International Relations and Diplomacy
ASEAN Adopts Outlook for Indo-Pacific 2019: Balances Aspirations and Affirms Indonesia’s Leadership

ASEAN took a landmark decision to adopt the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific on June 22, 2019 after more than a year of deliberations. Located centrally, in one of the most dynamic regions of the world today, ASEAN sees Southeast Asia as the conduit and....

Escalating Tensions and Threat of Military Conflict in the Gulf Region: Who has the Edge?

Introduction
The incident of Iranian military downing a US Drone flying over its airspace on 20 June 2019 evoked immediate and strong response from the US. Reports suggested the US President ordered retaliatory military strikes against Ir....

Presidential Elections in Kazakhstan: A Wave of Change or Continuation of Nazarbayev’s Era?

Kazakhstan’s deteriorating socio-economic situation and an increasing gap in living standards have led to the protests and demonstrations. As some reports have suggested, the Soviet era founder President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev has resig....

Xi’s visit to North Korea: what did it achieve?

The visit by Xi Jinping to North Korea on June 20-21, 2019 is significant because a Chinese President reached Pyongyang after 14 years. This year also marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the neighbours. Xi made the t....

भारत के लिए रूस अब भी इतना अहम क्यों है?

भारत एक स्वतंत्र विदेश नीति का अनुसरण करता है। किंतु भू-राजनीतिक वास्तविकताओं के खिंचाव और दबा....

After INF, the Future of New-START Hangs in Balance

After the U.S. decision to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Force (INF) Treaty early this year, the uncertainty surrounding the extension of New-START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) is growing with each passing day. President Trump and....

India and SCO Summit at Bishkek and Beyond

India has completed two years as a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), and therefore it would be useful to assess the worth and utility of being a member of such an organization. There is no gainsaying in the fact that it is ....

A Perilous Quadrangle: Iran, United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia

The world is witnessing with increasing alarm the escalating tension in West Asia. We do not know whether there will be a war. But we have reasons to fear that hostilities might break out if there is no de-escalation. We do not see, as yet, any signs....

Interaction with the Delegation from the Prospect Foundation

The Vivekananda International Foundation hosted a delegation from the Prospect Foundation, Taipei led by Dr Mark Tan-sun Chen. The other members of the delegation were Dr Joanne Jaw-ling Chang Chyou, Dr Arthur Shufan Ding, Dr Ming-fang Tsai, Dr Mei-f....

Contextualising the US-Iran Tensions

The recent stand-off between Iran and the United States (US) is rooted in US President Donald Trump’s announcement to withdraw from Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on 8 May 2018, arguing that Iran was violating the spirit of the deal by ....

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