US
Global Developments and Analysis: Weekly Monitor, 23 August - 29 August 2021

Economic
US regulators target oil and gas mergers as fuel prices surge
The Federal Trade Commission is examining ways to crack down on mergers and acquisitions in the oil and gas industry and investigate whether gas station franch....

Do Not Whitewash the Taliban

The dastardly twin terror attacks at Kabul airport and a nearby hotel killed more than 160 people, including 13 US soldiers. The attack, claimed by Islamic State Khorassan (ISK) was a grim reminder of the dystopian future that awaits the country. US ....

Monthly Compilation of Views of VIF Expert Groups: July 2021

Vivekananda International Foundation organized six experts group through webinar on events and topics affecting India’s interests worldwide in the month of July 2021. The expert groups provide layers of understanding and contextualized the present ....

Lost in Afghanistan

Eleven days changed the fate of Afghanistan much faster than expected as the US withdrawal date seemed to have been advanced by a month instead of 9/11 - the 20th anniversary of the Twin towers demolition by Al Qaeda terrorists. A cryptic social medi....

Takeaways from the Fullerton lecture

A high-level US visit was due in Southeast Asia. The region felt having been neglected from the previous administration. Lloyd Austin, the Secretary of Defense visited Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines in July. The choice of three specific coun....

Taliban’s Return Signals a New Chapter in Afghanistan

On Sunday, 15 August 2021, President Ashraf Ghani fled Afghanistan, leaving his country and countrymen in a deep crisis. Kabul was in chaos as thousands tried to leave the country fearing the Taliban’s triumphant return to the city after twenty yea....

Regional Equations amid US Withdrawal from Afghanistan

The sudden withdrawal of US forces on the night of 1st July 2021 from Bagram created a piquant situation not only for Afghanistan security forces but also for the entire world. While a withdrawal was always in the offing, with a deadline being previo....

Monthly Compilation of Views of VIF Expert Groups: June 2021

In June 2021 six experts’ group meetings and one bilateral discussion were organised by the Vivekananda International Foundation through webinar on events and topics affecting India’s interests worldwide. The diversity of the expertise of each of....

The Divergences in the Gulf Have Their Own Dynamic

West Asia has an unusual knack of keeping the watchers and analysts on feet most of the times. On the one hand ongoing conflicts and hotspots in Yemen, Libya, Syria and Iraq keep one frustrated. And on the other simmering cinders of the Arab Spring k....

The US and NATO Withdrawal from Afghanistan and its Effect on the Afghanistan Air Force and the War

Introduction
The US and coalition military forces are withdrawing from Afghanistan after 20 years. The decision was announced by the US president and the withdrawal completion date has been set as 11 Sept 2021. There were many actors which ....

Contact Us