Editorial - India’s G20 Presidency
The Group of Twenty (G20) is the premier forum for international cooperation on most important aspects of international economic and financial agenda. It brings together world’s major advanced and emerging economies. G20 is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries - Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States and the European Union. The G20 members represent around 85% of global GDP, over 75% of global trade and about two-thirds of world population. Read More
Boosting Road Connectivity in Arunachal Pradesh and Eastern Sector of LAC
After 75 years of India's independence, its borders have remained unsettled and assertive neighbours, be it Pakistan or China, have challenged India’s boundaries recurrently. The escalating tensions on line of Control (LOC) and standoffs at Line of Actual Control (LAC) in recent times have been a major cause of security concern for India.
The latest major clash between the Indian Army and Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was in the Yangtse area of the Tawang sector in Arunachal Pradesh on the disputed LAC on December 09, 2022. The Defence Minister of India Rajnath Singh told the Lok Sabha that “PLA troops tried to transgress the LAC in the Yangtse area of Tawang Sector and unilaterally change the status quo. The Chinese attempt was contested by our troops in a firm and resolute manner” (Singh, 2022). Read More
Russia’s Assertive Plunge in West Asia: A Formidable Factor of Geopolitical Realignment in the region in emerging Multipolar World Order
The Russian ties with the region goes to centuries back from its quest for warm water, access to Mediterranean Sea and protection fellow orthodox Christians in Ottoman empire. Contemporary Russia wants its presence in this crucial strategic region as a power. Russia is in the process of rebuilding its relationships in the region which been scaled back during the 1980s and 1990s. Russia shares the interests and stakes with the oil and Gas rich Gulf states and thus seeks collaboration and cooperation in the global energy market. The Russian entry in the Syrian conflict in 2015 has changed the course of the conflict as well as Old Russian relations in the region and forging of new relations like with that of Israel and has attained significant stature in the geopolitics and security of the region. [1] Read More
International Relationships 1980s to Date
Although a relatively new phenomenon, the game theory holds considerable significance for actors in the international system who have conflicting relationships. This paper will try to analyse the concept, modelling process, and implementation of game theory in IR, with a sole focus on non-cooperative game structures in the area of international security studies. The paper will provide a thorough understanding of the dynamics of game theory in general and its application in IR in specific. This paper attempts to sum-up the various theoretical and structural requirements needed for understanding and analysing the game theory in tandem with international relations. Read More
Central Marine Police: A Necessary Component For India’s Natgrid
India has a vast coastline of 7516.6 km bordering the mainland with 13 states & UTs situated on the coast and 1,197 islands. A Coastal Security Scheme (CSS) has been implemented by the Department of Border Management, MHA in phases since 2005 with the objective of structuring & strengthening the Coastal Police force infrastructure for patrolling & surveillance of coastal areas with the three-layered security apparatus of Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard & State Coastal Police forces working towards securing the Coast. But to achieve greater operational efficiency & heightened vigilance, the MHA had mulled over the idea of having a Central Marine Police Force with its own cadre, manual & act to be headed by a DG Rank officer as early as 2016. The proposal gathered steam after inputs of Pakistan-based terrorist groups targeting critical infra. along the West Coast was received, on 19th July 2016 the then Home Minister Shri. Kiren Rijiju had responded affirmatively to a question on creation of CMPF in the Lok Sabha and the suggestion for the same had been made by then Maharashtra CM Shri. Devendra Fadnavis in a meeting held on June,16, 2016. The Proposed CMPF has so far not been created and debates around its raising have also gathered attention of masses, as per media reports CMPF could be on the lines of CRPF as the latter does not have power to investigate cases so the raising of CMPF would work as an additional security wing to investigate cases under sec.157 CrPC which had otherwise been left to the discretion of State Police Forces. Read More
India and Arab Gulf - Extended Neighbourhood
Neighbours are not only those with whom one shares geographical boundaries but also those with whom hearts meet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on India’s 74th Independence Day, asserting that India has deepened its relations with all countries in extended neighbourhood. Modi said India's ties with West Asian and ASEAN countries have grown manifold in key sectors. "India is constantly trying to deepen its age-old cultural, social and economic ties with its neighbouring countries. South Asia is home to one-fourth of the world population and we can create infinite possibilities of development and prosperity of such a large number of people through cooperation," Modi said in his address to the nation from the Red Fort on India's 74th Independence Day. Asserting that all leaders of the region have big responsibility for development and prosperity of their people, the prime minister said more peace and harmony there will be in the region better it will be for humanity". “Today, neighbours are not only those with whom we share geographical boundaries but also those with whom our hearts meet... In recent times, India has strengthened its relations with all countries in the extended neighbourhood," Modi said. Rapid progress has been made in India's political, economic and human relations with West Asian countries and trust with them has also grown, he said. "With these countries, our economic relations, especially in the energy sector, are very important. A large number of our brothers and sisters are working in these countries. The way these countries helped Indians in the times of coronavirus and honoured the Indian government's requests, India is thankful to them," he added. Read More
India-Malaysia Maritime Relations In The Indo-Pacific: The Precedence And Possibilities
India-Malaysia relations date back several centuries. The wave of interactions between India and Southeast Asia remained unhinged till the advent of the European powers into Asian waters. The structural and political constraints inflicted by the cold war superpower rivalry on the international system left any scope for the growth of India-Malaysia relations. India's initiation of the "look east" policy in 1992 and emerging post-cold war dynamics facilitated the rapid growth in the relations between India and Malaysia and India-ASEAN in general. The recent divergence of perspectives on the emerging Indo-Pacific construct and political differences between these two maritime neighbours has left a gap in the discourse of India-Malaysia maritime relations. This paper explores the possibilities that the Indo-Pacific era, notably an era of re-emerging great power rivalry and strategic uncertainty, has to offer to complement the maritime relations between India and Malaysia, enhancing their partnership and role in sustaining the emerging regional architecture open and stable. The paper first provides an introduction to the study followed by the themes: 1) India-Malaysia Maritime Connections: A Historical view, 2) India-Malaysia Relations During the Cold War Period (1945-1992), 3) India's Look East Policy, 4) "Look East" and India-Malaysia Maritime Relations, and 5) India-Malaysia Dynamics In The Indo-Pacific. Read More
Book Review – In Hard Times – Security in a Time of Insecurity
The book In Hard Times edited by well-known strategic writer Manoj Joshi and insightful journalists Praveen Swami, Nishtha Gautam delves into India’s national security aspirations particularly during and after mid-1990s. Since 1990s it was assumed that India would progress on a growth trajectory sufficient to modernise its security capacities and be on par with China. But reality has been otherwise. India needs a national security strategy for hard times which would be grounded in reality. India’s priority has to be the rising of vast numbers of its people out of abject poverty, even if the strategies of countries such as China and the United States of America, who are economically more developed nations can aim at being global powers. Read More
