The World This Week

The World This Week
BRICS Summit and the Journey of Chandrayaan-3

GP Team
27 August 2023
Photo Source: Dawn

The World This Week #228, Vol. 5, No.32
27  August 2023

BRICS Summit poised as the Champion of Global South 

Femy Francis

What Happened? 

On 22 August, the BRICS leaders arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa, for the 15th summit aiming to discuss the need for expansion, and further economic and trade cooperation between the member states. On 24 August, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, announced that BRICS member countries- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa- agreed to the inclusion of the countries Iran, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina and the United Arab Emirates to the bloc, effective from 01 January 2024.

The agenda for BRICS 2023 focused on ‘Inclusive Multilateralism.’ In the face of coercive unilateralism, the bloc aimed for diverse representation and collaboration. The joint statement also mentioned the need to commit towards a peaceful resolution to defuse conflicts. Additionally, they promoted the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on poverty alleviation and climate change. The highlight of the summit was the inclusion of the six members into the bloc.

Statements by BRICS leaders on the summit

President Cyril Ramaphosa said: “This summit reaffirmed the importance of BRICS people-to-people exchanges and enhancing mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation.” Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed that: “Our diversity strengthens the fight for a new international order.” Chinese President Xi Jinping's speech focused on the need for expansion, which can be highlighted through the statement: “We need to act on the BRICS spirit of openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation to bring more countries into the BRICS family and,to pool our wisdom and strength to make global governance more just and equitable.” Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the Russia- Ukraine war and accused the West of “illegal” sanctions and urged for bloc cooperation. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated: “To make BRICS future-ready, we will need to make our respective societies ready for the future, and technology will play an important role.” White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan expressed that the US does not observe BRICS as their rival, and would continue to engage with the bloc members while pushing back Russia's aggression.

 What is the Background?

First, a brief on BRICS. The term ‘BRIC’ was first coined by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O’ Neill, highlighting the economic capability of Brazil, Russia, India and China. He claimed that BRIC countries would grow quicker than many advanced global economies, and in 2009 the group was formed (within a year after South Africa joined the bloc). The bloc comprises 41 per cent of the world’s population and 24 per cent of the world’s GDP, with a 16 per cent share in world trade. Additionally, the member countries formed the New Development Bank (NDB) to become an alternative option to the West-based World Bank.

Second, the idea of expansion and creating a multilateral world order. China has been the strongest proponent of the BRICS expansion with Russia in the bloc. President Xi Jinping urged for expansion, stating that it would introduce new ‘vitality’ into the bloc. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, initially sceptical of the expansion, also welcomed the initiative stating: “India fully supports the expansion of BRICS and welcomes move based on consensus,” while also proposing the inclusion of the African Union into the G-20. President Vladimir Putin, attending the summit online owing to international sanctions, said: “I would like to call out for more expansion of BRICS around the world. We will also establish the procedures so that BRICS continue to grow.” President Xi Jinping explicitly expressed that: “hegemonism is not in China’s DNA,” hinting at a Western alliance that follows the hegemonic lead of US interests. At the summit, he expressed that they do not aim to participate in power play and competition leading to ‘bloc confrontation.’ The idea of expansion is based on providing an alternative to the western led world order. 

Third, unilateral sanctions by the West and the Russia-Ukraine war. Russia has faced stringent actions from the West post its invasion of Ukraine. It froze half of the foreign currencies in the reserves of Russia after the war against Ukraine commenced, with the west imposing sanctions aiming to isolate Russia. 

Additionally, similar stringent measures have been taken against China were the west particularly the US heavily sanctioned China for the export of semiconductors. With the US weaponizing dollars by imposing sanctions, there has been an inclination by countries to look for alternative currencies and rely on local currencies for trade where President Putin, also called for “de-dollarization. 

Fourth, bilateral challenges may hinder BRICS’ functionality. The expansion has provided the bloc with much-needed clout and opportunities. The question arises whether they will be able to bring in any substantial changes, with the bloc facing overlapping bilateral challenges. With the China-India border dispute and Iran, Saudi Arabia’s only recent reenkindling brokered by China after years of animosity may stand in the way of making pragmatic decisions and hinder the group's potential. Regardless, the move may make the West rethink its international policy of dominance and aim to rekindle relations with the allies.

 What does it mean? 

First, scepticism towards expansion and dismay over irrelevance. The driving force of mutual interests brought the actors to agree on the expansion; what is to be noted is that the benefits from the move may vary. As a bloc, BRICS may now be able to gather better attention from the West but there is a persistent concern especially from India, that the bloc may just become a mouthpiece and facilitator for Chinese expansion. Before the current agreement, Brazil, India and even South Africa were hesitant over the idea, with Brazilians fearing that a larger number of members would lead to the diluting of their influence and say in the bloc. The concerns of the countries do remain valid as with this expansion, China and Russia will look to facilitate their agendas, and why shouldn’t they? Regardless, economic opportunities trump the fear of irrelevancy.

 Second, challenging the Washington-led world order can restructure the global order. The augmentation of BRICS claims to bring about a significant change in the global world order, while the debate stands whether that is even possible. Vivek Mishra, a fellow at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), said: “There is certainly a space for carving out a new world order,” which was created for the better representation of Global South and as a strategic alternative for both Moscow and Beijing, which find themselves at odds with the Washington led alliance. The formation of the New Development Bank is another example where the Global South seeks to garner more control over developmental finances, instead of on the IMF and thus challenging the global financing architecture. 

 Third, BRICS is outweighed by Chinese interests. While BRICS promotes multilateralism and representation of a diverse Global South, Chinese influence looms high. China has twice the GDP of its member countries combined, meaning that even with a stagnant and slow economy, it fares better than the other countries. China furthering its agenda can be observed through the recent inclusion of new members to the bloc, where all six new members are part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). China sees BRICS as a counter to the US and therefore it aims push its global agenda by bringing in countries where it had previously invested in through BRI.


