Indian and Mozambique will further advance their defence cooperation, as the African nation grapples with a deadly Islamist insurgency in the oil-rich Cabo Delgado province.
The announcement was made by the Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar after his meetings with Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi and foreign minister Veronica Macamo in Maputo on Friday.
During a call with President Nyusi, Jaishankar said that India remains committed to “advance cooperation in defense, development, trade and investment as well as other areas”.
The Indian foreign minister underscored that New Delhi would “respond to Mozambican priorities”.
The top Indian diplomat also co-chaired the fifth Joint Commission Meeting with Foreign Minister Veronica Macamo earlier in the day.
The two delegates reviewed their bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, agriculture, energy, railways, health, education, development cooperation and defense, Jaishankar said.
“(We) Agreed to work together to voice the concerns of the Global South, especially on issues like terrorism and climate change,” Jaishankar said.
He said that the two sides also discussed “new avenues” to further intensify their bilateral ties.
The Indian foreign minister is on a two-nation Africa trip to Uganda and Mozambique.
Ready to Take Cooperation to ‘Next Level’
Addressing the Indian community in Maputo on Thursday, Jaishankar said that India was ready to take its “time-tested” partnership with Mozambique to the “next level”.
He said that the historic relationship between the two nations dated back to the time when Mozambique was fighting its colonial struggle against Portugal.
He said that there was a deep sense of solidarity between the people of two countries.
Jaishankar said that India was ready to share its experience with Mozambique as it deals with terrorism challenges.
Mozambique’s Terrorism Challenge
The African island country has been facing a deadly insurgency from Al-Shabab* (not linked to its Somalian namesake) in the northern parts of the country. The US has designated it as a Daesh* affiliate.
According to reports, the group has steadily taken control over entire areas in Cabo Delgado. The group has also targeted civilians and public buildings in terror attacks.
Mozambique is being assisted with troops from Rwanda and other African nations in its fight against the terrorist group.
This month, Mozambique's defence minister Cristovao Chume for the first time asked foreign military personnel stationed in Mozambique to share their expertise in helping the nation tackle the growing terrorist threat.
* terror groups banned in Russia and other states