Locating Europe in India's Strategic Calculus

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a three day trip to Europe from 2 to May 4 2022, met leaders from Germany, Denmark and France and participated in the Second Nordic Summit (the First Summit was held in 2018 in Stockholm). The visit comes when the global leaderships are trying individually and collectively to find solutions to the war in Ukraine, existent and threatening issues like climate change, increased protectionism, a further rise of religious fundamentalism, widespread economic distress, and pandemic impacts.

DEBA R MOHANTY

Bilateral Relations: Locating Australia in India's Strategic Calculus

In the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan signed an interim trade agreement on April 2, 2022, at the signing ceremony of the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement.

DEBA R MOHANTY

From Non-alignment to Strategic Stabilizer: The Indian Mind is Getting De-cluttered in an Evolving Global Dis-order

Key actors in global politics appear to be receiving conflicting signals from India's position on the Ukrainian imbroglio every passing day. A few pointers are in order for further consideration. First, India has abstained from voting against Russia at the United Nations at least twice in the past, pleasing the Russians with its tacit support. At the same time, its latest abstinence at the UN actually went against Russia, making the Russians curious about Indian intents.

DEBA R MOHANTY

Chinese Build-up along Ladakh-Xinjiang Border Jeopardises India’s Security

The recent India-China Corps Commander meeting held at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side on March 11, 2022, has yielded no result and remained “inconclusive.” The Joint statement of the 15th round of the bilateral military meeting since the last 20 months following the violent Galwan clash (June 2020) states that “the two sides had a detailed exchange of views in this regard, in keeping with the guidance provided by the state leaders to work for the resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest.”[1] It means, a) the Ladakh-Xinjiang bo

MAHESH RANJAN DEBATA

Vocal for Local Arms: Imperatives of Self-Reliance in Defence Production

The Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24 has brought to the fore the grave geopolitical fault lines in Europe. India, the largest democracy in the world, has tacitly sided with Putin’s authoritarian Russia by abstaining from all the UN votes taken place since the Russian invasion. India’s decision was not so much about returning the favour of the Soviet Union’s crucial support on Kashmir issues during the early years of Indian independence. Rather, it was to protect New Delhi’s vital strategic interests.

LAXMAN KUMAR BEHERA

More than Meets the Eyes: India's Trade Agreement with UAE is a Strategic Step Forward

On February 18, 2022, India signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with UAE. It came after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan attended the India-UAE Virtual Summit. "I believe that the India-UAE CEPA signed today will be a game-changer in our economic ties," PM Modi tweeted after the Summit. CEPA was signed by Indian Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq Al Marr at a function held in New Delhi on the same day.

DEBA R MOHANTY

Crisis in Ukraine: Humanity is the Biggest Loser

Different media groups have produced contrasting perceptions of the situation in Ukraine thus far. Internet and social media sources are full of deep fakes, leaving the common citizens divided virtually along with Russian and non-Russian narratives. But, the reality on the ground is that as of March 1, 2022, Russia is in complete control of significant parts of Ukraine's territory. Russian troops are about to surround Kyiv and have fired missiles on Kharkiv, Chernihiv and fourteen other areas.

DEBA R MOHANTY