India’s Journey to the Moon: The Chandrayaan-3 Story

Rohini Reenum

What happened?

On 4 July, India’s third lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, with the purpose of making a soft landing on the south pole of the moon. The mission spacecraft had three modules- the orbiter, the lander (Vikram) and the rover (Pragyaan). This module does not land on the moon and instead settles on the parking orbit of 100km100km around the moon. The lander and rover will separate from the propulsion module to land on the moon, and are designed to operate for one lunar daylight period (about 14 Earth days). 

On 18 August, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully performed the first deboosting operation that reduced its orbit to 113 km x 157 km. This was performed the day after the lander module separated from the propulsion module, post a 34-day-long journey toward the Moon. On 20 August, ISRO performed the second and final deebost of the lander module, to reduce the it to 25 km x 134 km. On August 23, precisely at 6:04 pm IST, the Vikram Lander touched down on the lunar surface, making a successful soft landing.

After landing, it sent a message to ISRO’S Bengaluru headquarters that the latter shared on X: “India, I reached my destination and you too!” This made India the first and only country to land near the Moon’s South Pole. 

Following the successful landing, congratulatory messages poured in from within India and abroad. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “This moment is unforgettable. It is phenomenal. This is a victory cry of a new India.” NASA administrator Bill Nelson said: “Congratulations ISRO on your successful Chandrayaan-3 lunar South Pole landing! And congratulations to India for being the 4th country to successfully soft-land a spacecraft on the Moon. We’re glad to be your partner on this mission!” Russian President Vladimir Putin also congratulated India and called the moon landing an “impressive” achievement, days after Moscow’s own mission crashed. “This is a big step forward in space exploration and, of course, a testament to the impressive progress made by India in the field of science and technology,” read a statement from the Kremlin. The US Department of State’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs said Chandrayaan-3’s success would power the “imagination” of people in the future and that its “success will power the imagination and light the future of people around the world.”

What is the Background?

First, a brief background of the previous Chandrayaan missions. According to ISRO, the vision of the Department of Space, which is the nodal agency that decides the agenda related to space, is “to harness, sustain and augment space technology for national development, while pursuing space science research and planetary exploration.”It is against the backdrop of this vision that the Chandrayaan Program (also known as the Indian Lunar Exploration Program), which is an ongoing series of outer space missions by ISRO for exploration of the moon, was conceived and launched. 

Second, the mapping of Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2. Chandrayaan-1, which was launched on 22 October 2008 aboard a PSLV-XL rocket, was a big success for ISRO as the Moon Impact Probe, a payload on board the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, discovered traces of water on the Moon. Apart from detecting water, the Chandrayaan-1 mission performed several other tasks such as mapping the Moon and profiling its atmosphere. Chandrayaan-2 was launched on 22 July 2019 aboard a LVM3 rocket. The spacecraft was successfully put into the lunar orbit but the lander was lost while attempting to land. The orbiter is operational, collecting scientific data and expected to function for 7.5 years. 

Third, the objectives of Chandrayaan-3. According to ISRO, Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-up mission to Chandrayaan-2, and has three major objectives: to demonstrate a safe and soft landing on the surface of the moon, conduct rover operations on the moon, and conduct on-site experiments on the lunar surface. The first objective has been completed with the Vikram lander achieving a safe and soft landing. It makes India only the fourth country to achieve this behind the erstwhile USSR, the US, and China. The second objective is in operation, with the Pragyan rover having been rolled out on the moon’s surface to carry out an in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface during the course of its mobility. 

What does it mean?

The successful launch and landing of Chandrayaan-3 has demonstrated India’s capability to not only carry out complex space missions on its own but has proven it to be a reliable partner in the space sector for collaboration and cooperation. This is important as India has been looking to expand into the private commercial space sector for some time now. It is no wonder that two days after the country launched the Chandrayaan-3 mission, the GST Council, in a surprise announcement, exempted private launch service companies from paying GST if they launched satellites into space using their launch vehicles or rockets. 

In April this year, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the Indian Space Policy, 2023. While promoting the role to be played by the private sector, the policy aims to augment the country’s space capabilities; enable, encourage and develop a flourishing commercial presence in space; use space as a driver of technology. Moreover, India has achieved this at a much lower cost than other nations like Russia, the US, and China. This means that more nations will be willing to use India’s services to launch their own satellites into space, as has been happening for a few years now.


A Profile of Yevgeny Prigozhin

Sneha Surendaran

On 23 August, Prigozhin was reported dead in a plane crash in the Tver region of Russi en route from to St. Petersburg from Moscow. The official list of passengers in the plane included the names of Dmitry Utkin and eight senior Wagner commanders, apart from the flight crew. Prigozhin’s presence in Russia was unexpected as on 21 August, he appeared in a video, donned in military attire, and claimed to be in an African country. In the video, he stated: “Wagner is conducting reconnaissance and search operations, making Russia even greater on every continent — and Africa even more free.”

On 23 August, two months to the day of the Wagner revolt, Prigozhin, who was dubbed a “walking dead man” due to his daring challenge to the Russian state, allegedly died in a plane crash in Russia. Mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, 62, walked away seemingly unharmed after he led a short-lived rebellion on Russian soil. Prigozhin’s name had occasionally cropped up in the international arena, but on 23 June he grabbed the world’s attention when he ordered the troops of his private military force, Wagner, to march to Moscow. However, beyond his persona as the leader of the Wagner group, Prigozhin was a man who wore multiple hats.

Humble beginnings

Yevgeny Viktorovich Prigozhin was a native of St. Petersburg, Russia, the same as Vladimir Putin. His mother was a hospital nurse while his father, a mining engineer, died when Prigozhin was nine. His stepfather, a ski instructor, sparked an interest in cross-country skiing in the young boy. Prigozhin joined and graduated from the Leningrad Sports Boarding School in 1977. However, an injury put an end to his sports dreams. At the age of 18, Prigozhin received his first prison sentence for theft, which marked the beginning of his early foray into crime.

