The Ministry of External Affairs has created a new division, the Oceania division.
- The new division is headed by additional secretary level officer, which will focus on South-East Asian nations, Pacific Island states and the larger Indo-Pacific.
- It will also have two director rank officers.
- The ministry’s southern division, which looked after a swathe of countries from Thailand to Australia and New Zealand, will be part of the Oceania division as will be the Indo-Pacific division.
- Besides countries in South-East Asia, the Oceania division will include Pacific Island states such as the Cook Islands, Tuvalu, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, the Marshal Islands, Solomon Islands and Tonga.
- The new move is clear sign of the importance that the India accords to the Indo-Pacific region.
(Source: The Mint)
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