Articles

Hirak Jyoti Das, Research Associate, VIF Article

The civil war in Libya has its roots in the 2011 Arab Spring protests against the regime of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. The protests began after Day of Rage was announced in Benghazi on 17 February 2011 and quickly spread to other parts of the state. Th....

February 20, 2020 West Asia , International Relations and Diplomacy , Article , Muammar Gaddafi; Fayez al-Sarraj; General Khalifa Haftar; NTC; GNC , GNA; LNA; Berlin Conclusions; proxy war

President Trump’s Visit to India: Need to Focus on the Strategic Context

Arvind Gupta, Director, VIF Commentary

President Trump is visiting India on a state visit on 24-25 February 2020. The Indian government will no doubt lay out the red carpet for the visiting President. This is President Trump’s first visit to India as President. Although the visit comes ....

February 17, 2020 Howdy Modi , China , trade , DTTI , LEMOA , BECA , tariffs , CAA , Art 370 , Dalai Lama , Commentary , International Relations and Diplomacy , US

West Asia Roundup - January 2020

Hirak Jyoti Das, Research Associate, VIF Article

Abstract:

The year ended on a sombre note and 2020 woke up to more accentuated volatility in West Asia pursuant to the targeted killing of highly influential Iranian IRIGC General Qassem Soleimani by the US drone strikes in Iraq ( ....

February 13, 2020 West Asia , International Relations and Diplomacy , Article , US-Iran tensions , US drone strikes in Iraq , The Demise of Sultan Qaboos of Oman , Berlin Conference

The United Kingdom Hit by another Islamist Extremism Inspired Terror Attack

Anurag Sharma, Research Associate, VIF Commentary

The knife terror attack on 02 February 2020 in Streatham High Road in London, United Kingdom (UK) brought back memories of a similar terror incident on the streets of London on 29 November 2019 in which a Pakistan-origin British national—Usman Khan....

February 13, 2020 Terrorism , Islamist Extremism , Streatham terror attack , London attack , Islamic State , UK , London Sudesh Amman , Stabbing , Commentary , Terrorism , International Relations and Diplomacy

Does The Trump Plan for Peace Make Sense?

Amb K P Fabian Commentary

Before answering the question, let us look at the highlights of the 180-page plan worked out over three years, between Israel and U.S., with marginal consultations with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and one or two others , but not with the Palestinians wh....

February 12, 2020 Palestine , Gaza , West Bank , Jerusalem , Arab League , OIC , Commentary , International Relations and Diplomacy

India-Central Asia Business Council: Reinvigorating India-Central Asia Economic Engagement

Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Research Associate , VIF Commentary

On 6 February 2020, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) along with apex industrial bodies of the five Central Asian countries launched the India-Central Asia Business Council. In his address, External Affairs Minister, ....

February 10, 2020 India , Central Asia , trade , Business Council , FICCI , Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Tajikistan , Turkmenistan , Uzbekistan , Tourism , Chabahar , INSTC , Commentary , International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia

Act Far East Policy: Strengthening relations between India and Russia

Aayush Mohanty, Research Associate, VIF Article

Introduction

The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, in his recent visit to India, attending the ‘Raisina Dialogue,’ opposed the Indo-Pacific concept, in New Delhi in January this year. In December 2019, the Russian Navy partici....

February 07, 2020 International Relations and Diplomacy , Article , Vladivostok , Russia , Japan , Indo-Pacific , India , energy , China , Act Far East

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

Exploring Iran’s Domestic Dynamics towards the US

Hirak Jyoti Das, Research Associate, VIF Article

The internal political dynamics in Iran are divided into three blocs namely the clergy, the technocracy and the military and security forces. The interplay between the three blocs into the clergy-military; military-technocrat and clergy-technocrat al....

January 31, 2020 US , West Asia , International Relations and Diplomacy , Article , Qassim Soleimani , Popular Mobilisation Forces , Kataeb Hezbollah , JCPOA , IRGC , Iran-US tensions , Hassan Rouhani

Mike Pompeo’s Visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan: What to Expect?

Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Research Associate , VIF Article

US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, will pay an official visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan from February 1-4, 2020. He will be chairing a meeting of the ‘C5+1 forum’ at Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Earlier, the visit was scheduled to take place in earl....

January 30, 2020 Central Asia , International Relations and Diplomacy , Article , Uzbekistan , USA , Russia , Kazakhstan , Geopolitics , EAEU , China , Central Asia