NEW DELHI: In order to underline the importance of greater cooperation and the common interests in a coherent Indo-Pacific strategic region, India, the US and Japan are likely to hold a crucial trilateral meeting in Buenos Aires in Argentina on the sidelines of G20 Summit.
“The US President is going to meet with President Macri, the host Government of Argentina, he’ll meet with President Moon of South Korea, he’ll meet with President Erdogan of Turkey, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, that will transform at some point during that meeting a trilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi,” US National Security Advisor John Bolton has said.
On Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale, had, however, did not confirm about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bilateral meeting with the US President Trump. “We are working on various bilateral meetings. At this stage, I am only indicating those where the schedules of both have been synchronised,” Mr Gokhale said.
The said meeting between Mr Modi and Japanese PM Abe and the US President Trump will be an important and ‘first’ deliberations that could serve as a symbolic moment to underline the nations’ interests in a coherent Indo-Pacific strategic region.
Prime Minister Modi will be attending the G20 Summit in Argentina from November 29 to December 1.
“G-20 has made commendable efforts to promote cooperation among leading global economies. India’s contribution to global economic growth and prosperity underlines our commitment to Building Consensus for Fair and Sustainable Development, which is the theme of the Summit,” Mr Modi has tweeted.
“There would also be bilateral meetings with world leaders on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit. These meetings are wonderful forums to exchange views on bilateral matters of mutual interest,” he wrote.
On November 12, 2017, making a clear forward movement from what was once only a desire, India, the US and Japan along with Australia joined hands to enhance security cooperation in Indo-Pacific region.
It is also worth mentioning that India’s engagements with Japan and the United States as a common force saw a quantum leap when US Navy-Indian Navy conducted a naval exercise and also included Japan’s Maritime Self-Defence Force.
‘Exercise Malabar’ is now better known as trilateral naval exercise involving the United States, Japan and India as permanent partners. Originally initiated in 1992 as a bilateral exercise between India and the United States, in 2015, Japan became a permanent partner in the mock war games.
The ‘new security architecture’ especially in blue waters is a significant development as China has been flexing muscles in the region.
International observers say, India has always been a country seen as an important proponent of the concept of ” Indo-Pacific Strategy.
They say, New Delhi can take this opportunity for ‘rationalisation’ of its interests in the region and also expand its presence in East Asia as well as push for greater economic and military cooperation with the United States and its allies leading to a new position of influence in international affairs.
The ” Indo-Pacific ” as a term used by President Trump encompasses that India, the United States, and other major Asian democracies, especially Japan and Australia, will join hands in curbing influence of any other force.
Prime Minister Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe have held a series of talks in last two years and sought to promote the “Indo-Pacific Strategy”.
(AGENCIES)
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