Interaction with an Australian Delegation

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Leading a six-member delegation, Mr. Ric Wells, a senior career diplomat with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia, visited the VIF on 18 Dec 2015 for an interaction with members of the VIF faculty. Discussions were held across a range of subjects including, the implications of the rise of regional countries, more specifically China and India among a host of others, the relative decline of the US, and the concomitant shift in the global power balance, among others. In his opening remarks, General NC Vij, Director, VIF, noted the high trajectory in the bilateral relationship between
India and Australia being witnessed since the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Australia in November 2014. The Director also hinted at the possibility of collective security architecture in the Indo-Pacific region involving countries like the US, India, Japan, Australia, Philippines, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, among others.

Mr. Ric Wells, on the other hand, was more amenable to the East Asian summit giving shape to such architecture. He, however, said that China needs to be more adaptive to international norms, an obvious reference to China’s muscle-flexing attitude in the border disputes with its neighbours. Equally, it is imperative for the global institutions to take note of the rising significance of both China and India, the two countries that will potentially shape the global order in the coming years. The interaction was held in a frank and candid atmosphere. General NC Vij, Director, VIF, moderated the discussions, while Admiral KK Nayyar, Lt Gen Ravi Sawhney, Mr. CD Sahay, and Amb Tariq Karim, among others, formed the VIF panel of experts that engaged the Australian delegation.