1) India-Russia agree to export BrahMos, world’s fastest anti-ship cruise missile
- India and Russia have agreed ‘in principle’ to export the world’s fastest anti-ship cruise missile, BrahMos, to UAE, Vietnam, South Africa and Chile.
- Several structural changes were made in the defence exports policy and these were yielding results. As far as the BrahMos missile is concerned, talks with countries like UAE, Chile, South Africa and Vietnam are in advanced stages.
- Since Russia is the partner country in the BrahMos joint venture with its consent discussions with several other countries, including Philippines, South Korea, Algeria, Greece, Malaysia, Thailand, Egypt, Singapore, Venezuela and Bulgaria have now been taken to the next level.
- While defence minister Manohar Parrikar will be visiting Vietnam soon, where the talks for closing deal with the ASEAN member country could be discussed, the source revealed that by the year end, the BrahMos Aerospace is expected to ink the deal with UAE by the year end as both India and Russia have good relations with the country and there is conflict of interest there, hence there will no problems in exporting the missile to that country.
- In the case of Vietnam, China has expressed its reservations against India’s policies to supply weapons. In the South China Sea, China and Vietnam are locked in a conflict over maritime boundaries.
- The Indo-Russian joint venture will soon be testing it cruise missiles on Russian Su-30 Flanker C multi-role fighter aircraft for which the ground tests are already done.
- BrahMos is a short-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land. It is a joint venture between Russia’s NPO Mashinostroeyenia and the Defence Research and Development Organisation of India. They have formed BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited to make the missile. The name BrahMos is a portmanteau formed from the names of two rivers, the Brahmaputra of India and the Moskva of Russia.
- The Indian government has been receiving proposals for BrahMos from countries as diverse as Vietnam to Chile. The missile system has caught the attention of a number of countries in the Latin America such BRICS member South Africa, and other countries in that region including Venezuela, Chile, as it has been developed at a low budget of $300 million.
2) India, Morocco ink MoUs on cultural cooperation, training of professionals
- India and Morocco on 31st May signed Memoranda of Understanding in the fields of cultural exchange and training of professionals. The MoUs were signed during delegation-level talks in the presence of Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari and Moroccan Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane at Dar al-Kakhzen, the official residence of the King of Morocco in Rabat. Three MoUs in various fields were also finalised.
- In a joint statement after the talks, the Vice President said, India sees Morocco as a trusted partner in a number of fields. He said, during talks with the Moroccan Prime Minister, they reviewed all aspects of their bilateral co-operation and emphasised the need to identify new areas of collaboration.
- The Vice President said, wide ranging discussions on global and regional developments were also held during the talks. Mr Ansari appreciated Morocco’s support for India’s candidature to the expanded United Nations Security Council. The Vice President also invited Mr Benkirane to pay a visit to India to which the Moroccan Prime Minister said, he will visit in the coming months.
- Mr Ansari also held one-to-one talks with the Moroccan Prime Mininster in which the two leaders discussed a range of issues, including terrorism. Indian Ambassador to Morocco
3) Govt approves MoU between India, Qatar to cooperate in skill development, recognition of qualifications
- The Cabinet has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between India and Qatar for cooperation in skill development and recognition of qualifications. It will facilitate workforce mobility, skill development and placement of youth in overseas jobs in Qatar.
- The Cabinet also gave its nod to signing of MoU between the two countries for strengthening cooperation in the field of tourism. It will create favourable conditions for long-term co-operation in the field of tourism for the mutual benefits.
- It also approved signing and ratification of agreement between India and Qatar on co-operation and mutual assistance in customs matters.
4) India, Iran, Afghanistan ink historic trilateral transit pact
- India, Iran and Afghanistan have inked a historic trilateral transit agreement in the Iranian capital Tehran on 23rd May. The pact was signed by representatives of the three countries in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Hassan Rouhani of Iran and the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani after their formal talks in the Saadabad Palace.
- The trilateral agreement would facilitate hassles-free transport of goods between India and Afghanistan via the Chabahar port that is strategically located in the South East of Iran.
- The trilateral pact is set to get the port project more viable and also give a fillip to economic activities in the region. India and Iran have termed the Chabahar project as the symbol of renewed friendship between the traditional allies.
- The Indian Prime Minister said decisions taken by Iran and India will also help in generating employment for the youth. He hoped that agreement will bring India, Iran and Afghanistan close and facilitate greater connectivity between the three countries. He said there is a need to expand cooperation between the three countries in several areas including IT and Education.