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Express Tribune
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Lavrov criticises Western alliances
Pakistani Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Saturday, expressing gratitude for Russia's "positive neutrality" during the recent escalation between India and Pakistan. The 40-minute bilateral meeting took place ahead of a broader gathering at the Eurasian Forum, where leaders from China, Turkiye, South Korea, and Cambodia were also in attendance. Senator Mushahid, who was invited as the only Pakistani representative, delivered a keynote address at the forum, where he highlighted Pakistan's desire for regional peace and greater Eurasian cooperation. During the meeting, Senator Mushahid expressed appreciation for Russia's stance of "positive neutrality" during the rising tensions between India and Pakistan. This neutrality stood in stark contrast to the escalating military operations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Russian FM The discussion at the Eurasian Forum took a sharp turn when Lavrov condemned Western military alliances in Asia. He specifically targeted India's growing involvement in the US-led Quad, which includes Australia, Japan, and the United States. Lavrov's criticism of the Indo-Pacific Strategy, which India is increasingly part of, was pointed: "This Indo-Pacific had never existed — NATO made up this term to drag India into their anti-China schemes," he said. Lavrov's words struck a nerve with the 12-member Indian delegation, which was present at the forum. The Indian representatives, including members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), were notably silent as Lavrov criticised joint military exercises within the Quad.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
US expanding military ties with India, says US defence secretary Pete Hegseth, backs deeper QUAD role
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth (AP) US defence secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday said the United States is expanding its security partnership with India, calling for deeper cooperation within the QUAD alliance to counter growing threats in the Indo-Pacific. 'We're also expanding our security partnership with India through robust military exercises like Tiger Triumph,' Hegseth said. 'And we're also amplifying cooperation within the Quad and other multilateral frameworks.' Also read: US warns China is 'preparing' to use military force in Asia Hegseth made clear that the US sees logistical integration among QUAD partners as a key step forward. 'Within the Quad, we're also leading an initiative called the Indo Pacific Logistics Network, enabling QUAD partners to leverage shared logistics capabilities in the Indo Pacific,' he said. 'You know, they say rookies talk strategy, pros talk logistics.' LIVE: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks at the Shangri-La Dialogue 2025 in Singapore. The Defence Secretary's remarks come amid a broader push by the Trump administration to reinforce its strategic footprint in the Indo-Pacific and to assure allies of America's commitment to countering China's military ambitions, particularly regarding Taiwan. 'These exercises enhance our lethality while improving our readiness to respond at a moment's notice,' Hegseth added, referencing joint military drills like Towson Sabre with Australia and Cobra Gold in Thailand. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo He also said that the US-led Partnership for Indo Pacific Industrial Resilience (PIPER), which involves 14 allies and partners collaborating with the private sector to bolster industrial and defence supply chains. 'I'm proud to announce the first PIPER project,' Hegseth said. 'It plans to establish repair capability and capacity for P8 radar systems in Australia… \[and] will also enable Indo Pacific allies and partners operating the aircraft, including New Zealand and the Republic of Korea, to repair aircraft within the region.' A second PIPER initiative will create standards for small unmanned aerial systems and increase supply chain resilience for their critical components. Hegseth described these steps as essential to deterring adversaries and ensuring that multinational forces have sustained combat support. 'It's one thing for an adversary to see multinational forces operating together in exercises,' he said. 'It's another thing entirely for that same country to see an integrated defence industrial base supporting those forces and standing ready to keep them in the fight.' Speaking in broader terms, Hegseth framed the Trump administration's foreign policy as pragmatic and focused on mutual self-interest. 'President Trump's approach is grounded in common sense and national interest... We are not here to pressure other countries to embrace or adopt policies or ideologies,' he told the summit. 'We are all sovereign nations.' He further stressed the importance of like-minded allies taking more responsibility for regional defence. 'Ultimately, a strong, resolute and capable network of allies and partners is our key strategic advantage,' Hegseth said. 'China envies what we have together.'
Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Economic disruptions can result in ‘systemic shock' that goes beyond the region: PM Anwar
Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim added that trade is not a soft power indulgence, rather it is part of Southeast Asia's strategic architecture. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH Shangri-La Dialogue 2025 Economic disruptions can result in 'systemic shock' that goes beyond the region: PM Anwar SINGAPORE – Economic openness is the basis of not just prosperity and growth, but it is also a source of equilibrium that encourages nations, who have mutual exposure, to turn to restraint and caution, rather than confrontation. But when this system of open markets is disrupted, what begins as a 'commercial rupture' becomes a 'systemic shock' with ripples that go beyond the region, said Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on May 31, cautioning that these shifts are 'rarely gradual'. 'What holds true for us holds true elsewhere: when trade flourishes, stability follows. When it falters, the consequences ripple far beyond any one region,' said Datuk Seri Anwar, who gave a special address at the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue, where Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong was also in the audience. This too has bearing on the regional security landscape, Mr Anwar said, adding that trade is not a soft power indulgence, rather it is part of Southeast Asia's strategic architecture. The annual event, Asia's premier security summit, held from May 30 to June 1 this year, brings together defence ministers, military chiefs and security experts from around the world to discuss key security issues in the Asia-Pacific region. The security dialogue in Singapore comes at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty across the region, with various leaders looking to deepen cooperation in defence, maritime security and establish regional stability through dialogue or multilateral engagements. This also includes security and diplomatic alliances, such as the Quad and Aukus, as well as economic partnerships such as free trade agreements, among others. In his speech, Mr Anwar noted that it is currently a 'sobering moment in history' when the number of armed conflicts, like those in Ukraine, Gaza and Myanmar, is now at its highest since the end of the Second World War. This undoubtedly has an impact on diplomacy and how security is structured, said Mr Anwar, adding that a stable region is not one braced for conflict, but one that is grounded in openness, transparency and cooperation. 'We do not object to like-minded partners talking amongst themselves. But coalitions that build walls instead of bridges, stoke arms competition, or undermine the legitimacy of multilateralism should give us pause,' he said. The genesis of Asean was to foster stability in the region through the steady craft of consensus-building, and that foundation still holds, said Mr Anwar pointing to the 46th Asean Summit and related meetings that was hosted by Kuala Lumpur on May 26 and 27. There, the milestone agreement to fully admit Timor-Leste as the regional grouping's 11th member by the next gathering in October was announced. At present, the 10 member states of Asean are Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and the Philippines. And while some issues, such as the situation in member-nation Myanmar, remains 'grave' and unresolved, Mr Anwar said that Asean is 'not standing still'. '(We) are equally clear that the Five-Point Consensus dictates that a resolution that excludes those most affected by this crisis will not endure. Myanmar's nationhood must be forged through inclusion, not erasure,' he said, referring to the peace plan drawn up by Asean which, among other things, calls for dialogue among all parties and a cessation of violent attacks. However, this peace plan that was drawn up months after the 2021 coup in Myanmar has seen little progress. This year's Asean gathering also saw the deepening of ties with the Gulf in the inaugural Asean-GCC-China, as well as other new initiatives like the Asean Geoeconomics Task Force that will also help the grouping navigate external shocks with sharper coordination and foresight . But beyond these headlines, what matters most is Asean's continued collaboration in areas like trade facilitation, cybersecurity frameworks, cross-border data rules and cultural cooperation, which have shaped and strengthened the grouping. 'They may not be as dramatic, but they are no less vital, for they give Southeast Asia greater impetus to act together. And the more we act together, the harder it becomes to be pulled apart by external gravity.' 'Preserving our autonomy is not about resisting others. It is about strengthening ourselves. This, in essence, is what Asean Centrality is about,' he said. Asean Centrality broadly refers to approaching the grouping as the dominant regional platform to tackle common challenges and drive engagement with external powers. It is the openness to goods, capital, ideas and people that has anchored Asean's prosperity, stabilised its politics and strengthened regional cohesion, said Mr Anwar. Turning to Malaysia's posture of 'active non-alignment', he said that it is a deliberate way for the country to remain outward-facing, connected and in control of its strategic space. '(But) the suggestion that if we do not align fully with one side, then we must have capitulated to the other, is untenable,' said Mr Anwar. Highlighting the dispute over the South China Sea, Mr Anwar said that there was no interest in seeing tensions spiral into confrontation, especially in waters so crucial to regional security and prosperity. Malaysia is one of the several regional claimants of the contested waterway, over which China has claimed large swathes of as well. 'Our objective is not achieved through escalation – nor by provoking others into disproportionate responses. It is best pursued through steady, principled diplomacy: quiet, where necessary, but always firm,' said Mr Anwar. Circling back to the approach of active non-alignment, Mr Anwar said that Malaysia will engage all who are willing, both major and middle powers alike. The intention is not to set one against the other, but to maximise its own strategic space. And while a 'strong and enduring' US presence in the region is welcomed, Malaysia also values its 'vibrant and firm ties' with China as well as its 'robust partnerships across' Asia, Europe and the Global South, he concluded. Tan Tam Mei is assistant foreign editor at The Straits Times. She overseas coverage of South-east Asia. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
'Expanding our security partnerships with India': US Defence Secy Hegseth
