Articles

Hirak Jyoti Das, Research Associate, VIF Article

Iran on 8 January 2020 launched 22 surface-to-surface missiles at two US military bases in Ain al-Asad base in Anbar province and one facility in Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan.¹ The operation called, “Shahid Soleimani” has been....

January 17, 2020 Operation Shahid Soleimani , IRGC , Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) , Kataeb Hezbollah , War Powers Resolution , Article , International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia

Trump and Iran: Who Lost More?

Amb K P Fabian Article

The media as well as some scholars refer to “Iran-U.S. confrontation” giving the wrong impression that both sides are equally responsible for the genesis of the current crisis in their relations, a crisis that brought the world to the brink of di....

January 16, 2020 JCPOA , Soleimani , Hague Convention , Ukrainian plane crash , Russia , China , Article , International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia , US

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

Trends in Central Asia in 2019

Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Research Assistant, VIF Article

In 2019, a major highlight of political trends in Central Asia was the steady development of intraregional relations, driven primarily by Uzbek President Shawkat Mirziyoyev’s neighbourhood-first initiative. There were several other socio-economic ....

January 14, 2020 Power transition in Kazakhstan , political rift in Kyrgyzstan , SCO , IS threats , Economic reforms in Uzbekistan , Tajikistan , Turkmenistan , India- Central Asia Dialogue , Article , International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia

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

US and Iran in an Uneasy Calm

Amb Anil Trigunayat, Distinguished Fellow, VIF Commentary

President Trump has the uncanny habit of surprising the world by his unique and often contentious tweets on foreign policy issues. But this time it pleased many. “All is Well” tweeted President Trump after 20 odd Iranian missiles apparently targe....

January 10, 2020 US , West Asia , International Relations and Diplomacy , Commentary , unconditional talks , Trump , Soleimani , missiles attack , JCPOA , Javad Jarief , Arab Spring

Assassination of General Soleimani and geo-political tensions in the Gulf

Amb D P Srivastava, Distinguished Fellow, VIF Article

Assassination of Major General Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Al Quds Forces in an American strike at Baghdad airport in the early hours of 3rd January sent shock waves in the region. Iran declared 3 days mourning and flags are being flown at half....

January 09, 2020 West Asia , International Relations and Diplomacy , Article , Soleimani , Quds Force , oil price , Mashad , Kitaib-Hizbullah , IRGC , US

The Soleimani Assassination : Taking it from There

Lt General S A Hasnain, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM (Bar), VSM (Bar), Distinguished Fellow, VIF Commentary

Since he kept a comparatively low profile as the commander of a strategic force designed to act clandestinely not many realized that Qasem Soleimani was virtually Number 2 in Iran’s effective hierarchy. That is why people are surprised by the asses....

January 07, 2020 Solemani , IRGC , Kata'ib Hezbollah , Quds Force , Iraqi militias , Commentary , International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia

Developments in the Indo-Pacific in 2019

Amruta Karambelkar, Research Assistant, VIF Article

The Indo-Pacific as a geo-political idea has been in the currency since the last couple of years. In the year 2019 the idea seems to have gained more acceptance. In some measures, the stakeholders are working towards giving shape to this idea. Some ....

January 07, 2020 Indo-Pacific , International Relations and Diplomacy , Article , US , South China Sea , Geo-political , Bay of Bengal

West Asia and North Africa Roundup 2019

Hirak Jyoti Das, Research Associate, VIF Article

A Year of Protests

In 2019, protests emerged in Algeria against the decision of the 82-year-old incumbent President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to contest in the presidential election for a fifth term which was originally scheduled on 18 April ....

January 06, 2020 West Asia , International Relations and Diplomacy , Article , Yemen , West Asia , Syria , Libya , Israel-Palestine Conflict , Election Review