The United Kingdom released its “Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy” on 16 March 2021. Titled ‘Global Britain in a Competitive Age’, the document stands out for shaping the country’s post-Brexit foreign, defence, security and development priorities and policies. A notable aspect of the review is the UK’s foreign and security policy ‘tilt’ towards the Indo-Pacific region. China, India and Japan are recognised as the three most important powers in this region with widely differing characteristics and relationships with the UK.

The Vivekananda International Foundation in collaboration with the Australian National University organised a virtual discussion on the emerging geopolitical trends and their implications on 4 November 2020. The opening remarks were made by VIF director, Dr. Arvind Gupta. This was followed by presentations from Professor Rory Medcalf, Amb. Arun K Singh, Dr. David Brewster, Amb. Anil Wadhwa and Mr. Brendan Thomas-Noone. The meeting focussed on the roundup of recently concluded Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Tokyo and underscored its symbolic importance.

… creation of the theatre commands and the PLA’s emphasis on joint operations have catalysed the Rocket Force’s focus on jointness…. integrating Rocket Force units into dual-use missile systems and the possible collocation of conventional and nuclear missiles could create risks of unintentional escalation in a conflict ... more diverse and dispersed nuclear force could increase China’s confidence in the survivability of its second-strike capability, causing it to forego more assertive changes to its nuclear posture…

In March six experts group discussions and one joint discussion with the Prospect Foundation were organised by the Vivekananda International Foundation through webinar on events and topics affecting India’s interests from the neighbourhood, West Asia, China, the Indo-Pacific, Europe and US. Each of the members of the expert groups brought rich flavor and knowledge on the topic through their varied professional backgrounds (military, diplomacy and academia).