India’s Indian Ocean Region outreach received a major boost last week with the visit of NSA to Oman where he not only met the top leadership including the Sultan but also undertook a visit to Duqm Port where Indian Navy has been offered facilities. Oman remains an understated but a key player across the Arab world. Meanwhile, Tanzania, a key player in the Indian Ocean Region which pursues a balanced foreign policy approach decided to usher in a defence roadmap with India that will go a long way for Delhi’s strategic outreach in the continent. South African President breathed sigh of relief from alleged corruption case. Interestingly, Ethiopia, Africa’s key player and the country that houses African Union headquarters has expressed interest to join BRICS.
NSA Ajit Doval meets top leadership of Oman; focus on boosting bilateral ties
The Economic Times | 27th June 2023
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Monday met Oman’s top leadership, including Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, and discussed measures to boost security, technology, military and mining ties. Doval travelled to Oman from Egypt, where he was accompanying Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the weekend. Doval delivered a written message from the PM to Oman’s ruler that dealt with “various aspects of cooperation”. Oman is India’s oldest strategic partner in West Asia and has played a key role in Saudi-Iran rapprochement. Muscat is also quietly assisting Iran and the USA to reach a deal.
India, Tanzania agree on five-year roadmap for defence cooperation
Business Standard | 29th June 2023
India and Tanzania have finalised a five-year roadmap to expand overall bilateral defence cooperation including in areas of infrastructure building and collaboration in military equipment and technology. Both sides agreed on the roadmap at the second edition of India-Tanzania Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting that was held in Arusha on June 28 and 29.
South Africa graft watchdog clears Ramaphosa in farm cash scandal
Al Jazeera | 30th June 2023
South Africa’s corruption watchdog on Friday absolved President Cyril Ramaphosa of allegations that he breached executive ethics in a farm cash scandal that spawned into one of the biggest scandals of his career. The scandal erupted in June last year when the country’s former spy boss filed a complaint with the police alleging that Ramaphosa had concealed the 2020 theft of about $4m in cash from his game farm in Phala Phala in the Limpopo province.
Ethiopia applies to join the BRICS bloc of emerging economies
Club of Mozambique | 30th June 2023
Ethiopia, one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies, has asked to join the BRICS bloc of emerging markets, the foreign ministry said on Thursday. The term BRIC was coined by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O’Neill in 2001 to describe the rise of Brazil, Russia, India and China. The BRIC powers had their first summit in 2009 in Russia. South Africa joined in 2010, making it BRICS. “We expect BRICS will give us a positive response to the request we have made,” foreign ministry spokesperson Meles Alem told journalists, according to state-run news agency ENA.