External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar inaugurated a significant water and sanitation project in the Maldives on Saturday, funded by India. The project, valued at USD 110 million, covers 28 islands and aims to improve access to clean water and sanitation facilities.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Friday during Jaishankar's three-day official visit to the Maldives.

The tension in India-Maldives relations escalated after derogatory remarks were made by three Maldivian ministers and some parliamentarians about Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is set to embark on a two-day visit to the Maldives starting tomorrow, marking an important diplomatic engagement with India's key maritime neighbour. This visit comes nearly a year after his last trip to the Maldives in January 2023 and is aimed at further strengthening the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

Her departure marks the end of her 15-year tenure, which has been marred by escalating unrest and violence, including protests that have claimed over 300 lives.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has emphasised that the Quad alliance is dedicated to improving the lives of people across the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. In his statement, Blinken highlighted several focus areas for the security bloc, including increasing maritime domain awareness and preventing cyberattacks.

Malaysia has formally applied to join the BRICS group, as confirmed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The application has been submitted to Russia, which currently chairs the organisation. This move underscores Malaysia's ambition to be part of the influential economic bloc, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently expressed concerns over Beijing’s "destabilising actions" in the South China Sea during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi. This meeting took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN foreign ministers' gathering in Laos. Despite ongoing tensions, both leaders aimed to keep communication channels open.

Jaishankar highlighted the importance of the South China Sea's sea lines of communication, which are crucial for trade, logistics, and naval forces.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasised on Friday that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) remains central to India’s ‘Act East’ policy and Indo-Pacific vision. Speaking at the ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Jaishankar underscored the deepening partnership between India and ASEAN, noting its expanding dimensions each year.

On Friday, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced that India has officially taken over as the Chair of the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC). This leadership role follows the end of China's tenure. The transition highlights India's growing influence in the field of disaster management and its commitment to enhancing regional and global disaster risk reduction efforts.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has recently been active in strengthening India's relationships in the Indo-Pacific region. During his visit to Vientiane, Laos, for key ASEAN meetings, Jaishankar held important discussions with several regional leaders to advance India’s strategic interests and partnerships.