External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is set to jet off on April 9 for a four-day diplomatic blitz across Mauritius and the UAE, a move that highlights India’s expanding influence in key maritime and energy corridors.
Kicking off in Mauritius, the minister will participate prominently in the 9th Indian Ocean Conference, hosted by the India Foundation with support from New Delhi and Port Louis. Running April 10-12 under the banner ‘Shared Responsibility for Good Governance of the Indian Ocean,’ the event will tackle pressing regional priorities: enhancing security and stability in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), bolstering sea trade routes, fostering economic ties, combating climate impacts, and crafting joint strategies for ocean resource preservation.
Over the past eight years, this annual conclave has solidified its status as the go-to forum for IOR countries to brainstorm solutions to shared dilemmas. Jaishankar’s agenda includes a major speech, bilateral huddles with peers from various nations, and in-depth reviews with Mauritian top brass on all facets of their partnership.
Echoing India’s strategic visions like Neighbourhood First and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), the visit amplifies New Delhi’s leadership in Global South initiatives.
On April 11, Jaishankar lands in the UAE for back-to-back meetings with senior leaders, aiming to elevate the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Focus areas span deepened cooperation in diverse sectors, ensuring mutual benefits amid global uncertainties.
Timed just after a US-Iran truce, the MEA reiterated the primacy of diplomacy to end West Asian strife, which has ravaged lives and rattled energy markets worldwide.
This dual-nation tour exemplifies India’s multifaceted foreign policy, weaving security, economy, and sustainability into a cohesive narrative of regional empowerment.
