Uncertainty prevails over New Delhi's representation in the strategically important Shangri-La Dialogue scheduled for the month end in Singapore. The government is yet to take a call on the representative as the election process is on and the results will be declared on May 23.
The Shangri-La Dialogue is a "Track One" inter-governmental security forum held annually by an independent think tank, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). The dialouge has been attended by defence ministers, permanent heads of ministries and military chiefs of 28 Asia-Pacific states, where they engage in open debate and bilateral talks aimed at enhancing their collaboration in response to the Indo-Pacific’s diverse security problems.
The 18th edition of the dialogue will take place from May 31 to June 2. Sources said that the new government may take a call on the representation after the election results are announced. Since defence secretary Sanjay Mitra is also completing his tenure on May 31, it is difficult for him to be present at the key global platform.
While on the otherside, several nations have already announced their representation in the dialogue. Acting secretary of defence of United States, Patrick M. Shanahan will likely assess the key security challenges in the Indo-Pacific and elaborate the US administration’s strategy for the region during the dialogue.
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will deliver a keynote speech on Friday, May 31.
It is notable that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's keynote address in the last year's Shangri-La Dialouge had changed the narrative of India-China relations, which took an ugly turn during the 73-days Doklam stand-off. Modi called the India-China bilateral ties as layered, and said he firmly believed that Asia and the world will have a “better future if India and China work together with trust and confidence, keeping in mind each other’s interests”. Modi was the first Indian prime minister to speak at the SLD since its inaugural edition in 2002.
Past speakers have included prime ministers and senior ministers from China, India, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Australia and other regional powers, as well as the United States. According to IISS official website, since its launch in 2002, the Dialogue has become a venue for proposing and advancing initiatives on important security issues.
And this year, India's participation is being keenly monitored, especially after China's nod to name Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.
