Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison makes ‘ScoMoSas’, for Indian Prime Minister NaMoSir Narendra Modi.
With this banner stories in media of both countries the June 4 Thursday virtual digital summit is set to bring two nations closer. Post Pandemic Corona.
Both Leaders Began with a bang- a trailer – of a video of Samosa a famous Indian snack- through Twitter handles for their first of its kind Virtual Summit between the two Nation. Of course with the backdrop of Donald Trump President of United States of America teasing Twitter.
Both ScoMo-NaMo have common target and that is China. Of course both will be tight lipped. Their common approach is to take out from China using Covid as an alibi the major industries/investments/innovations.
But both will miss hearty laughs. Punches Pun and fun as this summit is virtual commented a senior Diplomat.
BACKROOM BOYS
The stage is set with grounds prepared by two nations High Commissioners Barry O’Farrell In New Delhi and A Gitesh Sarma in Canberra having spent three months on Computers to connect and correct draft Agreements and MoUs on six crucial areas. Interestingly both Barry and Gitesh with their seniors support identified areas of Investments in four major cities of each countries. With Gitesh hailing from Andhra Pradesh and Dr Jaishankar Foreign Minister from Tamil Nadu obviously the flavour and focus are more on South Indian states for Australian assistance. Similarly Barry will encourage many North Indian states in India to take industries to Perth Canberra and Sydney cities.
CORE ISSUES FOR SUMMIT
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison are likely to finally sign the ‘Mutual Logistics Support Agreement’ which will pave the way for greater defence cooperation between the two countries and facilitate large-scale joint military exercises.
Both sides have since been working out dates to hold the summit. But with the onset of the pandemic, it got delayed further.
MAKE WHO TO COMMIT
Therefore most important discussions at all levels between two nations is on Strengthening WHO, probe into origins of coronavirus
BACKROOM BOY
Barry O’Farrell, Australian High Commissioner to India, who took over charge recently in New Delhi busy briefing Indian media on defence education tourism ties between both the countries, which are close partners under the Indo-Pacific framework, to the next level.
“This agreement will put some structures around, especially with naval exercises. It is an important stepping stone in helping to facilitate more complex defence ties between us having a strong interest in the Indo-Pacific,” the envoy had said. India and Australia are discussing ways in which both countries can strengthen their maritime cooperation even as they look at building greater ties under the strategic Indo-Pacific set up, as well as under the Quadrilateral, or Quad, security dialogue.
Modi and Morrison had “agreed to remain attentive to the wider significance of the India-Australia partnership, including in the Indo-Pacific region, even as they focus on solving the present health crisis,” according to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.
Last April, Australia and India Defence e exercises to reach the next level with the participation of the highest number of units so far — four frontline ships with integral helicopters, one submarine and a variety of aircraft, including P8I and P8A long-range Maritime Reconnaissance Anti-Submarine Warfare aircraft.
Sources also said Australia is expected to once again push India into letting it participate in the trilateral maritime exercise — Malabar — that initially began between India and the US, and later expanded to include Japan.
Sources said with the pandemic wreaking havoc in the Australian economy, Morrison might ask Modi to resume its negotiations on having the ASEAN-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
India and Australia have also been negotiating a bilateral trading pact — Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) — for a long time. The talks for having a CECA began in 2011.
The virtual summit on Thursday is taking place at a time when both India and Australia have joined hands in having an international probe into the origins of the coronavirus.
Australia and China had big spat in March over the origin of the virus and its spread around the world.
It is with Australia’s support that an international resolution was drafted by the European Union to have an independent review of the virus, and the role played by the WHO in alerting the world and how it can be strengthened for future pandemic.
