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The World This Week
The AUKUS pact, North Korea's New Missile Test, New SpaceX Mission, and the State of EU address
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GP Team
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The World This Week #137, Vol. 3, No. 38
Lokendra Sharma, Keerthana Nambiar, Harini Madhusudan, and Joeana Cera Matthews
AUKUS: The US-led new security alliance brings UK and Australia onboard but upsets France
What happened?
On 15 September, the US President Joe Biden, the UK PM Boris Johnson and Australian PM Scott Morrison, in a joint virtual press conference, launched a new security partnership in the Indo-Pacific. AUKUS is an acronym for Australia, the UK and the US. According to the joint statement, the AUKUS "will focus on cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and additional undersea capabilities". However, the main highlight is the pledge by the US and UK to "support Australia in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy".
The US President Biden said in a statement: "Today, we're taking another historic step to deepen and formalize cooperation among all three of our nations because we all recognize the imperative of ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific over the long term". Australia PM Morrison called it a "next-generation partnership" while the UK PM Johnson called it "a new chapter in our friendship". The Chinese Foreign Ministry called the move "extremely irresponsible" and said that the alliance "seriously undermines regional peace and stability and intensifies the arms race and undermined international non-proliferation efforts".
On 16 September, New Zealand's PM reaffirmed her country's decades-old policy of being a nuclear-free zone. She said: "New Zealand's position in relation to the prohibition of nuclear-powered vessels in our waters remains unchanged".
On 17 September, France recalled its ambassadors to the US and Australia over the cancellation of the multi-billion-dollar deal for conventional submarines by Australia in lieu of the new deal for nuclear-powered submarines. The French Foreign Minister called it "unacceptable behaviour between allies and partners".
What is the background?
First, the US efforts to build multiple alliances in the Indo-Pacific. Considering China as the primary security threat and in continuation with the Obama-era pivot, the US has in recent years been shifting its attention to the Indo-Pacific from the Trans-Atlantic and Middle East regions. This has entailed establishing multiple arrangements like Quad (and now the AUKUS), strengthening engagement with regional groupings like ASEAN and repurposing long-standing alliances like Five Eyes.
Second, the centrality of Australia and the deteriorating China-Australia relationship. While Australia was already a part of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance and the Quad, membership in the AUKUS has cemented the centrality of Australia in the Indo-Pacific strategy of the US. It has also pushed the already deteriorating relationship between China and Australia over maritime and trade issues to a point-of-no-return.
Third, the UK's role in the Indo-Pacific. While Australia and the US are part of the Indo-Pacific, the UK is not (except some colonial territories). The UK's assertiveness in the region has increased in recent months, especially after Brexit, to arrest its declining global influence. In July 2021, a British naval strike group led by the country's largest warship HMS Queen Elizabeth sailed through the hotly contested South China Sea and held naval drills with Japan. The UK has also announced its intention to station two patrol ships permanently in the Indo-Pacific with logistical support from Japan, Australia and Singapore. France has also increased the frequency of naval deployment in the Indo-Pacific, including the South China Sea.
What does it mean?
First, the significance of nuclear-powered submarines. While the AUKUS alliance partners have clarified that the submarines would not be armed by nuclear weapons but would only be powered by nuclear energy, it would still give Australia the capability to project power in the maritime region. These submarines are capable of staying underwater for long durations and also are comparatively more silent and harder to detect. This will be disadvantageous for China, which, despite decades of investment in its navy, still lags in underwater warfare capabilities.
Second, the US move to build a security alliance with the UK and US while sidelining Quad for this purpose implies a realization in the US that India and Japan would be reluctant to give the Quad an explicit security and military character. It appears that the US is moving forward on a two-pronged strategy to contain China in the Indo-Pacific region: a security alliance on the one hand and a larger political alliance on the other. This will also pave the way for further expansion of Quad to include other countries threatened by China. How China reacts to this two-pronged strategy beyond the usual rhetoric has to be closely watched.
Third, while the cancellation of the deal by Australia after years of negotiations has instilled a sense of betrayal in France, it would take considerable diplomatic effort to heal the strained ties between the AUKUS members and France. The divide, however, would be a temporary one.
North Korea: New missile tests to challenge the US, Japan and South Korea
What happened?
On 12 September, North Korea successfully fired a new long-range cruise missile described as "a strategic weapon of great significance". According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the missile hit targets 932 miles away, flying along with different patterns, before falling into the North Korean territorial waters.
On 15 September, North Korea launched two ballistic missiles from a train to test the new weapons. The missiles flew 497 miles (800km) before striking a target in the sea off North Korea's east coast. Pak Jong Chon, a North Korean marshal and a member of the Presidium of the Politburo of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, who oversaw the test said: "The railway-borne missile system serves as an efficient counter-strike means capable of dealing a harsh multi-concurrent blow to the threat-posing forces."
What is the background?
First, North Korea's missile programmes. Though the latest tests would be the first known testing since March 2021, North Korea has been orienting towards qualitatively refining and quantitatively expanding its missile and nuclear capabilities. The missile programs over the past five years have transformed subsequently. During 2016-17, North Korea tested a series of missile nuclear weapons and missiles which led the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to place new sanctions. While during this period, most missile tests were short-range, medium-range, intermediate-range, it also started testing intercontinental ballistic missiles in 2017. After a break in 2018, it resumed missile testing in 2019 - short-range ballistic missiles, intermediate-range ballistic missiles, and submarine-launched ballistic missiles. The latest ones, tested in September 2021 are reported to be long-range cruise missiles.
Second, the arms race in the Korean peninsula. The tit-for-tat missile tests on the Korean peninsula have scaled up tensions in the region. South Korea tested a new submarine-launched ballistic missile the same day North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles, making it one of only seven countries with this technology. The arms race has accelerated under the leadership of Moon Jae-in, including his push for more foreign policy autonomy. Therefore, South Korea plans to develop all other capabilities to deter North Korea and show who the strongest Korea is.
Third, the regional responses. Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga condemned the missile launch as "simply outrageous" and said it was a "threat to the peace and security" of the region. He declared that the testing was a violation of the UN Security Council resolution, expressing his strong protest and condemnation and further added that the Japanese government will continue to monitor the area. In contrast, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Seoul said: "By choosing cruise missiles, North Korea is trying not to provoke the US and China too much."
Fourth, the extra-regional responses. The United States condemned North Korea's launch, pointing it violated UN Security Council resolutions and posed a threat to Pyongyang's neighbours. The United States claims to remain open to diplomacy and dialogue with North Korea but, on the other hand, holds a tight reign on the sanctions. France's ambassador to the UN, Nicolas de Riviere specified the need for a 'political dialogue, a political solution, but the precondition is compliance' is a requirement with North Korea alongside the UN Security Council resolutions.
What does this mean?
First, the recent activities highlight the continuing instability in the Korean peninsula. North Korea's push towards nuclear and missile tests threatens its neighbours and the international community. Second, the tests underline North Korea's strategy in using missiles and nuclear weapons as a tool and a leverage at the regional and global levels, however, without much success.
Inspiration4: SpaceX captures new heights, with a three-day mission in space
What happened?
On 15 September, SpaceX launched their first private orbital spaceflight with four all-civilian crew and no professional astronauts. The mission included a billionaire sponsor Jared Isaacman, a healthcare worker, and two contest winners. This mission marks the beginning of SpaceX's venture into the Space Tourism market.
On 18 September, the four civilian astronauts returned to earth, with their capsule landing off the Florida coast Florida after a three-day mission. Extending his encouragement from the International Space Station, French astronaut Thomas Pesquet on Twitter said, "No matter if you're a professional or not, when you get strapped to a rocket and launch into space, we have something in common. All the very best from, well, space."
What is the background?
First, the mission. The three-day orbital mission included four all civilian crew members. Jared Isaacman is the primary donor and is now the third billionaire to launch a tourist mission to Outer Space during July-September 2021. The crew included a 29-year-old bone cancer survivor who works as a physician assistant. The other two crew members are winners of sweepstakes - a 42-year-old data engineer, and a 51-year-old community college educator. The mission used a recycled Falcon Rocket, launched from the Kennedy Space Center Pad, which was previously used by three of SpaceX's astronaut flights for NASA. This time, the Dragon Capsule aimed for an altitude of 575 kilometres, which is 160 kilometres higher than the International Space Station.
