New Zealand seeks clarity on India’s military ambitions

New Zealand seeks clarity on India’s military ambitions

Context:

• As India expands its influence in southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean Region, New Zealand’s Chief of Defence Force Lt. Gen. Tim Keating has sought clarity on a probable military component to New Delhi’s ‘Act East’ policy.

New Zealand seeks clarity:

• New Zealand wants to understand that as India grows, how it intends to grow its influence militarily both regionally and near region.
• New Zealand wants to know military element in ‘Act East’.
• Lt. Gen. Keating also queried the objectives of the recently resurrected quadrilateral (Quad) comprising India, Australia, Japan and the U.S.
• He observed that the Quad need not necessarily be a military agreement at this stage but four large influential nations developing a common policy framework to various opportunities and potential threats in the region.
• When asked, if New Zealand would be interested in joining the grouping at some point, Lt. Gen. Keating said that there is lot of clarity to be gained about what Quad is.