Question: Consider the following statements in reference to the India Africa Defence Ministers Conclave, 2020:
(1) This was the first ever India Africa Defence Ministers’ Conclave.
(2) New Delhi Declaration was adopted following the conclave.
(3) A total of 38 African countries participated in the conclave.
Choose the correct option:
(a) 1 and 3
(b) 1 and 2
(c) 2 and 3
(d) All of the above
Answer: (a)
Related facts:
- The first India-Africa Defence Ministers’ Conclave held in Lucknow on February 06, 2020 along the line with DefExpo-2020.
- Over 154 delegates from Africa including Defence Ministers from 14 African countries, Member of Parliament, 19 Defence and Service Chiefs and 8 Permanent Secretaries from 38 African countries participated in this Conclave attesting to the high priority accorded to India-Africa engagement in defence and security.
- Following the conclave, Lucknow Declaration was adopted by the delegates.
Highlight points of the declaration:
- The declaration recalls India’s contribution to defence and security in the African continent through setting up of Defence Academies and Colleges in Nigeria, Ethiopia and Tanzania; deployment of training teams in several African countries including Botswana, Namibia, Uganda, Lesotho, Zambia, Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania; goodwill ship visits; provision of defence equipment and ammunitions and various other measures, including Defence Training Programmes.
- The initiation of Africa India Field Training Exercises with the first ever AFINDEX in March 2019 to further strengthen cooperation in defence preparedness and security was also appreciated.
- It was recognized that peace and security are a key priority for both India and African countries.
- Emphasis was given to further strengthen the cooperation in enhancing peacekeeping capacity and peace – building efforts including support to the African Standby Force (ASF) and through courses, such as those at the centre for UN Peacekeeping (CUNPK) in New Delhi and by other Peacekeeping Training Centers in Africa.
- Continuance of collaboration in the fields of peace and security including conflict prevention, resolution, management and peace building through exchange of expertise and training, strengthening regional and continental early warning capacities and mechanisms, enhancing the role of women in peace keeping and propagating the culture of peace.
- The issue of common security challenges such as terrorism and extremism, piracy, organized crime including human trafficking, drug trafficking, weapon smuggling and others was agreed to be collaborated to tackle them together.
- The efforts in reducing the number of violent conflicts in the African continent was highlighted and intended to continue to support the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and other Africa led efforts to enhance peace and security.
- Initiatives such as African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), Silence The Guns in Africa and Agenda 2063 are supported.
- The Defence Ministers from African countries and India will meet regularly in future at mutually convenient time and venue.
Link:
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1602300
https://mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/32380/1st_IndiaAfrica_Defence_Ministers_Conclave_2020_Lucknow
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-african-countries-resolve-to-fight-terror/article30755496.ece