Security, Indo-Pacific, tech top agenda for Jaishankar’s 3-nation tour – Hindustan Times

External affairs minister S Jaishankar has a packed schedule over the next week, travelling to Bangladesh for a conference focused on cooperation in the Indian Ocean before heading off to Europe for two crucial meetings on security in the Indo-Pacific and trade and technology collaboration.

On Thursday, Jaishankar arrived in Bangladesh for a two-day visit, during which he will participate in the Indian Ocean Conference being organised in Dhaka by the India Foundation in partnership with the foreign ministries of the two countries. He will also meet his Bangladesh counterpart AK Abdul Momen and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during the trip, people familiar with the matter said.

From Dhaka, Jaishankar will fly directly to Sweden to participate in the second EU-Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum. He will hold bilateral meetings with foreign ministers of several of the 60 countries expected to take part in the forum. The forum will have three roundtable sessions, including one devoted to the evolving security landscape of the Indo-Pacific that is expected to discuss China’s growing assertiveness across the region.

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After the two-day visit to Sweden, Jaishankar will be in Belgium during May 16-17 to participate in the maiden ministerial meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council along with commerce minister Piyush Goyal and electronics and information technology minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

The Indian Ocean Conference, to be addressed by leaders such as Bangladesh Prime Minister Hasina, US deputy secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Nepal foreign minister Narayan Saud, will focus on regional cooperation under India’s SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region) initiative. Against the backdrop of China’s increased military activities in the Indian Ocean, there will be sessions devoted to forging partnerships in the Indo-Pacific for peace and prosperity and dealing with non-traditional security challenges.

As part of his first visit to Sweden since becoming the foreign minister, Jaishankar will take part in the EU-Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum that will be co-chaired by Swedish foreign minister Tobias Billström and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. Ahead of the meeting, European and Swedish officials said India is perceived as a key partner for trade and maritime security initiatives in the Indo-Pacific. There are also plans for EU states to enhance joint patrols and exercises with the Indian Navy in the northwest Indian Ocean, they said.

The people cited above said China’s actions across the Indo-Pacific, especially in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, the creation of secure and resilient two-way supply chains and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are expected to figure during discussions at the forum in Stockholm.

The forum will also deliberate on building more sustainable and inclusive prosperity and pursuing green opportunities and jointly overcoming global challenges. The forum is being hosted by Sweden as part of its presidency of the Council of the EU.

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Jaishankar will also hold bilateral meetings with foreign ministers of several countries on the margins of the Indo-Pacific forum, call on the leadership of Sweden and meet key Swedish ministers, the external affairs ministry said. Jaishankar and his Swedish counterpart will also participate in the inaugural session of the India Trilateral Forum which groups India, Europe and the US.

On the last leg of the visit, Jaishankar will travel to Brussels during May 15-16 for bilateral engagements with Belgian and EU officials. He will also join the first ministerial meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council on May 16.

India is only the second country, after the US, with which the EU has established a trade and technology council. This is a strategic coordination mechanism that will give India access to advanced technologies and allow the two sides to set standards in crucial and sensitive areas such as 5G and artificial intelligence.