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Washington’s Domestic Turmoil Could Jeopardise its Position as a World Leader
Analysis, Featured, North America, World

Washington’s Domestic Turmoil Could Jeopardise its Position as a World Leader

According to financial experts, a debt default by the US would spell chaos for both the American and global economies. The U.S. dollar, whose dominance over the world's monetary system has provided the country with exceptional benefits for decades, now has a chink in its armour due to the debt crisis. According to economists at Goldman Sachs, a debt ceiling breach would immediately halt one-tenth of U.S. economic activity. A declining dollar could make debts in other currencies comparatively more expensive and threaten to push some emerging economies into debt crises. Allies and enemies of the United States are probably perplexed by the drama around the federal debt ceiling and wondering how serious Washington is about being the world's leader. President Joe Biden was forced to pos...
Israel’s Military Campaign against Islamic Jihad in Gaza – Can it Change the Dynamics of the Region?
Analysis, Featured, Middle East, World

Israel’s Military Campaign against Islamic Jihad in Gaza – Can it Change the Dynamics of the Region?

This campaign comes at a time the Israeli government is at a political crossroads and is struggling to implement judicial reform while the cost of living keeps rising. Members of Netanyahu's cabinet have steadfastly demanded that the IDF continue operations until all of Israel's adversaries have been defeated. In order to lessen the threat Iran and its allies pose, Israel is perfectly content to use limited and asymmetrical attacks. Although "Operation Shield and Arrow" used modern tactics, it was reminiscent of a more traditional style of warfare. A targeted strike on targets in northern and southern Gaza was started by forty Israeli aircraft early on Tuesday. The attacks claimed the lives of ten people, including three senior commanders of the extremist Palestinian Islamic Jihad...
Pakistan Turmoil – Boon or Bane for India?
Analysis, Asia, Featured, National, World

Pakistan Turmoil – Boon or Bane for India?

The instability in Pakistan's polity can be seen through the fact that no elected government has ever successfully completed its term. In the international community, Pakistan has always behaved like a person threatening to commit suicide if he doesn’t get his way. A huge population if pushed to desperate conditions will lead to mass migration and mass violence, something India has to be wary about. Nuclear weapons and secrets falling into the hands of the Taliban or ISIS will be the biggest nightmare for the entire world. “One can choose friends, but not neighbours”, Vajpayee once said the same words. This has been the story of India and Pakistan. It is easy to forget that we were one nation at not so distant past, with all the drama and tension between the neighbours. 75 years is...
Pakistan – A Royal Mess!
Analysis, Asia, Featured, World

Pakistan – A Royal Mess!

The current crisis in Pakistan has the potential to destabilize the region, with both China and the US watching the situation closely. The Pakistan mess gives India ample amount of time to significantly increase the gap in its economic and strategic capabilities. The current crisis in Pakistan has the potential to destabilize the region, with both China and the US watching the situation closely.The current political crisis in Pakistan has led to a power struggle between different factions within the government and the military.The instability in Pakistan has raised concerns about the safety of its nuclear weapons with the prospect of these weapons falling into the wrong hands being a major concern for the international community.As Pakistan would be in the right royal mess in the f...
Syria Re-establishing Diplomatic Ties with Arab Nations. Who Stands to gain?
Analysis, Featured, Middle East, World

Syria Re-establishing Diplomatic Ties with Arab Nations. Who Stands to gain?