We are expanding our security partnerships with India through robust military exercises like Tiger Triumph, said Hegseth The United States on Saturday announced the expansion of its security partnerships with India through robust military exercises while emphasising the amplification of its cooperation within the Quad and other multilateral frameworks. During his address at the Shangri-La Dialogue here, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth underscored the US's commitment to strengthening ties with Indo-Pacific allies, addressing threats from China, and promoting a pragmatic foreign policy grounded in mutual self-interest amidst a shifting global security landscape. "We are expanding our security partnerships with India through robust military exercises like Tiger Triumph and amplifying cooperation within the Quad and other multilateral friendly groups," the US Secretary of Defence stated. "Within the Quad, we are also leading an initiative called the Indo-Pacific Logistic Network, which enables Quad partners to leverage their logistics capabilities in the Indo-Pacific," he added, highlighting the Quad's role in the region. The Quad is a diplomatic partnership among India, Australia, Japan, and the United States, committed to fostering an open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient. Hegseth emphasised a broader commitment to regional partnerships, noting the need to find new ways to work with not just treaty allies but also key defence partners in ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific. "We will continue to wrap our arms around our friends and find new ways to work together, not only with our treaty allies here but also with our key defence partners in ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific," he stated. He further pointed to the US-India defence relationship as a cornerstone, adding, "Look no further than our growing defence relationship with India, where we pass new milestones by the day. From the shared venture of our defence industries to the increased operational coordination and interoperability within our military." The Defence Secretary also outlined the Trump administration's new foreign policy approach, which he says was grounded in "common sense" and "national interest." "President Trump's approach is grounded in common sense and national interest, built on a willingness to work with others while respecting mutual self-interests... The United States is not interested in the moralistic, preachy approach of the foreign policy of the past. We are not here to pressure other countries to embrace or adopt policies or ideologies. We are not here to preach to you about climate change or cultural issues. We are not here to impose our will on you. We are all sovereign nations," the Defence Secretary stated. Speaking on the China challenge, Hegseth asserted, "We do not seek conflict with communist China. We will not instigate, nor seek to subjugate, nor humiliate. President Trump and the American people have immense respect for the Chinese people and their civilisation. But we will not be pushed out of this critical region, and we will not let our allies and partners be subordinated and intimidated." However, he issued a stark warning on Taiwan, stating that any attempt to conquer Taiwan by force would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world, noting that the threat China poses was "real and could be imminent". Widely recognised as Asia's premier defence summit, the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue is a meeting where ministers from different countries debate the region's most pressing security challenges, engage in important bilateral talks and come up with fresh approaches together. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
News18
2 days ago
- Business
- News18
Russia Claims Quad Nations Trying To Force India Into Military Alliance: ‘Trying To Involve…'
Last Updated: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov highlighted that Quad member countries were actively pushing for naval and military exercises outside the official Quad framework. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has claimed that India's joined the QUAD alliance, comprising the United States, Japan, and Australia, ostensibly for trade; however, the member nations were reportedly already coordinating naval and other military exercises. 'We spoke to our Indian friends back then and they told us that their interest in joining the Quad is exclusively of trade of economic nature and cooperation in other peaceful areas," he said at a security conference in Eurasia in the city of Perm, as quoted by media reports. He highlighted that Quad member countries were actively pushing for naval and military exercises outside the official Quad framework. Lavrov further warned that these actions were part of a broader strategy to militarise the alliance, adding, 'they try to involve all the four countries into these exercises. And I'm sure that our Indian friends, they can see this provocation clearly." He also called for reviving the Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral format. He said the 'time has come" to restart RIC meetings, adding that, in his view, India and China have reached an understanding on easing border tensions. 'I would like to confirm our genuine interest in the earliest resumption of the work within the format of the troika — Russia, India, China — which was established many years ago on the initiative of (ex-Russian prime minister) Yevgeny Primakov, and which has organised meetings more than 20 times at the ministerial level since then, not only at the level of foreign policy chiefs, but also the heads of other economic, trade and financial agencies of the three countries," Lavrov was quoted as saying by TASS. The RIC platform, originally launched in the late 1990s, has remained dormant since the deadly Galwan clashes between Indian and Chinese troops in June 2020. While Russia had hinted at trilateral engagement during the BRICS Summit in Kazan in 2024, Lavrov's latest pitch marks the most explicit call to formally revive the RIC mechanism since Galwan. Lavrov's renewed pitch signals much more than just a procedural revival — it reflects Moscow's shifting diplomatic calculus amid changing global alignments. Earlier, Lavrov had alleged that the West is attempting to create a rift between India and China to foster antagonism between the neighbouring countries. While speaking at a meeting of a diplomatic club, he had asserted that Western strategies in the Asia-Pacific region are designed to fuel tensions between the two Asian nations. 'Take note of the current developments in the Asia-Pacific region, which the West has started calling the Indo-Pacific region to give its policy a clear anti-China orientation — expecting thereby to additionally clash our great friends and neighbours India and China," Lavrov had said. First Published:
