Articles

The Disarray in the Gulf Cooperation Council

The 5th of June 2020 marks a sad day in the annals of the 6-member GCC (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain) founded in 1981. On 5th June 2017 the Crown Princes of Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. broke off relations with ....

June 12, 2020 International Relations and Diplomacy , Article , Iran , Qatar , GCC , Saudi Arabia , Arab Spring , U.S. , Muslim Brotherhood , 13 Demands and Ultimatum , Gas Fields , Al Jazeera

The Agony of Yemen

Amb K P Fabian Commentary

In our pre-occupation with the coronavirus crisis, with a rising death toll, apparently unstoppable (27,370 on 28th March, 05 22 GMT), we should not fail to take note of an unhappy fifth anniversary of the war in Yemen, or more accurately, the war on....

March 31, 2020 International Relations and Diplomacy , Commentary , Iran , Saudi Arabia , Houthis , Operation Desert Storm (ODS) , Military situation , Humanitarian aid , Stockholm Accord

Interaction on US-Iran Tensions after the Death of Major General Qassem Soleimani

The Vivekananda International Foundation organized an interactive session on “Interaction on US-Iran tensions after the death of Major General Qassem Soleimani” on 7 January 2020. Dr Arvind Gupta, Director, VIF delivered his opening remarks follo....

March 12, 2020 Interaction , US , Iran , Soleimani , Major General Qassem Soleimani

Review of Japan 2019 and Outlook for 2020

Prerna Gandhi, Associate Fellow, VIF Article

2019 was an eventful year for Japan in both national and international domains. From an imperial transition to being the G20 Chair, to major trade agreements and the deadly Typhoon Hagibis, the year was filled with its share of ups and downs for Japa....

February 03, 2020 International Relations and Diplomacy , Indo-Pacific , Article , India , South Korea , US , China , Iran , EU , Reiwa Era , G20 , Northeast India

Geopolitics of Trans–Caspian Gas Pipeline

Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Research Associate , VIF Article

Introduction

Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline (TCGP) is designed to export natural gas from resource-rich Turkmenistan and to a certain amount from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan by putting an underwater pipeline in the Caspian seabed. From Baku, Aze....

January 20, 2020 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , Article , Russia , Iran , European Union , Turkmenistan , Azerbaijan , Caspian Sea , Natural Gas , Pipeline , Geopolitics

West Asia Roundup - December 2019

Hirak Jyoti Das, Research Associate, VIF Article

Abstract:

Year 2019, in keeping with the ongoing trend of conflicts and hotspots in the region, ended in heightening tensions between US and Iran which does not portend well for 2020. Iraq has been facing series of demonstrations and co....

January 16, 2020 International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia , Article , US , Iran , Qatar , Islamic Ummah , Developments in Algeria , Attack on Southern

Complicated 2019 for the International Oil Market and Trade

Aayush Mohanty, Research Associate, VIF Article

Introduction

The effects of the United States of America’s (U.S) pulling out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) in early 2018 had an impact on the global oil trade, which continued in 2019. The renewed unilateral sanction....

January 13, 2020 International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia , Article , US , Iran , energy , Oil

As the Killing of Top Iran General marks a Tipping Point in the Crisis in the Middle East, Who has the Most to Fear

Col Rajeev Agarwal Article

In the early hours of 03 January, Iran's most powerful military commander, General Qasem Soleimani was killed by an air strike at Baghdad airport in a precision strike carried out by the US. The attack, based on specific intelligence, was carried out....

January 06, 2020 International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia , Article , India , Iran , Trump , Kata'ib Hezbollah , Quds Force , Nancy Pelosy , Ali Khameini

Commentary: President Rouhani’s Visit to India

Amb D P Srivastava, Distinguished Fellow, VIF Commentary

President Rouhani’s visit to India from February 15-17, 2018 took place after a gap of almost 15 years, since President Khatami’s visit in 2003. In between, there was a transit visit by President Ahmadinejad in 2008. There was a long gap before t....

February 21, 2018 International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia , Commentary , India , Chabahar Port , Rouhani’s visit , India-Iran relationship , Iran