Sushma Swaraj on 3-day visit to Azerbaijan to attend NAM-meet
External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj today left for a three-day visit to Azerbaijan's capital city Baku to participate in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Ministerial Conference. The theme of this NAM meeting, to be held on 5-6 April, is "Promoting international peace and security for sustainable development". On the sidelines of the NAM meeting, Swaraj will hold extensive discussions with Azerbaijan's high-level officials. Here's more.
What is Swaraj's agenda at the NAM meeting?
NAM was established during the Cold War. Countries just freed from the colonial system asserted themselves through this movement. Its main aim is to give support to nations struggling for their independence and fight against any form of oppression. As India is a founding member of NAM, MEA claimed that Swaraj will "underline India's continued active and constructive engagement" to improve co-ordination among member-states.
What else will Swaraj do in Baku?
Swaraj will also hold talks with Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and call on President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva. The two sides are set to discuss "bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest." Notably, India and Azerbaijan co-operate in various fields of energy, transportation and capacity building. India's ONGC-Videsh has invested in ACG oil fields and the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.
Why is Azerbaijan important to India?
Though India has age-old ties with Azerbaijan, China and Pakistan have better relations with it. Baku has upgraded its strategic military and economic ties with Islamabad. For many Pakistani elites, Baku has emerged as the new "Dubai," hub for holding top-secret meetings. China, seen as a major power in Eurasia, receives immense traction. In this scenario, Swaraj is probably re-vitalizing India's relations with a prospective strategic ally.
