What happened?
India’s Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs, Shri Pabitra Margherita, will visit the Philippines, the Republic of Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) from 14-21 January 2025.
Why it matters to India
According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), MoS Margherita’s visit to the Philippines on 14 January 2025 will coincide with the 75th anniversary of India-Philippines bilateral relations. On 16 January, in the Republic of Palau, Margherita will attend the swearing-in ceremony of President Surangel Whipps Jr. and will also meet with Palau’s
leadership to discuss development projects undertaken by India in the country. On 18 January, Margherita will travel to the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) for the first-ever ministerial-level visit from India. Overall, these official visits to the Indo-Pacific region are part of India’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its Act East Policy and broader vision for the Indo-Pacific.