Current Affairs - International

President Droupadi Murmu's historic visit to Mauritania, a North African country, aimed to strengthen bilateral ties between India and Mauritania. This visit was part of her three-nation African tour, which also included Algeria and Malawi. During her visit, four MoUs were signed to enhance collaboration in areas such as training of diplomats, cultural exchange, visa exemption, and foreign office consultations. This marks a significant boost to India-Mauritania ties, which have been growing stronger since the establishment of India's embassy in Nouakchott in June 2021.

The Indo-Turkiye Friendship Association (ITFA) was launched in Hyderabad on October 16, 2024, with the goal of enhancing bilateral cooperation between India and Turkiye in various sectors, including economic, cultural, tourism, educational, and technological exchanges. Turkish Consul General Orhan Yalman Okan noted a significant rise in Indian tourism to Turkiye, with 3.5 lakh visitors in 2023, projecting this number to increase to 4 lakh soon. This initiative aims to further strengthen the relationship between the two nations.

Colombia has become the 17th country to sign an audio-visual co-production agreement with India, aiming to pool creative, technical, and financial resources for filmmaking. This agreement enables filmmakers and producers from both countries to collaborate on various aspects of filmmaking, such as production, post-production, and marketing. The pact is expected to deepen engagement between the critical sectors of the film industries of both countries, unfolding a new chapter of collaboration. The agreement was signed by Union Minister L. Murugan and Colombia's Vice Minister Jorge Enrique Rojas Rodriguez.

The 23rd SCO Heads of Government Meeting took place in Islamabad on October 16, 2024, focusing on trade and economic collaboration among SCO member states. This meeting brought together leaders from China, Russia, Iran, and Central Asian countries, with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as chair. India's External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, represented India, emphasizing the SCO's multilateral agenda. The SCO aims to enhance regional cooperation and stability, founded in 2001. By hosting this meeting, Islamabad played a significant role in promoting economic cooperation and regional stability among SCO member states.

The United States has announced the deployment of the advanced THAAD (Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense) missile defence system to Israel. This strategic decision aims to enhance Israel's defence capabilities, particularly in light of threats from Iran and other regional adversaries. THAAD is designed to intercept and destroy enemy missiles during their terminal phase, making it an essential asset for national security. This move highlights the US's strong commitment to Israel's defence amidst rising geopolitical tensions in the region, reinforcing collaborative efforts in military preparedness and security cooperation.