Although the jail term was suspended, in a couple of years he received a 13-year jail term for robbery and theft. Prigozhin spent the next nine years in prison. Following his release in 1990, he set up a stable hot dog stall business with his family. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Prigozhin began looking for opportunities in the entrepreneurial and business sectors. By 1995, he was able to establish himself in the food catering industry, opening restaurants and food catering companies under his major enterprise, Concord Catering. This was to become his first step into the corridors of power.

As business flourished, Prigozhin began interacting with the elite class of Russian society. Concord Catering started to get good reviews from its customers, leading to even the military calling for its services. A businessman who knew Prigozhin at the time, remarked: “He can adapt to please any person if he needs something from them. That is definitely one of his talents.”

Growing acquaintance with Putin

While Prigozhin was raising his business empire, Vladimir Putin had been climbing the political ladder. Once Putin became President, Prigozhin’s catering business flourished with contracts from the Kremlin and the military. One of Putin’s favourite spots for dining was Prigozhin’s boat restaurant, named ‘Novyi Ostrov’ or New Island, situated in the Neva River that runs alongside St. Petersburg. Here, he hosted his foreign guests and personal celebrations. Through these events, Prigozhin’s ties to Putin began strengthening. Prigozhin once remarked: “Vladimir Putin…saw that I had no problem serving plates to dignitaries in person.” This is corroborated by the many photographs available that depict Putin sharing a meal with dignitaries like former US President George Bush, with Prigozhin in the background.

Over time, Prigozhin’s companies began earning billions of dollars’ worth of catering contracts from schools and colleges in Moscow, facilitated by his political connections. In fact, since 2013, 90 per cent of catering contracts from the Russian defence ministry have been in the hands of Prigozhin’s network. Eventually, Prigozhin came to be known as “Putin’s chef.” At the same time, Putin too would benefit politically from his relationship with the businessman, as there was more to Prigozhin than just being “Putin’s chef.”

This began with the origins of Wagner, a private military company that first came on the international radar in 2014. Russia had invaded and annexed Crimea, while Russian-backed separatists were creating unrest in the eastern Ukrainian cities of Luhansk and Donetsk. At the time, there were reports of uniformed soldiers, dubbed “little green men,” in the regions of tension. Wearing masks, carrying weapons, and donning green uniforms but without the Russian insignia, it was speculated that some of these men belonged to the littleknown Wagner group. Although the group is thought to have been the brainchild of Dmitry Utkin, a veteran military officer and Nazi propagandist, evidence to verify the true extent of his connection to Wagner is scarce. 

The EU considers Utkin as the founder of Wagner, responsible for “coordinating and planning operations for the deployment.” Meanwhile, Prigozhin was the face of Wagner for the world. While Prigozhin and the Wagner group operated in the shadows for a long time, they came into the spotlight to support Russia’s military in the Ukraine invasion. However, for a long time, Prigozhin staunchly refused any ties with the mercenary group. He even sued journalists who implied the opposite. The Russian state too denied any connection to Wagner. 

In 2022, Wagner registered in Russia as a joint stock company named ‘PMC Wagner Centre.’ Finally, in September 2022, Prigozhin admitted to creating Wagner, saying that he previously denied it to protect the group, stating: “I cleaned the old weapons myself…found specialists who could help me with this…on 1 May 2014, a group of patriots was born…called the Wagner Battalion.” Prigozhin reportedly recruited Wagner troops from Russian prisons, promising them freedom if they lasted for six months. These recruits were often people with military experience or a history of violence. To bring them into Wagner’s fold, Prigozhin is said to have cited his own prison experiences with the criminals.

Apart from the military sector, Prigozhin also operated in cyberspace on behalf of the state. In November 2022, Prigozhin admitted to meddling in the US’ 2016 Presidential elections. In a post made through the press service of Concord Catering, he stated: "We have interfered (in U.S. elections), we are interfering, and we will continue to interfere. Carefully, accurately, surgically, and in our way, as we know how to do."

Furthermore, in February 2023, he revealed his connections to the company Washington had accused of interfering in the 2016 US elections, the Internet Research Agency. Washington had described it as a “troll farm” for spreading disinformation online. Prigozhin revealed: “I thought it up, I created it, I managed it for a long time." He said that the organization aimed to “protect the Russian information space from the West's boorish and aggressive anti-Russian propaganda.”

Crossing Putin and the Russian state

Prigozhin had a tough relationship with the Russian military leaders. However, these connections soured during the time he spent leading Wagner in the Ukraine invasion, especially during the battle of Bakhmut. He repeatedly spoke out against the competence of the military leaders, alleging that they refused to supply his troops with ammunition, calling it a deliberate move to undermine Wagner. He went so far as to imply that the leaders were committing treason. 

In one of his online rants, he stated: “The shells are lying in warehouses, they are resting there…There are people who fight, and there are people who have learned once in their lives that there must be a reserve, and they save, save, save those reserves…Instead of spending a shell to kill the enemy, they kill our soldiers.  And happy grandfather thinks this is okay.” When netizens connected the “grandfather” comment to Putin, Prigozhin was quick to deny it. During his participation in the Ukraine war, he extensively made use of social media to post updates regarding Wagner’s victories and criticism of the military.

The tension between Prigozhin and the military leaders finally culminated in the Wagner rebellion on 23 June. Prigozhin’s troops captured Rostov-on-Don, a military base, and began marching towards Moscow. While Putin denounced the rebellion as treason, Prigozhin stated that the revolt was not against the President, but rather the defence leadership whom he accused of firing a missile at his troops. The revolt ended when Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko, negotiated a truce according to which, all charges against Prigozhin were dropped by the state, and he was allowed refuge in Belarus. 

On 27 June, Lukashenko announced that the mercenary leader had arrived in Belarus. However, reports later cited that Prigozhin was back in Moscow. The Kremlin also released a statement confirming that Wagner commanders led by Prigozhin had met Putin days after the aborted mutiny. Matters of future employment of the Wagner troops in Russian service, and the events of the mutiny were discussed at the meeting, which insinuated that Russia still banked on Prigozhin-led Wagner’s involvement. 

