(Video) Rajya Sabha TV (RSTV) The Big Picture: India's Vision For Indo-Pacific

Topic: India's Vision For Indo-Pacific

Guest:

Ashok Sajjanhar, (Former Ambassador)
Vice Admiral Satish Soni (Retd., Fmr Commander-in-Chief, Southern & Eastern Command)
Maj. Gen. Dhruv C. Katoch (Retd., Director, India Foundation)

Topic Description:

India has always pursued an independent foreign policy based on its national interest, and its relationship with each country is independent of its relationship with the third country, the Ministry of External Affairs clarified on Friday, after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described New Delhi as an "object" of the West's "persistent, aggressive, and devious" policy against China in the Indo-Pacific. Addressing a weekly briefing, Ministry of External Affairs' spokesperson Anurag Srivastava recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks during Shangri La dialogue that 'India does not see Indo Pacific as a strategy or a club of limited members or as a grouping seeks to dominate'. At a general meeting of the Russian International Affairs Council on Tuesday, Lavrov had criticised the Quad. Meanwhile, noting the rising challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat on Friday said the world is witnessing a race for strategic bases in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), adding that it is only going to gain momentum in the times to come. Also, highlighting the importance of the India-Pacific, General Rawat said there are over 120 warships of extra-regional forces deployed in the region in support of various missions.