External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday extended warm greetings to the Republic of Nauru on the occasion of its Independence Day, underscoring India’s commitment to strengthening ties with the Pacific island nation.
Taking to X, Jaishankar wrote, “Warm greetings to FM Lionel Rouwen Aingimea, the Government, and the people of the Republic of Nauru on their Independence Day. Look forward to further strengthening our friendship in the Indo-Pacific.”
India and Nauru share cordial and friendly relations, with India playing a significant role as a development partner. According to the Indian High Commission in Canberra, India’s assistance to Nauru has been well-recognized and appreciated.
Historically, India was one of the early supporters of Nauru’s independence, advocating for it at the United Nations in the early 1960s, a proposal that also garnered support from the then USSR. This historical support has fostered a special regard for India in Nauru.
In recent years, cooperation between the two nations has grown. In September 2024, India and Nauru signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Pharmacopoeial cooperation, facilitating the exchange of information and regulation of medicines.
Further strengthening its partnership with Pacific Island nations, India dispatched a second consignment of haemodialysis machines in November 2024 to Nauru, Marshall Islands, Samoa, and Solomon Islands. This fulfilled a commitment made during the third Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC III) Summit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Papua New Guinea in 2023 for the FIPIC Summit, emphasized India’s steadfast support for Pacific nations. “During these challenging times, an old saying has proven true: ‘A friend in need is a friend indeed.’ India has stood by its Pacific island friends, whether through vaccines, essential medicines, or food supplies,” PM Modi added.
(Inputs from ANI)