Normalization will probably be seen by Washington as a rejection of its policy objectives as Arab nations are openly supporting a significant ally of Iran and Russia.In the interest of avoiding new problems in Washington, Riyadh may proceed cautiously when it reinstates diplomatic relations with Assad's government. Jordanian lawmakers are working on a draft framework for normalization with other Arab governments. Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations may exert pressure on Syria to rely less on Iran. Many Arab nations are prepared to put the past in the past and resume normal relations with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after rejecting him for the past twelve years. Following Assad's brutal crackdown on anti-regime protesters in 2011, the Arab League suspended Damascus' membership,...
The Political Reality of India
Analysis, Featured, National

The Political Reality of India

Freebies at the cost of economic health, dynastic politics and appeasement of one or two sections of the society at the cost of all others are the bane and reality of Indian politics today. During election season, politicians have an extra incentive to promise freebies at the cost of the States’ economic well-being. Almost all of the parties in India today have become family-run coporations, BJP and Left parties notwithstanding. In the name of secularism, parties have time and again made decisions and statements to appease one section of society. Secularism rather than being the policy of Church-State division, has evolved to be appeasing the “minority” at the cost of justice. Being a democracy, politics plays a major part in the governance of India. It is as complicated as it i...
Changing Dynamics of the Middle East – Towards Stability or More Uncertainty?
Analysis, Featured, Middle East, World

Changing Dynamics of the Middle East – Towards Stability or More Uncertainty?

The changing dynamics and complex tableau of Arab polities and societies defy simple narratives and well-worn clichés.The concept of governance and economic development is said to have spread throughout the Arab world, one that promotes itself as being resilient but also innovative and worthy of emulation. Even though some of the Middle East's most prominent conflicts may have ended, the region is still undergoing significant change, both internally and externally. The pandemic's shock and the conflict in Ukraine are, in many ways, omens of the Arab world's gloomier future. In the Arab world, a wide range of events have happened since 2011 such as geopolitical changes, climate shocks, rising economic pressure and authoritarian restructuring. The shape for the next decade is shapin...
What exactly is Washington looking for in its trade war with China?
Analysis, Asia, Featured, North America, World

What exactly is Washington looking for in its trade war with China?

The political popularity of the punitive actions targeting China has risen even when they do not provide any analytical basis. Exports from the USA to China, which decreased from 8.4 per cent in 2017 to 7% in 2022, have not expanded much as a result of the trade war. There is no conclusive proof that China's economy has been weakened if that was the goal of the U.S. sanctions against it. A study quoted above estimates taxpayers will pay about $250,000 for every job that they save as part of traditional Buy America programs. President Donald Trump initiated the trade war with China five years back aimed at reducing that country's Bilateral Trade Deficit. Then, by limiting high-tech exports and reducing the links between professions and finance, his successor, President Joe Biden, ha...
Cyberwarfare: Growing Chinese Cyber Threats and Implications for India
Analysis, Asia, Defence & Security, Featured, World

Cyberwarfare: Growing Chinese Cyber Threats and Implications for India

China is rapidly building its cyber capabilities to use its cyber tools in military operations. China introduced several cyber institutions to its armed forces accountable for Computer Network Defence (CND), Signal Intelligence (SIGINT), and Computer Network Exploitation (CNE). India, especially the military does not retain an adequate number of well-trained personnel for the conduct of offensive cyber operations. Even though India has made only modest improvements in developing cyber security capacities, crucial cyber warfare capabilities need to be upgraded to deter cyber threats effectively. China's rapid improvements and development of cyber warfare capabilities in expertise, institution building, and offensive ability are remarkable. China is rapidly building its cyber capabil...
Washington Declaration – Adding the ‘Nuclear’ dimension to the South Korean and USA relationship
Analysis, Asia, Featured, World

Washington Declaration – Adding the ‘Nuclear’ dimension to the South Korean and USA relationship

The Washington Declaration is an indicator of a robust partnership between Seoul and Washington, but it does not go far enough to tackle the ongoing downward spiral in relations with North Korea. The Declaration in Washington rightly notes that South Korea is backed by an American full range of capabilities, including nuclear. The Washington Declaration is already being met with scepticism by Seoul's most ardent supporters of a domestic nuclear weapons program. The seventieth anniversary of their Security Cooperation was marked last week by the United States and South Korea. In the midst of great fanfare, South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol arrived in Washington for a state visit. The trip provided a significant opportunity for the United States to reassure South Korea that the ...