Asia

Dr Jaishankar’s Visit to Russia – Pursuing a Pragmatic Foreign Policy in National Interest
Analysis, Asia, Featured, World

Dr Jaishankar’s Visit to Russia – Pursuing a Pragmatic Foreign Policy in National Interest

India and Russia's robust defence collaboration, constituting 60 to 70 per cent of India's defence supplies, underscores their evolving partnership from buyer-seller to joint research and development.The visit of EAM Jaishankar to Moscow should not be viewed solely through the lens of India's relations with the US and the West.India's partnerships with the US, the West, and Russia are based on their strengths, serving national interests while contributing to regional and global security, stability, and prosperity. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar commenced his five-day visit to Russia on December 26, engaging with the country's strategic community to deliberate on regional conflicts, connectivity, and multilateralism. His itinerary includes discussions with Russian Foreign ...
Unravelling Dynamics: Assessing the Progression of ‘India Out’ Campaign in Maldives
Analysis, Asia, Featured, World

Unravelling Dynamics: Assessing the Progression of ‘India Out’ Campaign in Maldives

Indicating a foreign policy shift, neglecting India, the Muizzu administration is reaching out to Türkiye and China, who are not favourable to India's security concerns. While the Maldivian vice-president attended the China-sponsored IORFDC summit, Maldives skipped the Colombo Security Dialogue that involves India, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Mauritius. President Muizzu who ran the campaign of ‘India out’ during the presidential polls and gave priority to China, is expected to work in that direction. After Mohamed Muizzu became president of Maldives, notable foreign policy decisions have been made, signalling a significant change in approach towards India. However, one should not be surprised by the changing course of action of Males as it was evident from the presidential election cam...
China’s Power Play In the Garb of Economics: Xi Jinping’s Hanoi Sojourn and Vietnam’s Global Balancing Act
Asia, Featured, World

China’s Power Play In the Garb of Economics: Xi Jinping’s Hanoi Sojourn and Vietnam’s Global Balancing Act

Though economic cooperation was the focal point, Xi aimed to align Hanoi with China's foreign policy vision, emphasizing a "global community of shared future." Vietnam, despite its "four nos" defence policy, seeks reassurances from Beijing regarding military ambitions, particularly in the South China Sea. The visit underscores the challenges and opportunities for Vietnam as it balances its relationships with major powers amid regional security concerns. Chinese leader Xi Jinping completed his two-day visit to Hanoi, focusing on enhancing ties with Communist counterparts. The visit aimed to strengthen economic cooperation, particularly by investing in crucial railway lines that are vital for Vietnam's exports, providing a boost to its post-pandemic growth. Xi's visit oc...
ASEAN’s Fractured Role in Resolving the Crisis in Myanmar
Asia, Featured, World

ASEAN’s Fractured Role in Resolving the Crisis in Myanmar

ASEAN's response to the Myanmar crisis reflects internal tensions and conflicting national interests. ASEAN's divided stance during the UN resolution for an arms embargo on Myanmar in 2021 highlighted internal discord. The evolving crisis requires a comprehensive approach, pushing for inclusive dialogues and pushing Myanmar's military towards stability and peace. The persistent political and socio-economic turmoil in Myanmar, stemming from the military coup in February 2021, has posed a formidable challenge to the unity and credibility of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). Despite the military's initial anticipation of quelling opposition forces and orchestrating new elections, robust resistance from both opposition factions and Ethnic Armed Organisations has thwa...
The Unfinished Agenda: Significance and Challenges in Sealing the India-UK Free Trade Deal
Analysis, Asia, Europe, Featured, World

The Unfinished Agenda: Significance and Challenges in Sealing the India-UK Free Trade Deal

The India-UK Free Trade deal, valued at £24.3 billion annually, is a great opportunity to strengthen the existing strong relationship, benefiting businesses in both countries. India stands to gain access to UK technologies, advanced research facilities, London's financial institutions, and affluent consumers. The India-UK Free Trade Agreement marks a significant shift in India's trade strategy, prioritizing closer ties with Western and African nations to decrease dependency on China.For the UK, this agreement serves as a chance to recover from losses linked to Brexit and strengthen economic connections with a major partner. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar recently wrapped up a five-day visit to the UK from November 11-15, It coincided with Diwali celebrations, adding a festi...
From Pacifism to Realism: The Rearmament of Japan
Analysis, Asia, Featured, World