On 19 July, Prigozhin made his first appearance on camera following the mutiny. In it, he said that Wagner would be focusing on Africa and in training the Belarusian army. He further condemned Russia’s performance in the Ukraine invasion, stating: “What is currently happening on the front line is a disgrace that we don't want to have any part in, and we need to wait until we can show our mettle in full.” However, Prigozhin stopped short of critiquing the military leaders as he used to in the past. 

 Alleged death in a plane crash

Prigozhin’s death elicited mixed responses from all quarters. Sympathizers termed his death as a win for Ukraine and a blow to Russia. Naturally, fingers pointed to Putin and the Russian state’s involvement, as it is no secret that in the past, numerous critics of the president have met untimely deaths. The Kremlin decried the allegations, as “false.” Meanwhile, Putin remarked on the death of his former ally, calling him a “talented man,” saying: “He made serious mistakes in life. But he achieved results both for himself and the common good when I asked for it - like in the last few months.” 

As for the Wagner group that finds itself bereft of its top commanders, the extended implications of Prigozhin’s death for Russia are clouded in uncertainty now.” However, while investigations continue, there has been no official confirmation of the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin. In death, as in life, he continues to maintain an aura of mystery around him. 


Also in the news…

Regional Round-ups

East and Southeast Asia This Week

China: Suspends seafood imports from Japan
On 24 August, the Chinese customs office announced that they would "comprehensively '' suspend any seafood imports from Japan. The reason stated was that they want to avoid any risk of radioactive contamination from the nuclear-treated water to ensure food safety. Additionally, the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment announced that they would take the necessary steps to monitor any radiation in the sea caused by the release. The Japanese government has evaluated the safety of the release with a two-year review by the International Atomic Energy Agency. However, this has not been well received by countries, with mass protestsin South Korea and North Korea. 

China: Urges US to stop arming Taiwan
On 25 August, the Chinese Defence Ministry accused the US of "arming" Taiwan and urged them to stop. This comes after the USD 500 million sale of the Island of Infrared Search and Track Systems for F-16 fighter jets was approved by the US State Department. Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaognag said: "China urges the U.S. side to effectively fulfil its commitment not to support the independence of Taiwan, to immediately stop arming Taiwan, and to stop enhancing US-Taiwan military ties." 

Malaysia: Buys stake in a shipyard amid Navy Frigate Project woes
On 23 August, according to The Maritime Executive, Boustead Heavy Industries sold its 20 per cent stake in Boustead Naval Shipyard to the Malaysian government, aiming to salvage troubled navy frigate construction projects plagued by delays and cost overruns. The shipyard’s primary client is the Royal Malaysian Navy. The project to build six frigates, based on France’s Naval Group Gowind-class design, faced corruption charges and contractual disputes, pushing delivery timelines and costs. The government’s intent to take full ownership of the shipyard aims to ensure the completion of the frigates. The move aligns with a wider restructuring of the shipyard, set to conclude in Q4 2023. This move reflects Malaysia’s determination to regain control over the troubled navy frigate program, and marks a significant step in reasserting ownership and oversight over key defence projects.

Cambodia: Elects first female President of the National Assembly
On 22 August, a member of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), Khuon Sudary, was elected as the first female president of Cambodia’s National Assembly, marking a historic milestone. She secured the position with unanimous support from 123 lawmakers, after the CPP’s overwhelming victory in the recent general election. The assembly also appointed Cheam Yeap and Vong Sauth as the first and second vice presidents, respectively. The CPP secured 120 out of 125 seats in the National Assembly. Sudary’s election is a significant advancement for women’s representation in Cambodian politics, though challenges to broader gender parity remain.

Indonesia: Signs MoU for procurement of Boeing’s F-15EX fighter jets
On 22 August, according to a statement by Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence, Indonesia and Boeing signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the acquisition of 24 F-15EX fighter jets, a significant step toward enhancing the country’s air defence capabilities. The signing took place at Boeing’s office in the US, witnessed by Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia’s Defence Minister. The deal, executed under the foreign military sales scheme, signifies Indonesia’s commitment to bolstering its security and air dominance capabilities. The move aligns with Indonesia’s strategic military modernization efforts to address evolving security challenges in the region.

South Asia This Week

Pakistan: Not yet submitted a formal request to join BRICS, says foreign office spokesperson
On 25 August, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Pakistan had not yet submitted a formal application to join the BRICS group of developing countries. She said: "We will examine the latest developments and decide about our future engagement with BRICS" and "Pakistan is an ardent supporter of multilateralism and as a member of several multilateral organizations it has always played an important role for global peace and development." Additionally, Baloch expressed her appreciation to the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) scientists for Chandrayaan-3's successful landing, calling it "a great scientific achievement." When questioned about the statements made by the UN and other international bodies in the wake of the attacks on the Christian community in Jaranwala, Baloch stated that Pakistan had harshly denounced the atrocity. 

Middle East and Africa This Week

Zimbabwe: Conducts general elections
On 23 August, Zimbabwe began its election for councillors, members of parliament, and a president. 11 candidates are running for the presidential seat, with more than six million people expected to cast their votes. However, the contest is between two popular candidates: incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa from the governing Zanu-PF Party, and opposition leader Nelson Chamisa from the Citizen's Coalition for Change (CCC). The opposition is seeking to end the 43-year rule of the Zanu-PF party. Since 1980, the Zanu-PF party has been in power and criticized for continuously clamping down on opposition to remain in power. The country struggles with rising costs of living, inflation, crippling power outages, and corruption. People in the urban areas and the young population believe that it is time for a change.

