Indian Ocean
China-US Relations: Mr Xi Goes to Washington
Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping completed an official visit to the United States from 13-17 February. He met with the US leaders, including President Barack Obama, and had talks with American business elites. He also visited the agricultural state of Iowa and hi-tech California. Xi’s trip has been widely seen as a marker for the Sino-US relationship in the next five to ten years.
Sudan-South Sudan: Khartoum Seizes South’s Oil Wells
South Sudanese officials announced on 16 February, that Sudan has seized control of two oil blocks in the north-eastern border state of Upper Nile.
Mauritius to Take Captured Somali Pirates
With its Prime Minister in London to attend the anti-piracy conference on 23 February, Mauritius has reconfirmed its commitment to fighting Somali piracy by agreeing to hold suspected Somali pirates in custody prior to their trials.
Sudan on Brink of War As Leaders Negotiate Terms over Sovereignty, Trade and Oil
Sudan and South Sudan commenced negotiations in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on 11 February, aimed at resolving differences between the two countries on issues that include oil, trade, borders and immigration.
Tanzania Signs up to South Africa-Mozambique Anti-Piracy Agreement
Tanzania has joined South Africa and Mozambique in a tripartite initiative to fight Somali piracy in the three countries’ waters. Signing the Memorandum of Understanding in Dar es Salaam on 7 February, Tanzanian Defence Minister, Dr Hussein Mwinyi, committed his country to the South Africa-Mozambique anti-piracy MoU of 8 November 2011.
India, China and Japan Co-ordinate Anti-Piracy Patrols
The navies of India, China and Japan have announced their intention to co-ordinate their anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden. The move is a first for the three countries which, until now, have been conducting their patrols independently of each other and the multinational taskforces deployed to the area. If successful, it will constitute a confidence building measure of the highest order, potentially reducing Sino-Indian tensions elsewhere.
South Korea: National Involvement in the Indian Ocean Region
South Korea (officially, the Republic of Korea) has commenced a process of enlarging its strategic reach, which includes the Indian Ocean region. As a net importer of energy resources, South Korea has a growing appreciation of the security environment and stability required in the Indian Ocean. With many rapidly growing economies, the Indian Ocean region is capable of providing South Korea with significant markets for its goods and high technology industries, as well as providing the natural resources to maintain South Korea’s own economic and strategic position. South Korea is becoming more ambitious in the use of its defence forces in multilateral operations beyond its own immediate region, signalling a willingness to take a greater responsibility for its own strategic future.
Egyptian Parliament Sworn In Amid Expectation and Uncertainty
On 23 January 2012, Egypt’s parliament was finally sworn in amid high expectations and lingering uncertainty. As the representatives, the first to be democratically elected in 60 years, take office, many challenges remain.
South Sudan: Army on Alert, Oil Flows Stopped
Relations between Sudan and South Sudan have reached a new low. The South has cut the flow of oil through northern pipelines and placed its army on high alert, as the war of words between the two intensifies. Rebel groups within South Sudan, opposed to the government of President Salva Kiir, complicate matters further by warning oil companies to stay away from production zones and not to undertake the building of a pipeline to Kenya.
Sri Lanka: Colombo Orders Islamist Clerics to Leave
The move by the Sri Lankan Government to order a group of 161 foreign Islamic clerics to leave the country by 31 January highlights the role of a global Islamic group that is challenging the more moderate indigenous form of Sufi Islam in Sri Lanka.