Covid diplomacy at play to firm up ties with neighbours

Sandeep Dikshit

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 26

India continues to put a premium on its neighbourhood with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on overseas visits despite the pandemic.

Jaishankar is in Seychelles to hold talks with the new Indian-origin President, Ram Kalawan, to build stronger ties with the island nation strategically placed in the Indian Ocean. In particular, Jaishankar would be exploring the prospects of leasing an island to build a naval base. New Delhi has utilised Covid diplomacy as has its ally, the US, to upgrade ties with countries in the neighbourhood. Preceding Jaishankar’s visit, India had sent aid to Seychelles.

Jaishankar, Doval, Shringla on overseas tours

• S Jaishankar is in Seychelles to hold talks with the new Indian-origin President, Ram Kalawan, to build stronger ties with the island nation strategically placed in the Indian Ocean.
• In Nepal, Harsh Vardhan Shringla opened his engagement with Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal.
• In Colombo, Ajit Doval will revive a trilateral interaction on defence cooperation.