Europe and the Americas This Week

Heatwaves across the southeast of France
On 21 August, Le Monde reported on a heatwave in the Rhone Valley region, along with wildfires in the southeast. According to the report, the temperatures are expected to increase, with southern France experiencing the highest temperatures. It is estimated that 50 out of 96 health departments in France have warned of high heat levels. France’s national weather service spokesperson said: “Some records could be broken, notably on Tuesday in the Rhone valley with 40-42ᵒC expected.” 

Ukraine: Eastern Europe and the Balkans pledge support 
On 22 August, in a summit held in Greece, 11 countries from eastern Europe and the Balkans signed a joint declaration in support of the “territorial integrity of Ukraine.” The declaration assured Ukrainesupport in terms of independence, sovereignty, and territory, and vouched for instilling values of democracy and the rule of law. The leaders also assured support for Ukraine in drafting its “principles of peace,” in line with the UN Charter.

Germany: The government proposes to minimize the tenure required to attain citizenship
On 23 August, Germany’s government submitted a proposal to reform its citizenship law. The proposal is subject to discussion in both houses of the parliament. According to the report from Deutsche Welle, the proposal will allow dual citizenship while simultaneously breaking down the naturalization process from eight to five years.
Under this plan, whoever shows a high level of integration and advanced German skills, will be eligible to obtain citizenship in three years. According to the German Press Agency, the proposal excludes those who have committed crimes for “antisemitic and racist” purposes. This is viewed as a move to mainly attract foreign workers to seal off the labour shortages. 

Ecuador: Referendum passed to ban Amazonian oil drilling
On 21 August, a referendum, deemed “historic” by environmental activists, was passed with 60 per cent of votes to ban oil drilling in the Yasuni National Park. This park is a protected area of the Amazon, as it hosts endangered mammals and thousands of insects, and is thus a UNESCO biosphere reserve. With the Amazon nearing its tipping point, and former President Correa’s decision to drill for oil, the results of this referendum mean protection for biodiversity and Indigenous communities. However, the energy minister stated that the ban would “result in a loss of $1.2bn annually, which would be detrimental to the country’s economy.” 

Guatemala: Bernardo Arevalo wins Guatemala's presidential election
On 20 August, Bernardo Arevalo's victory as per preliminary results in Guatemala's presidential run-off was met with international and regional support. Arevalo, a left-wing anti-corruption candidate, secured 58 per cent of the vote, defeating former First Lady Sandra Torres. While official results are yet to be certified, Guatemala's election body head referred to Arevalo as the "virtual winner." The Organization of American States (OAS) chief, Luis Almagro praised the election as an "exemplary election day." International observers hope that Arevalo's landslide victory will mitigate any major challenges to the vote. Supporters made several statements amid celebrations, with one person stating that “his triumph represents the defeat of a corrupt system.” His term of rule will be a complex one due to the current environment of the country; however, there are hopes of the restoration of “democratic values.” 

 About the authors

Rohini Reenum is a PhD scholar in the School of Conflict and Security Studies at the National Institute of Advanced Studies. Padmashree Anandhan, Anu Maria Joseph, and Femy Francis, Rishika Yadav, Dhriti Mukherjee and Shamini Velayutham are Research Associates at NIAS. Sneha Surendaran is a post graduate scholar at O.P Jindal university


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Brighty Ann Sarah

The US-Iran MoU:
Asymmetric Gains and Implementation Challenges
June 2026 | CWA # 2145

Glynnis Winona B

Myanmar and Press Freedom: 
Four Takeaways on Legal repression, Institutional collapse, Violence, and Digital control 
June 2026 | CWA # 2144

Nithin V

Bangladesh and Press Freedom: 
Four Takeaways on Digital security laws, Political polarisation, Journalist safety, and Media vulnerability 
June 2026 | CWA # 2143

Aishal Hab Yousuf 

Sri Lanka and Press Freedom: 
Five Takeaways on Political influence, Legal mechanisms to control, Ethnic sensitivities and History of State intimidation
June 2026 | CWA # 2142

Glynnis Winona B

Bhutan and Press Freedom:
Four takeaways on Regulatory control, Economic fragility, and Social constraints
June 2026 | CWA # 2141

Aishal Hab Yousuf

Maldives and Press Freedom:
Four takeaways on the influence of democracy, legislation, and state funding
June 2026 | CWA # 2140

Nithin V

Pakistan and Press Freedom:
Four takeaways Military influence, cyber laws, political instability, and youth-driven digital journalism
June 2026 | CWA # 2139

Siddhi Halyur

Afghanistan and Press Freedom:
Four takeaways on political control, religious restrictions and economic vulnerabilities 
June 2026 | CWA # 2138

Siddhi Halyur

Nepal and Press Freedom:
Three takeaways on Political constraints, Missing legal protection and Funding issues
June 2026 | CWA # 2136

Acsah H

The Blue Origin Rocket Explosion:
Does this leave Jeff Bezos grounded, Elon Musk unchallenged, and NASA’s lunar timeline in jeopardy?
June 2026 | CWA # 2131

Rohini Reenum

Israel-Lebanon Tensions:
New Deal amidst Israeli incursion and Hezbollah’s retaliation
June 2026 | CWA # 2130

Akshath Kaimal

The UK-Rwanda Asylum Deal: 
Why did the Permanent Court of Arbitration reject Rwanda’s claims? What was Rwanda’s complaint? Why did the UK cancel the deal?
June 2026 | CWA # 2129

Anu Maria Joseph

Conflicts in Africa This Week:
The Ebola fear in DR Congo and the Elections in Ethiopia amidst conflicts
May 2026 | CWA # 2126

Aparna A Nair

The Shenzhou-23 Mission:
China’s Space Missions, Technology, and Infrastructure
May 2026 | CWA # 2124

Glynnis Winona B

The Crisis in Cuba:
The US Sanctions, Energy Crisis, and Economic Instability
May 2026 | CWA # 2123

Akshath Kaimal

The Ebola and the DR Congo:
Multiple Outbreaks, Fragile Healthcare System, and Ineffective Global Responses
May 2026 | CWA # 2122

