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May 31:
India is continuing to expand its foothold in the energy-rich Caspian Basin. IRNA reports that the Indian government is planning to host a major conference of Central Asian energy producers this fall as part of an effort to create economic and political partnerships between emerging energy suppliers and energy consumers in Asia. “In the week beginning October 17, we propose to host the oil ministers from Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan to a meeting with four prime Asian buyers - the Chinese, Japanese, Korean and of course Indian,” the Iranian state news agency cites Indian Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar as saying.
The United States Navy has commenced a two-week counterterrorism exercise with
Singapore in the South China Sea, the Associated Press reports. The drills, which involve more than 1,500 troops from the U.S. and Singapore, will include the boarding and seizure of vessels as part of simulated maritime anti-piracy and anti-terrorism measures. The combined maneuvers kick off a four-month tour for U.S. naval forces in Southeast Asia, with separate joint exercises with Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, the Philippines and Indonesia slated for later this summer.
June 2:
According to the Agence France Presse, Australia is beefing up its counter-espionage activities in an effort to track foreign spies who have infiltrated Canberra’s diplomatic circuit. Government officials say that foreign spies are currently as active within Australia as they were at the height of the Cold War. Today, however, it is believed that Chinese agents far surpass Russia’s clandestine presence. As part of Canberra’s response, a new counter-espionage unit has been established within the Australian Security and Intelligence Organization (ASIO), the government’s main intelligence agency.
June 4:
Sri Lanka's military is reportedly in negotiations with India for assistance in developing supplemental air defenses following revelations that the Tamil Tigers are seeking to acquire aerial capabilities. The
India Daily reports that the Tamil Tigers have already obtained two aircraft, and are trying to procure other aircraft and drones – a new mode of attack that could pose a serious challenge for the lackluster Sri Lankan military. Sri Lanka’s efforts to develop a response to this threat were on the agenda when Sri Lankan Prime Minister Chandrika Kumaratunga met Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh earlier this month. India has since offered to assist Sri Lanka to redesign its aging air-defense network.
June 5:
As a prelude to the announcement of plans to construct a tripartite gas pipeline, India, Pakistan, and Iran have signaled their intention to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). India’s
Hindu newspaper reports that all three countries will be granted observer status in the Central Asian security bloc at the SCO’s upcoming summit in Kazakhstan in early July. The decision to admit Iran, India and Pakistan was made at an SCO meeting in the Central Asian republic on June 4th. The regional bloc currently encompasses Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, with Mongolia participating as an observer.
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