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It's the season for trilaterals. India, Afghanistan and US are preparing for their first trilateral meeting in a few weeks time. A few weeks ago, Pakistan and Afghanistan met for another trilateral with UK.
The trilateral or "minilateral" is acquiring a fashionable status in international diplomacy and trading arrangements, because its seen as being small, businesslike and fleet-footed. From being a somewhat hesitant beginner, India has become an enthusiastic participant. By the end of October, India, US and Japan are scheduled to hold their next trilateral, which is now being seen as a template for other trilaterals. Trilaterals are being seen as an easy forum for small groups of countries to solve common problems or build on common interests.
India held its first trilateral (at track one-and-half, which means there was only partial official presence) with Japan and Korea a few months ago. Although the meeting was overshadowed by residual tension between Japan and Korea over Korea's last minute refusal to sign an intelligence-sharing agreement with Japan. But this trilateral may become official sooner rather than later.
Probably the most important security trilateral that India holds is with Sri Lanka and Maldives, at the NSA level. This is directly connected to India's strategic and security interests in the Indian Ocean, one where the other two countries have equal stakes.
Australia has asked India to start two trilateral arrangements, one with the US and the second with Indonesia. India has been cool to the first, though the second has a much better chance of becoming reality. Australia, though an important relationship and one that is growing daily, suffers from two weaknesses where the Indian system is concerned. First, it's seen as a junior partner to the US, which affects Indian perception; and second, the Indians fear that Australia may be the first to buckle under Chinese pressure, if Beijing takes exceptions to these meetings.
The second impression unfortunately, goes back to the first "minilateral" in this region - the quadrilateral, started in the wake of the 2004 tsunami between India, Japan, Australia and US. After China bore down on the members of the quadrilateral in the wake of a Malabar naval exercise in 2007, Australia was the first to quit the group.
There is one trilateral that will not happen for some time - China, India and US. Beijing has shown no interest in an invitation to such a trilateral, said sources, partly because Beijing believes it has a broad enough relationship with the US and India is not yet in that league. However, it has conceded to some track-2 efforts to keep both US and India off its back.
India used to have a trilateral with Russia and China, but that has got absorbed into BRICS. But India continues to hold on to the IBSA, a trilateral "among democracies".
Nearer home, a trilateral grouping in the making is between India, Myanmar and Thailand. With India pushing a trilateral highway connecting the three countries, trade and connectivity will be the glue for this group. The three heads of government are likely to meet together on the sidelines of the Asean-India summit here in December.
Three is company: India embraces trilateral diplomacy - The Times of India
The trilateral or "minilateral" is acquiring a fashionable status in international diplomacy and trading arrangements, because its seen as being small, businesslike and fleet-footed. From being a somewhat hesitant beginner, India has become an enthusiastic participant. By the end of October, India, US and Japan are scheduled to hold their next trilateral, which is now being seen as a template for other trilaterals. Trilaterals are being seen as an easy forum for small groups of countries to solve common problems or build on common interests.
India held its first trilateral (at track one-and-half, which means there was only partial official presence) with Japan and Korea a few months ago. Although the meeting was overshadowed by residual tension between Japan and Korea over Korea's last minute refusal to sign an intelligence-sharing agreement with Japan. But this trilateral may become official sooner rather than later.
Probably the most important security trilateral that India holds is with Sri Lanka and Maldives, at the NSA level. This is directly connected to India's strategic and security interests in the Indian Ocean, one where the other two countries have equal stakes.
Australia has asked India to start two trilateral arrangements, one with the US and the second with Indonesia. India has been cool to the first, though the second has a much better chance of becoming reality. Australia, though an important relationship and one that is growing daily, suffers from two weaknesses where the Indian system is concerned. First, it's seen as a junior partner to the US, which affects Indian perception; and second, the Indians fear that Australia may be the first to buckle under Chinese pressure, if Beijing takes exceptions to these meetings.
The second impression unfortunately, goes back to the first "minilateral" in this region - the quadrilateral, started in the wake of the 2004 tsunami between India, Japan, Australia and US. After China bore down on the members of the quadrilateral in the wake of a Malabar naval exercise in 2007, Australia was the first to quit the group.
There is one trilateral that will not happen for some time - China, India and US. Beijing has shown no interest in an invitation to such a trilateral, said sources, partly because Beijing believes it has a broad enough relationship with the US and India is not yet in that league. However, it has conceded to some track-2 efforts to keep both US and India off its back.
India used to have a trilateral with Russia and China, but that has got absorbed into BRICS. But India continues to hold on to the IBSA, a trilateral "among democracies".
Nearer home, a trilateral grouping in the making is between India, Myanmar and Thailand. With India pushing a trilateral highway connecting the three countries, trade and connectivity will be the glue for this group. The three heads of government are likely to meet together on the sidelines of the Asean-India summit here in December.
Three is company: India embraces trilateral diplomacy - The Times of India