Radhika M Agarwal

The War in Ukraine:
Ballistic missiles, Nuclear drills with Belarus, and the Czech ammunition initiative
May 2026 | CWA # 2120

Brighty Ann Sarah

Conflicts in the Middle East
The US-Iran War Week Thirteen: Escalating Hostilities, Tenuous Ceasefire and Tense Negotiations
May 2026 | CWA # 2119

Anu Maria Joseph

Conflicts in Africa
The Ebola spread in DR Congo, The Faye-Sonko split in Senegal, and the Deepening US military involvement in Nigeria
May 2026 | CWA # 2115

Aparna A Nair

The Putin-Xi Summit
Trade, Technology, Security, and Pipeline
May 2026 | CWA # 2114

Glynnis Winona B

What makes the UAE a global player?
Explaining the Governance, Economy, People, and Strategic Influence of a Small Middle Eastern State
May 2026 | CWA # 2113

Aishal Hab Yousuf

Sri Lanka and the US-Iran War 
Rising oil imports, Austerity measures and State capacity
May 2026 | CWA # 2111

NIAS Global Politics Team

The Trump-Xi Summit
The Africa Forward Summit 2026 I North Korea's Constitutional Amendment 2026
May 2026 | CWA # 2110

Aishal Hab Yousuf

The Trump-Xi Summit:
Managing Strategic Competition through Trade, Technology, and Diplomacy
May 2026 | CWA # 2092

NIAS Global Politics Team

The US-Iran War, Week Ten
CW Column on Middle East: Escalating Israeli Aggression in Lebanon I UAE's Covert Manoeuvres
May 2026 | CWA # 2091

Brighty Ann Sarah

Conflicts in the Middle East:
Escalating Israeli Aggression in Lebanon I UAEs Covert Manoeuvres
May 2026 | CWA # 2090

Brighty Ann Sarah

The US-Iran War, Week Ten:
Fraying Ceasefire, Renewed Negotiations and the Risk of a Stalemate
May 2026 | CWA # 2088

Nithin V

King Charles's US Visit:
Emphasis on strong bilateral relations, democratic values and security cooperation
May 2026 | CWA # 2086

Aishal Hab Yousuf

UAEs Exit from OPEC:
Implications for the Middle East and the Energy Market
May 2026 | CWA # 2083

Brighty Ann Sarah

The US-Iran War, Week Nine:
Deadlocked Negotiations, Competing Agendas and Domestic Pressure
May 2026 | CWA # 2082

Akshath Kaimal

Escalating Violence in Mali:
Between Ethnic Insurgencies, Jihadist Attacks, and Military Coups
April 2026 | CWA # 2079

Aishal Hab Yousuf

Japans New Defence Posture:
From Post-War Pacifism to Strategic Recalibration and Autonomy
April 2026 | CWA # 2074

Brighty Ann Sarah

Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire:
Asymmetric Terms, Fragile Truce and Israeli Occupation
April 2026 | CWA # 2073

Akshath Kaimal

The US-Iran War, Week Eight:
A Fragile Ceasefire, Attempts to Control Hormuz and the Stalled Talks in Islamabad
April 2026 | CWA # 2072

Anu Maria Joseph

Three Years of War in Sudan
Prolonged Stalemate, Humanitarian Cost, External Interventions and Regional Fallouts
April 2026 | CWA # 2069

Padmashree Anandhan

The War in Ukraine
Expanding Drone Warfare, Russia's Strategic Patience and Ukraine's Diplomatic Outreach
April 2026 | CWA # 2068

Femy Francis

China-Japan Tensions
Escalating Defence Posturing and Economic Decoupling
April 2026 | CWA # 2067

Anu Maria Joseph

Conflicts in Africa
Continuing Conflicts in Sudan, South Sudan and DR Congo, Security issues in Nigeria, and Political Instability in Madagascar
April 2026 | CWA # 2066

Akshath Kaimal

The Pakistan-Afghanistan Conflict
Recurrent Clashes, Defiant Taliban, Contesting Narratives and Emerging Chinas Role
April 2026 | CWA # 2065

Lakshmi Venugopal Menon

The Middle East (JanMar 2026):
The US-Iran War, Israel-Hamas Conflict and their interconnected fallouts
April 2026 | CWA # 2064

Anwesha Ghosh

Afghanistan (JanMar 2026):
Gender Repression, Leadership Rifts, Regional Realignments and Clashes with Pakistan
April 2026 | CWA # 2063

Ramya B

Russia (Jan-Mar 2026)
Assertive Military Posture, Attempts for an Economic Turnaround and Search for Partners
April 2026 | CWA # 2062

Himani Pant

Europe (Jan-Mar 2026)
Trade diversification & FTAs, Increased defence spending, Tightening irregular migration and Economic slowdown
April 2026 | CWA # 2061

S Shaji

Africa (Jan-Mar 2026)
Elections, Civil Wars, Militancy and Peace Initiatives
April 2026 | CWA # 2058

Nishchal N Pandey & Mahesh Raj Bhatta

Nepal (Jan-Mar 2026)
Political Upheaval, Generational Change and Economic Uncertainty
April 2026 | CWA # 2057

Bibhu Prasad Routray

Myanmar (Jan-Mar 2026)
An Illegitimate Regime's Consolidation Game
April 2026 | CWA # 2056

Ashik J Bonofer

Southeast Asia (Jan-Mar 2026)
Deteriorating situation in Myanmar, Philippines as the ASEAN Chair, New government in Thailand, and Economic & Environmental challenges
April 2026 | CWA # 2055

Haans J Freddy

East Asia (Jan-Mar 2026)
Chinas military operations near Taiwan, Japan-China tensions and South Koreas security challenges
April 2026 | CWA # 2054

Amrita Jash

Chinas External Landscape (Jan-Mar 2026):
Regional assertion, Pragmatic recalibration with the West and Avoiding military entanglement in the Middle East
April 2026 | CWA # 2052

