What happened?
India’s Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, completed his visit to the Philippines, the Republic of Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) from January 14 to 21, 2025.
Why it matters to India:
These visits by India’s MoS highlights India’s efforts to strengthen its Act East Policy and broaden its vision for the Indo-Pacific region. In a statement issued on January 22, 2025, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) outlined the key outcomes of the visit. For instance, during MoS visit to the Philippines, the discussions were held with key leaders marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. In Palau, the MoS attended the presidential inauguration, discussed bilateral cooperation, and gifted water tanks for harvesting rainwater to support local development. In FSM, MoS held extensive talks with leaders to enhance bilateral ties and development cooperation. The MoS also had a short stopover in Guam, a U.S. territory, where he interacted with the local Indian community.