Second, the significance of the mission. The Inspiration4 mission marks the third space tourism mission and the first orbital tourism mission. The mission took an all-civilian crew for a period of three days, longer than the earlier two initiatives. The mission portrays three important issues; diverse crew with minimal training; clever strategy to raise funds; sustainable use of technology in outer space by launching a reused rocket and capsule.
Third, the emergence of the private space industry and space tourism. Three American space-based companies are leading the industry. They are likely to initiate several alternative modes of space tourism. After successfully displaying their capability, these private companies can be expected to begin tourism services from 2022. SpaceX has already announced its next trip with a crew of three wealthy businessmen and a retired NASA astronaut in early 2022. Other countries are expected to join the tourism market. The Russians have also announced that they would be launching an actress, film director, and a Japanese tycoon to the Space Station in the following months.
What does it mean?
2021 should be seen as the year of the steady expansion of space tourism. The activities of the Inspiration4 crew would be released as a Netflix documentary and are known to be conducting scientific experiments. This would confirm that outer space is accessible to all kinds of civilians and also promise to offer a relatively sustainable travel experience. Though tourism capabilities have been shown, every participant would still need a few months of training before they are launched to outer space. Also, other issues need to be addressed: legal clarity on the liability, insurance, and monitoring measures to ensure the safety of investments.
Europe: The Annual State of the EU address 2021 by President Ursula von der Leyen
What happened?
On 15 September, the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the European Parliament on the State of the Union in Strasbourg, France. A large portion of her annual State of the European Union (SOTEU) speech dedicated itself to climate change, the importance of European youth, and the larger issues affecting the bloc. She said: "But as I look back on this past year, if I look at the state of the Union today, I see a strong soul in everything that we do... We did that together as Commission, as Parliament, as 27 Member States. As one Europe. And we can be proud of it."
What is the background?
First, the primary issues of the speech. In her second SOTEU speech, von der Leyen primarily focused on two issues impacting Europe – climate change and the pandemic. Recalling the recent European summer - the Belgian and German floods, the wildfires from Greece to France, and placing this alongside the latest IPCC report implied tackling climate change held utmost priority. Calling the Union to resemble the present generation as it was one with a conscience, she stressed the importance of the European youth in bringing about climate awareness. Along with commending the European Green Deal and related schemes, an additional EUR four billion was proposed to finance poorer countries fighting climate change. She also urged speeding up the global vaccination rates to avoid a case of the 'pandemic of the unvaccinated'. Acknowledging the supply disparity between rich and poor countries, an additional 200 million doses were also pledged to low-income countries fighting the pandemic.
Second, other issues covered. A range of other issues like defense, security, freedom, migration, etc was covered. Citing the sudden fall of Kabul to the Taliban, calls for women's rights and the importance of regional security was emphasized. An Afghan support package will be unveiled in the coming weeks alongside EU's jointly financed humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan being furthered another EUR 100 million.
Third, proposed plans. One of the primary proposals was HERA – Europe's health crisis body to increase preparedness and future response measures to pandemics. A European Chips Act, which would boost Europe's microchip industry to rival the US and China was another major proposal. A unified approach wherein member states wouldn't compete within the bloc but build together to create a 'state of the art ecosystem' of microchip companies. This decision comes after Europe suffered a chips shortage due to global supply chain disruptions. Von der Leyen maintained that it was not just a matter of competitiveness but of 'tech sovereignty'. The much deliberated-upon "Global Gateway' project was also promised by the EC Chief as she stated her intention to 'create links and not dependencies', hinting at Europe participating in China's BRI.
Fourth, reprimands in the SOTEU address. The EC President sharply criticized Belarus' instrumentalization of migrants and said that the move was not appreciated. Further, she vowed that no concessions over democratic standards would be made regarding battles with Poland and Hungary. In fact, they were threatened with more legal action and blocking of funds.
Fifth, China as a priority. Though Beijing's climate goals were praised, she enquired on how it intended to achieve them. Europe's 'Global Gateway' scheme and the new EU-Indo Pacific strategy, are both seen as a counter to China. A move to ban Chinese goods produced by forced labour was also announced. The rise of China seemed to be a primary focus of her speech as Xi Jinping's name found a mention in her speech over USA's Biden.
What does it mean?
