International Relations and Diplomacy
Recent Developments and Trends in South East Asia-An Update

In the intertwined world of today it is axiomatic the developments at the international level will have impact on regional responses and outcomes. The year 2023 saw recovery of the SE Asian nations from the impact of Covid-19 and resultant improvemen....

India and the BRICS: A Post-XVth Summit Assessment

Among the many landmarks in the evolution of the BRICS, the XVth Summit held in August 2023 will find a mention because unlike other landmarks in specific areas of cooperation since the first Summit in 2009, this Summit added six new members to the g....

The Red Sea Crisis Revives the Importance of IMEC

Despite the initial perception that a prolonged conflict in the Middle East could stall the implementation of the ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), the recent developments seem to prove quite the opposite. Paradoxically, th....

A Full Circle by Second Anniversary of Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Premise
The Russo-Ukraine war crossed its two-year mark on 22 Feb 2024. This work is based on the premise that in the two years gone by, the war has come a ‘full circle’. How? On 22 Feb 2022, Russia looked ‘strong and confid....

In Defence of Indonesian Democracy

In politics, as in life, context is everything. This is something on which almost everyone agrees and yet most of us ignore. The result is at times tragic, such as when we hit peak hour traffic jams on way to catch the last train home. At others, it ....

The 13th WTO Ministerial Conference: Addressing Fragmentation and Unilateral Industrial Policy

As the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC) is scheduled to take place during February 26-29, 2024 at Abu Dhabi amidst a highly fractured world, trade ministers of member countries are worried and concerned about the prospects of world trade. Growth ....

Monthly Compilation of Views of VIF Expert Groups: November - December 2023

As 2023 came to a close, the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) deliberated on regional issues with implications for India as part of the discussions in its Strategic Issues Group. The ongoing Israel–Palestine conflict has serious implicati....

A Potential War Looms over the Korean Peninsula

Pyongyang seems determined to keep tensions in the Korean Peninsula alive. In a provocative start to 2024, it launched new cruise missile test for submarine. By doing this, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un flaunted his growing nuclear arsenal, thereby....

China and France in the New World Order

This year, 2024, marks six decades of the diplomatic relationship between China and France. Chinese President Xi Jingping announced breaking new grounds to further strengthen their bilateral ties. He stated that this was an opportunity to uphold fund....

Red Sea Crisis and India’s Options

Introduction
Since mid-November 2023, the maritime security in the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea and the larger Western Indian Ocean has been gravely upended due to the repeated attacks on merchant shipping by the Yemen-based Houthi rebels. T....

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