Colombo: – India has started opening fronts on different levels, to counter the increasing Chinese activities in the Indo-Pacific region. Cooperation is being solicited from the neighbouring countries for this purpose. The meeting held on Saturday, between Indian National Security Advisor (NSA), Ajit Doval, and Sri Lanka and the Maldives, clearly point to that. Sources informed that all the three countries agreed on sharing the confidential and sensitive information, for the security of the Indo-Pacific region. It is said that the issues of terrorism and cybersecurity also were discussed during the meeting, along with the Indo-Pacific issue.
On Friday, Indian NSA, Ajit Doval reached Sri Lanka for a visit. After that, he held discussions with Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defence Minister Kamal Gunaratne, regarding bilateral cooperation. Sri Lanka informed that discussions regarding fresh Indian investments in Sri Lanka, various ongoing projects and other issues were held during these meetings.
On Saturday, ‘Trilateral Meeting on Maritime Security Cooperation’ was held between India, Sri Lanka and Maldives. The previous meeting had been held six years ago, in 2014. Therefore, this tripartite meeting held in Sri Lanka attained special significance. Bangladesh, Mauritius and Seychelles joined the meeting virtually as observers. Sri Lankan Defence Minister Kamal Gunaratne and Maldivian Defence Minister Maria Didi attended the meeting.
At this time, all the three countries announced support for sharing confidential and sensitive information for the security of the Indian Ocean region. Indian NSA, Ajit Doval, proposed that the cooperation should include other issues along with maritime security. Sri Lanka and Maldives have accepted the proposal and terrorism, cybersecurity, Narcotic substances and financial irregularities also have been included in the scope of cooperation, along with maritime security. This tripartite meeting held in Sri Lanka is an important part of the Indian strategy for the Indo-Pacific region. The aggressive Chinese activities, in this region, have substantially increased and India along with the United States, have taken the initiative to stop them. The QUAD group formed under the leadership of the United States is a glaring example and the recently concluded Malabar exercises are believed to be the indication of the increasing cooperation among QUAD countries. At the same time, India has initiated steps to unite smaller countries in the Indian Ocean region, to form a strong front against China. Cooperation with Sri Lanka and Maldives, becomes a part of the same Indian strategy.
Related posts:
China lobbying against India’s NSG entry, claims Pakistan daily
India, US sign key logistics agreement, considered as a reply to China’s aggression
China ensnaring countries all over the world into a debt trap, claims a leading US Daily
Quad Nations — India, US, Australia, Japan warn China
China conspiring to put India’s neighbours in a debt trap, indicate analysts before the US Congress committee
