. Military Space News .
MILPLEX
Netanyahu set to lead trade task force to India
By Stephen Weizman
Jerusalem (AFP) Jan 10, 2018


India to court ASEAN leaders as it seeks edge over China
New Delhi (AFP) Jan 10, 2018 - Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host 10 Southeast Asian leaders as guests of honour at India's Republic Day celebrations as New Delhi seeks to blunt China's influence in the region.

India will host the leaders at a commemorative summit on January 25 to mark a quarter century of ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the foreign ministry said Wednesday.

Traditionally just one foreign dignitary is feted as guest of honour at the Republic Day parade where India showcases its military might with a procession of troops and weaponary.

But this year the leaders of Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei will be given the honour, the first time such a bloc has attended, India's foreign ministry said.

"We are delighted and honoured that all the 10 Asean leaders have confirmed their participation," said Preeti Saran, a top foreign ministry official.

Modi has been aggressively showcasing India as an alternative to China through his "Act East" policy, pursuing closer trade and cultural ties with the bloc of nations to counter the influence of its regional rival.

The prime minister will meet with the leaders for "free and frank" discussions during the two-day visit where regional maritime security will feature strongly on the agenda, officials said.

It is unclear whether this will include discussions of China's large-scale land reclamation around disputed reefs and shoals in the South China Sea where some ASEAN nations have overlapping claims.

"India is consolidating itself as an alternative to China and showcasing itself as an investment destination," Jayshree Sengupta, a researcher with Delhi-based think tank Observer Research Foundation, told AFP.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will take 130 businessmen with him to India next week for trade talks which will also cover defence sales, a senior Israeli official said Wednesday.

Foreign ministry deputy director general for Asia, Gilad Cohen, said the six-day trip starting Sunday was meant to further deepen political, trade and cultural ties.

India last month voted for a resolution at the UN General Assembly opposing US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Israel has lobbied hard for support from countries such as India at the UN, but Netanyahu said Wednesday he did not envision any setback in relations over the vote.

"I would have preferred another vote, to be frank," Netanyahu told journalists.

"But I don't think it materially changes the tremendous flowering of relations between India and Israel."

India's defence ministry announced last week that it would buy 131 surface-to-air missiles from Israel.

The Barak missiles made by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems are to be used for India's first aircraft carrier which is under construction.

But at the same time, Rafael said India had cancelled a separate $500-million deal to purchase Spike anti-tank guided missiles.

"Rafael has received an official statement from the Indian ministry of defence on the cancellation of the Spike missile deal," the company told the Jerusalem Post newspaper last week.

The Post said Rafael executives would be in the trade delegation accompanying Netanyahu.

Cohen declined to answer questions on the subject in his briefing to journalists in Jerusalem on Wednesday.

"The prime minister will be talking (to his hosts) on the whole range of issues which make up relations between Israel and India: water, agriculture, energy, culture, innovation, also defence," he said.

"I do not want to elaborate on defence issues."

Israel is a major weapons supplier to India, selling it an average of $1 billion of military equipment each year.

In April last year the two countries signed a military deal worth nearly $2 billion which includes the supply over several years of medium-range surface-to-air missiles, launchers and communications technology.

Netanyahu's India trip comes after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Israel in July, the first ever by an Indian premier.

A media highlight of that visit was a barefoot stroll though the surf together at an Israeli beach, where Modi got a demonstration of a mobile water desalination unit mounted on a dune buggy.

Cohen said Netanyahu would present one to Modi during his visit next week.

- Hooray for Bollywood -

One of Netanyahu's stops on the trip, the first by an Israeli premier since Ariel Sharon in 2003, will be in Mumbai where he will meet on January 18 with stars and executives of India's mammoth film industry.

Bollywood "mega-celebs wield tremendous influence around the world," Cohen said.

Israel wants the Indian movie industry to shoot a film in the Jewish state, he added.

"You can imagine the effect that would have on our tourism, on Israel's exposure."

The visit begins in New Delhi where Netanyahu will have dinner with Modi and meet Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj.

The following day he will call on President Ram Nath Kovind then have more talks with Modi.

On Tuesday, Netanyahu will visit the Taj Mahal and then attend India's annual "Raisina Dialogue" geo-political conference.

January 17 sees him joining Modi on a visit to the Indian leader's home state of Gujarat.

"It's no secret that the two leaders enjoy very clear chemistry, good and intimate relations," Cohen said.

In addition to the Bollywood event, January 18 sees Netanyahu hosting a business seminar then attending a memorial ceremony for Jewish victims of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

In one of several incidents, Islamic militants stormed a Jewish hostel and cultural centre in the city, killing a rabbi and his pregnant wife and four others.

They were among at least 195 dead and 295 wounded in a 60-hour siege of multiple targets, including luxury hotels and a railway station.

MILPLEX
State Department approves potential weapons sale to Mexico
Washington (UPI) Jan 8, 2018
The U.S. State Department has approved a potential foreign military sale of both RAM and Harpoon missiles to Mexico. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced approval the $98.4 million sale in a press release Friday, after notifying Congress of the potential sale. Mexico is looking to procure six RGM-84L Harpoon Block II surface launched missiles, which are all-weather, ... read more

Related Links
The Military Industrial Complex at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

MILPLEX
Saudi intercepts ballistic missile near Yemen border: state media

Turkey commissions study for future missile defense system

Saudi Arabia intercepts Yemen rebel ballistic missile

Russia accuses US of breaking treaty over defence system sale to Japan

MILPLEX
Raytheon to support Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile for U.S., NATO partners

Raytheon awarded contracts for missiles in support of foreign countries

India buys Israeli missiles ahead of Netanyahu visit

Navy contracts Raytheon for changes to Sidewinder missiles

MILPLEX
Drone attack on Russian bases in Syria, no casualties: Moscow

Northrop Grumman tapped to deliver three Triton UAVs

General Atomics receives more than $328.8M for drone systems

Boeing unveils entry in unmanned aerial tanker competition for the Navy

MILPLEX
Military defense market faces new challenges to acquiring SatCom platforms

Harris contracted by Army for radios for security force assistance brigades

Joint Hellas-Sat-4 and SaudiGeoSat-1 satellite ready for environmental tests

Government outsourcing disrupts space as SatComm services commercialised

MILPLEX
Environmentally safe red glare rocket changes fireworks, soldier technology

Orbital ATK awarded $23M to support penetrating weapons

US troops stage #MeTooMilitary protest outside Pentagon

Too fat to march: Spanish Legion soldiers put on diet

MILPLEX
Italy acquits former Finmeccanica chief in corruption case

Norway suspends arms exports to UAE over Yemen war

State Department approves potential weapons sale to Mexico

Raytheon to support inventory management for Army

MILPLEX
Philippines to protest over China activity on reclaimed reef

Macedonia PM sees solution to Greece name dispute by July

Macron endorses China's Silk Road but warns against 'hegemony'

Spain king pays homage to father Juan Carlos in comeback

MILPLEX
Silver nanoparticles take spectroscopy to new dimension

Researchers find simpler way to deposit magnetic iron oxide onto gold nanorods

Discovery sets new world standard in nano generators

A 100-fold leap to GigaDalton DNA nanotech









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.