Energy security, diaspora, bilateral trade and investment are some of the key drivers of India-Africa relationship. China will continue to be a major player in the African continent, the pandemic has provided India a scope to strengthen its engagement with Africa and make the most out of the situation both in terms of economy and goodwill. ...
Nepal and Bangladesh need to work to bring India fully on board in helping to develop new trade and transit routes. Bangladesh has emerged as a regional hub for RMG pharmaceutical, ceramic tiles, chinaware, cement and light engineering products. The Nepalese business community should not miss out on excellent investment opportunities there, which could multiply benefits. ...
China is trying to bring about a new form of communism with Chinese characteristics in Nepal, orchestrated and dictated by it. Preserving a balance of power in its favour, and securing Nepal's active cooperation in South Asia has become a principal strategic objective in Beijing's Nepal policy. ...
India has not built itself as important enough in order to be taken seriously in the Political affairs of the country, and hence, was not considered an important player in the U.S-Taliban talks despite its investments. However, there are significant expectations from two global powers in this context - the US, and China. ...
Besides the loss of human life, the virus has had serious economic and political ramifications for countries and the international order. The failure of WHO in dealing with the crisis on time, the lack of leadership from the United Nations (UN), and the lack of transparency in information sharing on the part of China have raised serious doubts over the existence of international systems and organizations, and have exposed their insolent style of functioning. ...
While in the short run, Vietnam will have to deal with economic challenges but in the longer run, the prospects are promising. Hence, Vietnam’s economic and strategic clout are likely to rise not just in Asia, but globally. ...
The regime in Riyadh has declared its support to New Delhi and proposed complete backing to the country’s swelling energy requirements. Saudi Arabia on the other hand is the world’s largest oil producer, with also the second largest proven reserves, all of which are located in easily accessible wells, hence more cost-efficient than other such reserves in any other country. ...
Nature is giving us another chance so let us avoid the trap of intellectual-sounding ideas and focus on more fundamental and granular aspects - the most important one being to simply understand each other better. ...
The ability of the ASEAN to address its internal conflicts, and to reach a consensus among member nations on how to deal with the hindrances in its Indo-Pacific Strategy, is yet to be determined. In the context of the Indo-Pacific, the ASEAN must adopt a similar approach of discussion, debate, accommodation of dissent and rigorous implementation of the blueprint that emerges forthwith, by all members. ...
China’s Strategic Engagement with Sri Lanka: Concern for India
The role China has been playing in the region has changed the dynamics of the region. IOR has now become a battleground for numerous opportunities of wealth and security prospects, where the giants are luring the islands, which were once away from the limelight, into aid, development, and partnership. ...