Articles

We must make a distinction between “improved”, or even “transformed”, relations with the US and a “strategic partnership” with it. We have moved from a relationship traditionally riddled with mutual suspicion and distrust to one of increasing openness and promise. The comfort levels with America have greatly risen amongst the business and managerial class, the young achievers, the modernizers, the professionals and opinion makers.

Asian security environment is in a state of deep turmoil. The single event which has occasioned it is the giant rise of China during the past couple of decades, reaching higher and higher levels of economic and military strength. All neighbors of China including those further afield, are engaged in working out strategies to cope with China should it turn into a rogue state sometime in future.

The conclusion on August 21 of the fourth round of the India-Japan strategic dialogue at Foreign Minister level provides the peg to assess the current state of India-Japan relations. These relations are headed in the right direction, but it has taken time to change their compass and the pace has been tardy. Some of the factors that explain the past aloofness account for the current rapprochement.

Previous | Image 1 of 2 | Next

US-SOUTH KOREA JOINT EXERCISE

The Cheonon Incident

Red Square

Lt Gen (retd) Ravi Sawhney, Distinguished Fellow, Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) visited Moscow from 21st to 26th June 2010. During the visit, he met with a cross section of Russian establishments including Mr. Alexey N. Borodavkin, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and members of leading Think-Tanks including Dr. Vyacheslav A Nikonov, President, Polity Foundation, CEO of Russkiy Mir Foundation, Professor Dr. Vitaly Naumkin, Director, Russian academy of Sciences, Institute of Oriental Studies; Dr. Vladmir I.

The recent CNN-IBN interview of Mr M.K. Narayanan, the nation­al security adviser (NSA), in defence of the government's assertions on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, including the setting up of the anti terrorism mecha­nism, has added to the widespread belief that the govern­ment has lost its way on how to handle it. The interview was quite obviously given in response to serious misgivings aroused by the statements in the wake of the Manmohan Singh-Musharraf Havana meeting.

For Musharraf, the Supreme Court decision allowing the return of the exiled Nawaz Sharif could mean a disaster. It turns upside down the delicately nuanced American-backed rescue plan to bail out Musharraf in the face of nationwide protests for end of army rule and restoration of democracy.

Vladimir Putin deserves our esteem. On assuming power in 2000 he reversed the Yeltsin era drift in India-Russia relations and established a strategic partnership with India. His current visit is his fifth to India in 10 years, testifying to the personal commitment of this pragmatic and practical-minded man to Russia’s India relationship.

India must immediately upgrade its capabilities and keep a close vigil on the developments to its west Writing in these columns over a year ago, I mentioned that Pervez Musharraf has “domestically lost his credibility and legitimacy” and was going to be “under heavy pressure from all sides” to quit. Even much before his clash with Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, the Lal Masjid episode and military setbacks in North and South Waziristan, portents of the future were discernible. The Indian government felt, however, even as late as a few weeks ago, that for Musharraf “the worst is over”.

Whatever the mode of engagement — war or diplomacy — nations interact to maximise their national interest. In adverse conditions, like defeat in war, they work to minimise their losses. The icing of ideology, morality, justice, global and human interest is often just trappings added to lend legitimacy and acceptability to what they mostly lack. The degree of success in furthering one’s national interests is determined by a nation’s comprehensive state power and the will and vision of its leadership to exercise it.