacific countries is ineffective because it lacks persuasiveness," Da told media on the sideline of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim delivers an address at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, May 31, 2025. /VCG No to bloc confrontation In his first address at the the Shangri-La Dialogue, Hegseth outlined the "Indo-Pacific Strategy" of the Trump administration since the U.S. president returned to the White House in January. The Chinese Foreign Ministry slammed his remarks, saying that he deliberately ignored the call for peace and development by countries in the region, and instead touted the Cold War mentality for bloc confrontation, vilified China with defamatory allegations, and falsely called China a "threat." "The remarks were filled with provocations and intended to sow discord. China deplores and firmly opposes them and has protested strongly to the U.S.," said the ministry in a statement. Meng Xiangqing, a professor at the National Defense University of the People's Liberation Army, said the U.S. side has once again promoted its "Indo-Pacific Strategy" at the dialogue. After years of implementation, this strategy has achieved nothing beyond provoking incidents, creating crises, and destabilizing the Asia-Pacific region, Meng told China Media Group. The essence of America's "Indo-Pacific Strategy" is simply a tool for hegemony, he said. Militarily, it promotes bloc formation and confrontation - establishing mechanisms like the Quad between the U.S., Japan, India and Australia, and AUKUS nuclear submarine cooperation with Australia and the United Kingdom; politically, it forces nations to choose sides; technologically, it erects "small yard, high fences" barriers; and economically, its trade wars and tariff policies push for decoupling between economies, and it also imposes coercion against others based on values, Meng explained. "This has artificially divided the Asia-Pacific region into competing blocs," he said. Shen Chen, deputy director of the Department of International Political Theory at the Institute of World Economics and Politics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), said the U.S. "Indo-Pacific Strategy" heightens regional tensions, embodying its practice of hegemonism and power politics. "Its very purpose is to perpetuate U.S. dominance by sacrificing regional peace and stability for its own interests," Shen told CGTN. A police officer walks on patrol during the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore, May 30, 2025. /VCG China's Asian security model: A better choice for region Zhang Chi, a member of the Chinese delegation to the Shangri-La Dialogue, said China's Asian security model aligns with the common interests of all Asian nations and charts a practical path for the region to safeguard its prosperity and stability. At a central conference on work related to neighboring countries in April, China, for the first time, proposed the Asian security model that features sharing weal and woe, seeking common ground while shelving differences, and prioritizing dialogue and consultation. Shen, the CASS professor, said that the Asian security model demonstrates fundamental differences from the U.S. "Indo-Pacific Strategy." Emphasizing win-win cooperation and equal consultation, the Asian security model is committed to safeguarding regional peace and prosperity, he said. Aligned with the shared interests of all Asian nations, this model represents an open, inclusive, and mutually beneficial approach to security governance, Shen added. He also criticized the U.S. demand for Asian nations to raise defense spending to 5 percent of GDP as "both unreasonable and unrealistic." That would serve America's strategic self-interest, but it risks pushing Asia Pacific into an arms race, exacerbates regional tensions, and runs counter to the shared aspirations of regional countries for peace and development, said Shen. He said while some nations might waver under U.S. pressure, most will remain clear-eyed about the U.S. demand's irrationality. The Asian security model proposed by China offers a better alternative, said Shen, adding that regional countries prefer partnering with China and other major countries to uphold security through peace and collaboration - not following the U.S. down the path of military expansion. Read more: Shangri-La Dialogue: China says it rejects unilateralism, bullying Experts slam Hegseth's remarks at Shangri-La Dialogue as provocative, harmful to regional stability Source: CGTN
Yomiuri Shimbun
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Canadian General Election: Anti-American Sentiment Boosts Ruling Party
The ruling party in Canada, which had been in a tight spot, became rejuvenated from asserting it would not give in to threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. In the Canadian general election, in which 343 seats were up for grabs, the center-left Liberal Party led by Prime Minister Mark Carney maintained its position as the largest party, and Carney secured his position as prime minister. Although the party increased its seat count compared to when the House of Commons was dissolved, it fell short of a majority and will govern as a minority government. The Liberal Party, which has been in power since 2015, had been struggling with low approval ratings due to rising prices and a housing shortage. In January, then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was forced to announce his resignation. It seemed inevitable that the largest party among the opposition, the Conservative Party, would take the reins of government. But the situation was completely upended by Trump. He has referred to Canada as 'the 51st state of the United States' and expressed a desire to annex it. In the name of stopping illegal immigration and the influx of synthetic narcotics, he was quick to target Canada with his tariffs. In response, Carney, who became prime minister in March, criticized Trump for betraying Canada and destroying the global economy. He countered Trump's moves with retaliatory tariffs. There is no doubt that opposition to Trump has grown among voters, providing a tailwind for the ruling party. Canada has had its patriotism aroused, and there have even been movements to boycott U.S. products. Trump should take seriously the fact that his words and actions have influenced the outcome of the election and caused Canada, a close ally, to turn away from him. Carney will enter into tariff negotiations with the United States, which is Canada's largest trading partner. If Canada fails to pave the way to lower tariffs, there is a risk that its economy will fall into a recession. On the other hand, Carney said after the election, 'Our old relationship with the United States, a relationship based on steadily increasing integration, is over.' Due to external pressure from Trump, Canada is seeking to reevaluate its excessive dependence on the United States. Facing a coercive Trump administration, Canada is trying to protect its national interests while increasing its economic and diplomatic options by diversifying its trade and deepening relations with European and other countries. The new strategy that Canada is pursuing could serve as a reference for Japan. Japan and Canada are members of the Group of Seven (G7) advanced countries and the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement. They are important partners in trade and investment in areas such as energy and automobiles. The two countries also overlap in many respects on security. Canada has adopted an 'Indo-Pacific Strategy' and has participated in joint military exercises led by Japan and the United States. The country is also focusing on security in new areas such as the Arctic. The G7 summit will be held in the western Canadian city of Kananaskis in June. Japan should work with Canada, the G7 chair this year, and the European member countries to urge the United States to prioritize international cooperation. (From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 6, 2025)