Shreya Upadhyay

The United States(Jan-Mar2026)
Tariffs, Ukraine, Iran and Operationalization of Trumps World Order
March 2026 | CWA # 2042

Preetha Renganarayanan

Five Takeaways of the US Annual Threat Assessment (ATA) Report for 2026
March 2026 | CWA # 2039

Femy Francis

Trump-Xi Meeting
Why did Trump reschedule it? What does that mean?
March 2026 | CWA # 2035

Akshath Kaimal

Pakistan-Afghanistan Conflict
Broken ceasefire, Expanding military strikes and Worsening humanitarian situation
March 2026 | CWA # 2033

Mahesh Bhatta

Nepal after elections:
Five major challenges for the new government
March 2026 | CWA # 2024

Lekshmi MK

The UN and the Iran-US War
UNSC Resolution 2817 between Clear and Unified Message and Manifest Injustice
March 2026 | CWA # 2023

Femy Francis

Chinas Two Sessions 2026
New Five-Year Plan, Ethnic Unity Law, and an Enhanced Defence Budget
March 2026 | CWA # 2019

Akshath Kaimal

Rising Violence in Nigeria
Limited State Capacity, Multiple Actors, and a Complex Security Environment
March 2026 | CWA # 2012

Padmashree Anandhan

The War in Ukraine
Long-range strikes, Defence adaptation and the EUs energy dependence
March 2026 | CWA # 2010

Mahesh Bhatta

Nepal Elections 2026
The Rise of the New and the Fall of the Old
March 2026 | CWA # 2009

Sreemaya Nair

Nepal Elections 2026
Rise of a new leadership and Reset in political landscape
March 2026 | CWA # 2004

Akshath Kaimal

The Forgotten South Sudan Conflict
Instability returns, with a fragile peace agreement, uptick in violence and limited international engagement
March 2026 | CWA # 2003

Yesasvi Koganti

PM Modis Visit to Israel
From bilateral ties to a special strategic partnership
March 2026 | CWA # 2001

Preetha Renganarayanan

Six major takeaways on the economy, border and internal security and Iran
February 2026 | CWA # 1998

Anu Maria Joseph

Instability in Sudan
Response to the genocide call and the threats of a regional spillover
February 2026 | CWA # 1986

Preetha Renganarayanan

Focus on Trade, Defense, Energy and Regional Connectivity
February 2026 | CWA # 1985

Abhimanyu Solanki

Basant in Pakistan
The return of Basant, and what it signifies
February 2026 | CWA # 1977

Anu Maria Joseph

Violence in Nigeria
US military deployment amidst worsening insurgency
February 2026 | CWA # 1976

Lekshmi MK

The War in Ukraine
The Geneva Talks and Growing Negotiation Asymmetry
December 2025 | CWA # 1971

Vani Vyshnavi Jupudi

Pakistan Budget 2025-26
Legislating stabilisation under IMF discipline and coalition constraints
December 2025 | CWA # 1970

Aparna A Nair

Pakistan & China
Ten Years of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
November 2025 | CWA # 1968

Vani Vyshnavi Jupudi

Pakistan and the US
A New opening, or another cycle?
February 2026 | CWA # 1959

Yesasvi Koganti

UK and China
PM Keir Starmers visit and the Recalibration of Economic, Strategic, and Domestic ties
January 2026 | CWA # 1946

Preetha Renganarayanan

The Davos Summit 2026
Five Major Takeaways from The World Economic Forum
December 2025 | CWA # 1931

Padmashree Anandhan

NATO Summit 2025
December 2025 | CWA # 1924

Padmashree Anandhan

NATO Summit 2025
December 2025 | CWA # 1914

Preetha Renganarayanan

August 2025 | CWA # 1801

R Preetha

28 August 1963
Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech and the Civil Rights Movement in the US
August 2025 | CWA # 1790

GP Team

The World This Week#323-324
The Trump-Putin meeting & the US-China tariff extension
August 2025 | CWA # 1780

Abhiruchi Chowdhury

Trump tariffs:
Weaponization of access to the US economy
August 2025 | CWA # 1779

GP Team

The World This Week#322
US tariffs on India, Brazil and Canada & the EU-US trade deal
August 2025 | CWA # 1778

Lekshmi MK

28 July 1914
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, starting the First World War
July 2025 | CWA # 1770

Abhiruchi Chowdhury

Pakistan-Afghanistan relations:
Why the focus on terrorism, refugees, and Uzbekistan as the third partner?
July 2025 | CWA # 1769

GP Team

The World This Week#321
Indian PM Modi's visit to the Maldives I Elections to the Upper House in Japan
July 2025 | CWA # 1762

Lekshmi MK

Ocean Darkening: 
What is the phenomenon? What are its effects? And who are more vulnerable?
July 2025 | CWA # 1749

R Preetha

Africa as the Hunger Epicenter
Of the 13 Global Hunger Hotspots, 8 are in Africa: Five reasons why
July 2025 | CWA # 1748

GP Team

The World This Week #318
PM Modi’s Visit to Trinidad and Tobago & Ghana, One big beautiful bill, and Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting
July 2025 | CWA # 1744

Chittrothu Vaihali

EU-Canada Summit 2025
What is security and defence partnership all about?
July 2025 | CWA # 1742

IPRI Team

Conflict Weekly # 287-88
The 12 Day War and the Congo-Rwanda Peace Deal
July 2025 | CWA # 1738

Fleur Elizabeth Philip

Thailand and Cambodia
What was the phone call between PM Shinawatra and President of Senate Hun Sen? What is the border dispute between the two? Why has this become an issue?
June 2025 | CWA # 1735

Padmashree Anandhan

NATO Summit 2025:
Trump making Europe great again
June 2025 | CWA # 1734

GP Team

The World This Week #317
NATO Summit 2025 and Russia-Mali bilateral agreements
June 2025 | CWA # 1733

Ananya Dinesh

China and the Pacific Islands 
What was the recent China-PIC joint statement about? What it says, and what it means?
June 2025 | CWA # 1728

