Unorthodox spin to India’s diplomacy The Statesman 15 Aug 2023 Russia’s withdrawal from the grain deal on 17th July received global criticism. The west accused Russia of employing ‘food as a weapon,’ as it impacted the UN’s World Food Program hurting weaker nations in Africa as also Afghanistan, though Russia promised to compensate by providing free grain to select […]
Food as a weapon The Statesman 08 Aug 2023 A Ukrainian defence official stated that the Ukrainian counteroffensive has regained over 200 square Kms. A report in the New York Times mentioned that Ukraine lost large quantities of equipment gifted by NATO as also suffered heavy manpower losses. The report further assessed that Kiev’s chances of success are dim. Russia, […]
BRICS at the crossroads The Excelsior 28 Jul 2023 It has been officially announced that President Putin of Russia will not attend the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) leaders’ summit scheduled from 22-24 Aug in Johannesburg. He will be represented by his foreign minister Sergei Lavrov. A statement released by the spokesperson of the South African […]
India is in a sweet spot The Statesman 25 Jul 2023 Successful visits by PM Modi to the US, Egypt, France and UAE, countries spread across four continents, displayed India’s growing global status. Defence deals, which largely come with multiple riders and restrictions, as also technology which is shared with close allies, were cleared by both, France and the […]
Cluster bombs for Ukraine The Excelsior 19 Jul 2023 A recent announcement from the White House mentioned that the US is despatching cluster bombs to Ukraine. In an interview to CNN television, President Biden stated that it had taken him ‘a while to be convinced,’ adding, ‘the Ukrainians are running out of ammunition.’ A Cluster bomb, on exploding, releases […]
Boosting ties with France The Statesman 18 Jul 2023 France was recovering from riots which lashed the nation following the killing of Nahel Merzouk a 17-year-old youth of Moroccan and Algerian descent by the police at a traffic stop. India refused to comment stating it was an internal matter of France. Simultaneously the European parliament discussed Manipur riots. Christian groups […]
How Khalistan movement is hollow, absurd, and just an irritant Firstpost 17 Jul 2023 We have recently been witnessing interesting scenes being played out in UK, Canada, Australia and the US. Sikhs, permanent residents of these countries, with almost no affinity or links to India, except religion, standing in protest outside Indian embassies and consulates, demanding the creation of […]
The SCO summit: Much ado about nothing The Excelsior 15 Jul 2023 The recently concluded SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) summit displayed existing differences between nations of the organization, rather than unity. India, moving the summit to an on-line mode from an in-person event, had multiple intentions. Apart from avoiding the embarrassment of PM Modi interacting with Shehbaz Sharif, in […]
Riots in France have lessons for Europe The Statesman 11 Jul 2023 In 2005, two French youth of Malian and Tunisian descent were electrocuted as they fled the police in a suburb of Paris. Their deaths sparked riots in France and neighbouring countries, lasting three weeks. The rioters, mostly youngsters and unemployed youth from suburban housing projects (referred as […]
SCO Summit: Anti-terrorism stance dominates the show India vs disinformation 05 Jul 2023 Addressing the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) heads of state forum, Indian PM Narendra Modi spoke out against terrorism in all its forms, an aspect which has impacted India for a prolonged duration. In the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif, Modi […]