From Pacifism to Realism: The Rearmament of Japan

In geopolitics, significant shifts sometimes get blurred behind more pressing events happening at the time. However, a fully armoured samurai warrior mounted on a charging steed was emblazoned on the cover of Japan's defence white paper in 2021, and it was one such shift. This white paper symbolized a change on a very fundamental level in Japan's national security philosophy. For the first time, the report links Taiwan directly to the security of Japan. However, all this took time to happen. Since 2014, Shinzo Abe's government has been trying to reinterpret Article 9 - The no war clause of the Japanese constitution. A shock to the system spurs the rapid change in the Japanese military mindset. It was Commodore Mathew Perry's ships in July of 1853 and the Russo-Ukrainian war in Feb...
Is the US Trying To Engineer Regime Change In Bangladesh to bring a radical Islamist party to power?
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Is the US Trying To Engineer Regime Change In Bangladesh to bring a radical Islamist party to power?

It seems the US is leaning towards the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) which gets a lot of support from the Islamists who want Sharia law implemented in one of the most secular Muslim-majority countries. With Bangladesh’s upcoming general election scheduled for January 2024, various Islamist groups, including Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP, are vigorously striving to regain power with the backing of Western governments, particularly the Biden administration. Many are calling the regime change in Bangladesh a checking mechanism for India which the US sees as a possible opponent in two decades as its economy grows fast. (This article was first published in The Commune Mag. Republished with permission) There are clear signs that the United States of America is interfering in the affai...
Countering Threats: India’s Multifaceted Geopolitical Approach
Analysis, Asia, Featured, World

Countering Threats: India’s Multifaceted Geopolitical Approach

India faces dual challenges from its northwestern and northeastern fronts, both aimed at undermining its security and territorial integrity along with adversaries within its borders, driven by insurgency and support from China and Pakistan.India should bolster the strike capabilities of the ITBP and offer broader international visibility to the Dalai Lama, emphasizing the cause of Tibet. India should extend its support to the oppressed Hindu minority in Sindh and grant recognition to the Balochistan Muslim population as these marginalized communities in Pakistan need assistance and recognition.India should proactively engage in initiatives like the I2U2 Alliance and also actively pursue the ‘Indian-Middle East Corridor’ (IMEC) to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Ha...
China’s Expansionist Manoeuvres in the South China Sea: Implications for Neighboring Countries
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China’s Expansionist Manoeuvres in the South China Sea: Implications for Neighboring Countries

Manila has repeatedly accused Beijing of obstructing its shipping vessels in and around the Scarborough Shoal, a triangular reef encompassing a resource-rich lagoon that China seized from the Philippines in 2012.The aggressive actions by the Chinese Coast Guard on a smaller Filipino Navy are indicative of a pattern of intimidation and coercion by Beijing in the South China Sea. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has taken a more assertive stance in highlighting China's actions of swarming and intimidating Philippine fishing and coast guard vessels. China has disputes with other nations like Indonesia, Vietnam and Brunei in the South China Sea over maritime boundaries, forced incursions and interference in oil and gas operations by the Chinese Coast Guard and navy. In recent times, ther...
Israel Terror Attack and the Lessons for Bharat
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Israel Terror Attack and the Lessons for Bharat

Today a terrorist may rejoice in killing Jews in a holy war, tomorrow it could be any other community that might find itself in a situation similar to the one the Kashmiri Pandits were in the 1990s.The foot soldier of Islam can easily be directed in any way his master wants, one who will serve his own interests and this becomes extremely dangerous when the abettors are sovereign nations.Bharat's confused self-image along with the twisted understanding and the crude imitation of the concept of European secularism has led to many unspeakable injustices carried out in the country, which is not the case with Israel which proudly identifies itself as a Jewish state. "Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself."- Eleanor Roosevelt As the co...