Articles | Vivekananda International Foundation

Trends in Central Asia in 2019

Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, 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 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , Article , SCO , Tajikistan , Turkmenistan , Power transition in Kazakhstan , political rift in Kyrgyzstan , IS threats , Economic reforms in Uzbekistan , India- Central Asia Dialogue

Complicated 2019 for the International Oil Market and Trade

Aayush Mohanty 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

Sea of Collective Destiny: Bay of Bengal and BIMSTEC

Commodore Somen Banerjee

BIMSTEC has evolved as an important multilateral institution around the geography of Bay of Bengal. Its significance has been spurred by regional governments who are proactively engaging to make BIMSTEC a vibrant institution. This book argues for pro....

January 10, 2020 International Relations and Diplomacy , Bay of Bengal , BIMSTEC , Book Published , Sea of Collective Destiny

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

Interests and Contests of Houthi and Al-Hirak Movements in Yemen crisis

Hirak Jyoti Das, Senior Research Associate, VIF

… there is apparently a tacit understanding between the UAE and Saudi Arabia over the STC-Hadi government conflict … the recent attempts in September 2019 to bring STC and the Hadi government to the negotiating table reflect Saudi attempts to rea....

January 09, 2020 International Relations and Diplomacy , Arab Spring , Houthi , Yemen crisis , Al-Hirak Movements

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

Chinese President Xi Jinping Faces Difficult Times Ahead

Jayadeva Ranade Commentary

There are clear indications that popular dissatisfaction and discontent with Chinese President Xi Jinping inside China continues to simmer just below the surface. The economic slowdown, unemployment and rising cost of living have contributed to the d....

January 08, 2020 International Relations and Diplomacy , China , Commentary , Protests , BRI , China's universities , surveillance , leaks

Return of the Hashishin (Assassin) Cult?: Wider Implications of the Attack on Saudi Oil Facilities

Maj Gen P K Mallick, VSM (Retd)

The attack on Saudi oil installations has large scale implications for the hydrocarbon supply to the world specially for countries like China, India and the Asian giants of Japan and South Korea. The Strait of Hormuz becomes critical for energy impor....

January 08, 2020 International Relations and Diplomacy , Gulf region , Attack on Saudi Oil Facilities , Monograph , Oil Market , Iran’s Situation , Military Implications

The Soleimani Assassination : Taking it from There

Lt General S A Hasnain, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM (Bar), VSM (Bar) (Retd.), 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 International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia , Commentary , Kata'ib Hezbollah , Quds Force , Solemani , IRGC , Iraqi militias

Developments in the Indo-Pacific in 2019

Amruta Karambelkar 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 International Relations and Diplomacy , Indo-Pacific , Article , US , South China Sea , Bay of Bengal , Geo-political