Von der Leyen's concluding note maintained that the EU would undergo a test of character next year as well. Her prioritization of climate and the pandemic showed what the EU will be focused on. Without sounding complacent, she commended the actions taken by the bloc while reprimanding undemocratic moves within. The rising China and efforts to balance this will be another EU focus.
Also, in the news …
By Sukanya Bali, Avishka Ashok and Juan Mary Joseph
East and Southeast Asia This Week
China: IMF Chief denies pressurizing World Bank staff on data
On 18 September, IMF Chief Kristalina Georgieva denied the allegation of pressuring World Bank staff "to alter data to favor China," during her tenure as its CEO. Reuters reported, Georgieva told IMF staff, "Let me put it very simply to you. Not true. Neither in this case nor before or after, I have put pressure on staff to manipulate data." Georgieva showed her discontentment with the report which was prepared by the law firm, WilmerHale.
China: The US resumes talks with Huawei
On 17 September, The Globe and Mail reported, "the US has resumed discussions with Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. and lawyers for Meng Wanzhou about a possible deferred prosecution agreement for the Chinese executive." The agreement will allow Meng, Chief Financial Officer of Huawei to return to Beijing. The report also stated the US will end the extradition request and criminal proceedings against Meng if she pleads guilty and pays a fine.
China: Shenzhou 12 returns after a 90-day mission
On 17 September, Shenzhou 12 with three Chinese astronauts returned after a three-month mission from the new space station, to earth. The state media reported: "Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming, and Tang Hongbo – landed safely in the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia in the north of China." According to China Manned Space: "Up to now, the Shenzhou 12 astronaut crew has worked and lived in the space station complex for 90 days, setting a record for Chinese astronauts' space residence time in a single mission."
China: Tariff on 81 products from the US exempted
On 16 September, Beijing extended tariff exemption on 81 products imported from the US. Reuters reported China's Finance Ministry said, "The items had received exemptions from retaliatory tariffs imposed by China on US goods as countermeasures to US Section 301 action." The report added, these exemptions had now been extended until April 2022. Prior to this, Beijing's last extension included gold ore and rare earth metal ore.
China: Xi urges SCO to help Afghan transition; Chinese experts warn India not to 'poison' the cooperation
On 17 September, Chinese state media reported, President Xi Jinping said, "the SCO should help drive a smooth transition in Afghanistan. The member states should guide Afghanistan to develop an inclusive political structure and follow moderate internal and external policies." Global times reported, Chinese experts warned India to not "poison" cooperation under the SCO, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the Afghan issue and connectivity with Central Asia.
Taiwan: Chinese aircrafts enter Taipei air defense zone
On 17 September, ten Chinese aircrafts entered the Taiwan air defense zone. The Taiwan Defense Ministry said: "The latest Chinese mission involved 6 J-16 and 2 J-11 fighters plus one anti-submarine and one reconnaissance aircraft." The ministry also added: "Taiwan sent combat aircraft to warn away the Chinese aircraft, while missile systems were deployed to monitor them." According to the map issued by the ministry, the aircraft flew in an area close to Pratas island and Bashi Channel which separates Taiwan from the Philippines.
Taiwan: Calls on the EU for trade talks amidst the Chinese threats
On 17 September, ANI reported that Taiwan called on the European Union for trade talks as the latter wanted to bolster its economic relationship with the former. Taiwan has initiated the call for pre-negotiation work to start on the Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) after the European Commission adopted the EU Strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. The Commission's newly released report described Taiwan as an important partner to establish semiconductor supply chains, and to have a dialogue on data protection. China had earlier this month expressed opposition to an "EU-Taiwan Political Relations and Cooperation" report saying that it violates the country's "One-China principle."
South Korea: Chinese Foreign Minister visits Seoul
On 14 September, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Seoul, as part of a four-nation Asia tour. Wang Yi met President Moon Jae and agreed to boost ties. Wang said, "China and South Korea are inseparable neighbours, as well as mutually beneficial and win-win partners." He also said, "China firmly supports the efforts of the two Koreas to overcome difficulties, remove interference and improve relations."
Thailand: Lawmakers pass draft legislation against torture and abduction
On 17 September, a draft law "against torture and forced disappearance" passed the first reading in the Thai Parliament. The Jakarta Post reported, according to the UN, since 1980, there have been more than 80 disappearances. Move Forward Party MP Rangsiman Rome said, "This is considered as an initial success after we waited for a year and a half for the draft bill."
