Perspectives

Abstract

It is an exceptional delight to be present on an occasion where one receives multiple perspectives of the opportunities and challenges of the Indo-Pacific from a multiplicity of eminent personalities, who are either holding or have held public office, and, more importantly, steered national policies to positive logical conclusions. The inaugural Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2018, held in New Delhi, on 21 and 22 February 2018, was one such event where views from India, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom (UK) were aired in the opening session and set the stage for the dialogue. The speakers included Admiral RK Dhowan (Retd), Chairman National Maritime Foundation (NMF); Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Naval Staff, India; Admiral RC Wijegunaratne, Chief of Defence Staff, Sri Lanka; Stephen Lovegrove, Permanent Secretary of Defence, United Kingdom; Nirmala Sitharaman, Hon’ble Defence Minister, India; and Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, India.