M Kejia

G7 Summit 2025:
The Focus on the Middle East and Trade negotiations
June 2025 | CWA # 1726

GP Team

The World This Week #316
China-Central Asia Summit in Kazakhstan, and the G7 Summit in Canada
June 2025 | CWA # 1725

Brighty Ann Sarah, R Preetha, Santhiya M, Aparna A Nair & M Kejia

Operation Midnight Hammer: US bombs three nuclear sites in Iran
What were the three Iranian nuclear sites that were targeted? What are the B2 Bombers and Bunker Buster Bombs? What do these attacks mean? What Next?
June 2025 | CWA # 1724

IPRI Team

Conflict Weekly #286
The Spiralling Israel-Iran Crisis, and the Dangerous Hunger Hotspots
June 2025 | CWA # 1721

Rizwana Banu S and Santhiya M

Who are the Afrikaners?
Why is Trump interested in the Afrikaner question in South Africa?
June 2025 | CWA # 1720

Lekshmi MK

New WMO Report on Arctic Warming
What are the social, economic and environmental implications of Arctic warming
June 2025 | CWA # 1719

J Yamini  

China’s EV Surge
What contributes to the rise of BYD
June 2025 | CWA # 1717

J Yamini

Gender Violence in Pakistan:
What are the larger issues in the Noor Mukadam case?
June 2025 | CWA # 1715

Femy Francis

The US-China:
On Tariffs, Rare Earths and Visas
June 2025 | CWA # 1713

GP Team

The World This Week #315
The UN Ocean Conference in France and the US-China Meeting in London
June 2025 | CWA # 1709

IPRI Team

Conflict Weekly #284-285
Cambodia-Thailand Border Tensions, Protests in the US, and the Indigenous Māori question in New Zealand
June 2025 | CWA # 1705

GP Team

The World This Week #314
Elections in South Korea and Poland I China and the Pacific Island Countries I Bangladesh Election Announcement 2026
June 2025 | CWA # 1700

R Preetha

Ethiopia bans the TPLF
What does the TPLF ban mean for the Pretoria agreement? What next for Ethiopia?
June 2025 | CWA # 1694

Aashish Ganeshan

The US:
Harvard vs Trump Administration
June 2025 | CWA # 1691

GP Team

The World This Week #313
China-ASEAN-GCC Summit I President Macron's visit to South East Asia I Trump Vs Harvard
May 2025 | CWA # 1690

GP Team

The World This Week #312
Elections in Romania, Portugal & Poland I UK-EU Summit
May 2025 | CWA # 1689

Padmashree Anandhan

Ukraine
Continuing Russia’s Aerial Attacks, despite exchange of prisoners
May 2025 | CWA # 1688

Ayan Datta

Gaza
The Humanitarian Crisis and Israel’s Renewed Offensive
May 2025 | CWA # 1685

Aparna A Nair

UK-EU Summit:
First step towards a reset
May 2025 | CWA # 1683

Aashish Ganeshan

Elections in Portugal:
The Rise of Chega Party and the Search for Political Stability
May 2025 | CWA # 1679

Aashish Ganeshan

US in the Middle Easr
Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE
May 2025 | CWA # 1678

Gauri Gupta

China in Latin America
China-CELAC forum: Strengthening ties with Latin America and Caribbean
May 2025 | CWA # 1677

GP Team

The World This Week #310-311
China in Latin America and the Carribbean I Trump's Middle East Visit I Denmark as the new Arctic Chair
May 2025 | CWA # 1675

Lekshmi MK

Turkey:
PKK disbands after 40 years of armed insurgency
May 2025 | CWA # 1673

Padmashree Anandhan

Ukraine:
The Discussion in Turkiye and the Elusive Ceasefire
May 2025 | CWA # 1672

D Suba Chandran

India and Pakistan:
De-escalation and the “New Normal”
May 2025 | CWA # 1671

Abhiruchi Chowdhury

US, Ukraine and Russia:
Air attacks amidst a Minerals deal and Ceasefire Proposals
May 2025 | CWA # 1670

Fleur Elizabeth Philip

Singapore Elections in 2025:
People’s Action Party (PAP) Wins, Again
May 2025 | CWA # 1667

R Preetha and Brighty Ann Sarah

East Asia:
Tough Tariff Negotiations with the US
May 2025 | CWA # 1666

Padmashree Anandhan

The US-Ukraine
The mineral deal with the US
May 2025 | CWA # 1665
Conflict Weekly # 280-81
India-Pakistan De-escalation I Ukraine Discussion in Istanbul I The Battle over Port Sudan I Disbanding of PKK in Turkiye I France-Algeria Diplomatic Tensions
May 2025 | CWA # 1663

R Preetha

Canada Elections 2025:
What do the results convey? What next for Mark Carney?
March 2024 | CWA # 1251

NIAS Africa Team

Africa This Week
February 2024 | CWA # 1226

NIAS Africa Team

Africa This Week
October 2023 | CWA # 1091

Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri

Issues for Europe
July 2023 | CWA # 1012

Bibhu Prasad Routray

Myanmar continues to burn
December 2022 | CWA # 879

Padmashree Anandhan

The Ukraine War
November 2022 | CWA # 838

Rishma Banerjee

Tracing Europe's droughts
March 2022 | CWA # 705

NIAS Africa Team

In Focus: Libya
December 2021 | CWA # 630

GP Team

Europe in 2021
October 2021 | CWA # 588

Abigail Miriam Fernandez

TLP is back again
August 2021 | CWA # 528

STIR Team

Space Tourism
September 2019 | CWA # 162

Lakshman Chakravarthy N

5G: A Primer
December 2018 | CWA # 71

Mahesh Bhatta

Nepal
December 2018 | CWA # 70

Nasima Khatoon

The Maldives
December 2018 | CWA # 69

Harini Madhusudan

India
December 2018 | CWA # 68

Sourina Bej

Bangladesh
December 2018 | CWA # 67

Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer

Afghanistan