Malaysia: Bipartisan deal signed between government and opposition bloc PH
On 13 September, a bipartisan deal was signed between the Malaysian government and opposition bloc Pakatan Harapan (PH), under which "Malaysia is not expected to go to the polls for at least another year." The deal was called a Memorandum of Understanding for Transformation and Political Stability and covered six main reform areas that include transforming administration and empowering Parliament. Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said, "The 'Malaysian Family' spirit stresses unity, camaraderie, and togetherness. This has manifested itself in the MOU between the government and (Harapan) this evening."
Myanmar: Aung San Suu Kyi corruption trial to begin from 1 October
On 18 September, Aung San Suu Kyi's lawyer said, the trial on corruption charges against the leader will begin from 1 October. Lawyer Khin Maung said, "the judge declared the trial would be held at the Special Court in the capital, Naypyidaw, on every other Friday." Suu Kyi has been charged with five cases. The upcoming trial will focus on charges of sedition, violation of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, illegal importing walkie-talkies, and the unlicensed use of the radios.
Myanmar: Military junta arrests of two journalists
On 17 September, two Myanmar journalists were arrested by junta forces. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a total of 53 journalists have been held since the military coup. RSF said, "Since the military's 1 February coup, Myanmar has become the world's second-biggest jailer of journalists, after China." Irrawaddy stated, the journalist was charged under "Section 505(a) of the Penal Code, which criminalizes the spreading of false comments or fake news targeting government officials."
South Asia This Week
India: US climate envoy's visit
On 14 September, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, made a pitch for India to reduce emissions to "net-zero" (carbon-neutral) by 2050 during his two days visit to India. The call for the pledge at the upcoming COP26 summit in the UK in November, is to ensure global warming is held at 1.5 degrees Celsius. He added that the US was keen on helping India finance its latest target of building 450 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030. However, the Indian government hasn't yet given a commitment date to achieve carbon neutrality and said that it does not consider the "net zero" goal its only priority at present.
India: PM Modi calls for investigation into the origin of COVID-19
On 9 September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the BRICS summit, called for a "transparent investigation" into the origin of COVID-19. Modi said, "Today global governance needs credibility. There must be a transparent investigation into the origins of the virus under the World Health Organisation's framework, and this must receive full cooperation from all countries." According to The Hindu, President Xi urged, "BRICS countries to oppose politicization in origin tracing."
Pakistan: PM Imran Khan visits Tajikistan to attend SCO summit
On 16 September, PM Imran Khan visited Tajikistan to address the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Heads of State (SCO-CHS) Summit. Khan stated: "The Taliban must fulfill the pledges made above all for an inclusive political structure where all ethnic groups are represented. This is vital for Afghanistan's stability...It is now in the international community's collective interest to ensure that there is no renewed conflict in Afghanistan and the security situation is stabilized."
Afghanistan: Donors pledge USD 1.1 billion to help Afghanistan
On 13 September, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, sought USD 606 million to meet Afghanistan's most pressing needs while speaking at the conference seeking. Guterres added that food could run out in Afghanistan by the end of this month, and the World Food Programme said that 14 million people were on the brink of starvation. Donors have pledged more than USD 1.1 billion to help Afghanistan as the political crisis in the country threatens to be a much graver humanitarian crisis.
Central Asia, Middle East and Africa This Week
Tajikistan: CSTO summit calls for funding support for Afghanistan
On 17 September, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, to discuss Afghanistan's probable future at the parallel summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). The leaders also urged the world governments to provide the necessary funding and support to prevent the country from becoming a breeding ground for terrorism and drugs. The appeal to countries to unfreeze Afghanistan's assets and increase the funding support to the government in Afghanistan. Putin said: "I think it also makes sense to work with the United States [and] other Western countries for a gradual unfreezing of Afghanistan's reserves and restoring programs through the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund."
Armenia: Azerbaijan accused of human rights violations at the International Court of Justice
On 16 September, the International Court of Justice accepted Armenia's application which accuses Azerbaijan of human rights abuses against its citizens for decades. The court revealed that the Armenian representative claimed that: "Armenians have been subjected to systemic discrimination, mass killings, torture, and other abuse." While accounting for the violations of human rights, the country also accused Azerbaijan of continuing the torture and murder of the Armenian prisoners of war, hostages and detainees.
