INDIAN OCEAN NEW STRATEGIC PRIORITY FOR GERMANY
NEW DELHI: The Indian Ocean is a new strategic and diplomatic priority for Germany, which is for the first time holding a meeting of its ambassadors in Sri Lanka this week.
According to senior German diplomatic sources, “a global competition is shaping up over this region” and Berlin, as a major trading power, has “an interest in ensuring a stable, rules-based Indian Ocean”.
“We believe the Indian Ocean is underrated in geopolitics,” said a German diplomatic source. Underlining this focus, Germany’s foreign ministry is for the first time holding a meeting of its envoys in Sri Lanka from Wednesday.
Indian foreign secretary S Jaishankar will be among outside speakers invited to address the German diplomats on the Indian Ocean, the sources said.
A diplomat noted Germany arrived at its Indian Ocean focus through its own geopolitical calculations. “We need to bring attention to this body of water.”
On Tuesday, German state secretary Markus Ederer met Jaishankar in New Delhi ahead of the ambassadors’ conclave. The two also consulted about the agenda for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming Germany visit.
“Germany has developed a package for the Indian Ocean rim states,” said a source. “This ‘maritime agenda’ includes collaboration in the blue economy and connectivity projects.”
NON-CHINA NSG OBJECTORS FAVOUR INDIA
Members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) that opposed India joining on procedural grounds “are now on board”, a German diplomatic source said.
The NSG consultative committee discussing Indian membership is currently holding proceedings. “Germany supports its proceedings,” the source said.
Austria, Ireland, Switzerland, Turkey and New Zealand are known to have objected to India’s candidature on the ground that there is no agreed upon procedure for it to become a member. Some reports indicated Brazil too had objected, though this was denied by Indian officials.
This would indicate China is isolated in the NSG. Beijing is believed to be opposing India’s membership as a favour to Islamabad, which fears that once India joins, there will be no possibility of Pakistan becoming a member.