Iran: Ambassador to the IAEA rejects reports as unfair and unprofessional
On 16 September, Iran rejected the reports published by the IAEA as "unprofessional" and "unfair" right before the two entities were scheduled to hold a meeting to resolve the issue of the origin of uranium particles at the undeclared sites in Iran. The existence of these particles suggests the presence of undeclared nuclear material at three locations in Iran. The Iranian Ambassador to the IAEA referred to the report and said: "The statement of the Agency in its report is completely unprofessional, illusory and unfair. How is it possible that an insignificant amount of material belonging to two decades ago affect the peaceful nature of the nuclear program of a country, while that country is hosting more than 20 percent of the Agency's inspections at the global level?"
Iran: Shanghai Cooperation Organization grants full membership
On 17 September, the Chinese President Xi Jinping announced at the 21st Summit of the SCO that the organization would accept Iran as a full member. The eight-member countries and the four observers attended the summit when Xi Jinping announced the new developments. Iranian President addressed the gathering and said: "I hope that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which has succeeded in gaining a prominent regional and international position in a short period of time will continue its growing path." He also urged the member countries of the SCO to stay away from sanctions that threaten the world economic exchanges.
Lebanon: IMF provides funding support while the EU introduces sanctions on officials
On 16 September, the newly formed government in Lebanon received USD 1.135 billion from the International Monetary Fund's Special Drawing Rights. However, the government has not yet revealed its plans to use the funds which have been injected at a crucial stage when the country was almost crumbling to a standstill after the shutdown of most power plants and essential services. While these funds may not be enough to kickstart the stalled economy, a resolution was introduced in the European Union's Parliament to sanction corrupt Lebanese officials who restricted the investigation into the Beirut port explosion. The resolution was introduced by Christophe Grudler; he said: "We know who is responsible for the political and the economic crisis: all factions, most ministries, many corrupted MPs. We are writing black and white what everyone in Lebanon knows."
Saudi Arabia: The US moves its advanced missile defence systems
On 17 September, AP News reported that the US removed its advanced missile defence systems from Saudi Arabia after high-resolution images showed a lack of battery pads at the site. Following the finding, the Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby affirmed that some of the defence assets had been moved despite the continued attacks by the Yemeni Houthis. However, he reconfirmed the US support to its allies. He said: "The Defense Department continues to maintain tens of thousands of forces and a robust force posture in the Middle East representing some of our most advanced air power and maritime capabilities, in support of US national interests and our regional partnerships."
Egypt: Government signs 14 MoUs with Unity government in Libya
On 16 September, the Egyptian government signed a series of deals with the Unity government in Libya. The deals include cooperative agreements and infrastructure projects as Egypt tries to engage with its oil-rich neighbour. A total of 14 memorandums were signed with Libya, covering industry, hydrocarbons, agriculture, communications and civil aviation. The deals mark the first engagement of Egypt with the Unity government after it backed it opponent in the previous conflict which lasted for almost a decade.
Sahel: French troops kill IS head in Greater Sahara
On 16 September, the French President Emmanuel Macron reported the death of the head of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi. He referred to the death and called it "another major success in our fight against terrorist groups in the Sahel." Although Macron did not disclose the details of the attack, the French Defence Minister Florence Parly tweeted that the death was caused by Operation Barkhane force's strike. She called it: "a decisive blow against this terrorist group and the fight continues."
Guinea: ECOWAS imposes sanctions on the military government
On 16 September, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions against the military government of Guinea and held it responsible for slowing Mali's post-coup transition. The sanctions include freezing of assets and a travel ban on Guinea's military leaders and their family members and demanded the release of President Alpha Conde. The ECOWAS also pressured Mali to hold elections in February 2022 and come up with an electoral road map by the next month. It also threatened to impose sanctions on anyone who restricted the elections in Mali.
Ethiopia: The US government prepares to sanction individuals and groups
On 17 September, US President Joe Biden gave his consent to sanction individuals and groups engaging in violence and restricting humanitarian aid in Ethiopia. Although the names of the individuals and groups have not been named, the sanctions are considered to be one of the strongest warnings issued by the US to Ethiopia. On the same day, the UN World Food Programme revealed that since July 2021, more than 445 trucks with food had been dispatched to the Tigray region, but only 38 have returned. The lack of trucks has caused an obstacle to international organizations and prevent them from reaching out to the famine-struck population in the region.
Somalia: President restricts Prime Ministers powers
On 16 September, the Somalian President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed suspended the Prime Minister's power to hire and fire until the end of the election later this year, further deepening the conflict in the country. Prime Minister Mohammed Hussein Roble was accused of violating the transitional constitution by President Mohamed. He said: "The prime minister has violated the transitional constitution so his executive powers are withdrawn, especially his powers to remove and to appoint officials, until the election is completed." Roble also reacted to the development by rejecting the order and said: "The prime minister reminds the president to preserve the principles of the constitution of the separation of powers of the government's institutions."
Europe and The Americas This Week
Russia: Apple and Google delete the Navalny app on the day of the parliamentary vote
On 17 September, jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's aides said that Apple and Google have deleted Navalny's apps from their online stores after Russian authorities threatened jail terms for their employees. The app contained recommendations for Navalny supporters to cast their ballots in favour of challengers to the pro-Putin ruling United Russia party during the Sept. 17-19 poll. The move comes as the elections are being overshadowed by an unprecedented crackdown on the opposition. The tech giants succumbed to state pressure a month after Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor issued a takedown order, citing a court ruling that declared the opposition leader's network as "extremist."
Russia: WHO suspends Sputnik V approval process over manufacturing breaches
On 16 September, the World Health Organization (WHO) suspended its approval process for Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine after an inspection of at least one Russian factory manufacturing the vaccine. WHO officials said at a press briefing that Russia's bid for emergency authorization of the vaccine had been put on hold after a number of manufacturing infringements were uncovered during a WHO inspection in Russia in May. The WHO had previously found multiple infringements and raised concerns relating to the risks of cross-contamination at a Pharmstandard factory in the Russian city of Ufa. The health organization suggested that new inspections of the facilities would be required before the body would grant approval to Sputnik V.
France: Paris attacks trial defendant blames military action as the cause
On 15 September, Salah Abdeslam, the main defendant in the trial and the only surviving member of the IS cell responsible for the November 2015 Paris attacks, sought to justify the murder of 130 people as retaliation for French military action against Islamic State (IS) jihadists. Relatives and survivors in the courtroom were upset by his latest remark, even as he disrupted the trial with two outbursts in the past week. Some of the survivors of the attack are to start giving evidence later this month. He singled out former President François Hollande and said that the authorized air strikes on IS militants in Syria which didn't distinguish between men, women, and children, made the militants want "France to go through the same pain". He rejected the terms "terrorists" and "radicalism" and told the court that theirs was an "authentic Islam".
France: More than 400 migrants cross the Channel in three days
On 17 September, the Home Office confirmed that more than 400 migrants crossed the English Channel in the past three days. The French authorities stopped 267 people from making the crossing in nine boats over the same period. More than 15,100 people have reached the UK in small boats this year. About 8,400 people made the crossing in 2020, four times greater than 2019.
Belarus: Lukashenko eyes $1 billion arms deal with Russia
On 12 September, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko visited the Zapad military exercises underway with Russia and announced the plan to acquire $1 billion worth of weapons from Russia by 2025. He said that they were prepared to counter the West's 'hybrid aggression'. The drill, which unsettled neighbouring Poland and Ukraine, concluded three days later. Russian President Vladimir Putin had overseen the live drills and visited the troops previously.
The UK: Boris Johnson reshuffles cabinet to replace ministers under fire
On 15 September, after months of criticism of top ministers in his cabinet, British PM Boris Johnson began reshuffling the cabinet to align with his 'levelling up' agenda to boost the economies of England. Foreign Minister Dominic Raab, who was under fire for his handling of the Kabul fall was demoted to Justice Minister. Other reshufflings included that of the education secretary and the housing secretary.
Netherlands: Foreign minister and defence minister resign over the Afghan evacuation crisis
On 17 September, Dutch defence minister Ank Bijleveld became the second cabinet member to resign over the Afghan evacuation debacle preceded by the resignation of foreign minister Sigrid Kaag. Kaag had lost a no-confidence vote over her mishandling of refugee evacuation in Afghanistan last month after which she resigned. During a parliamentary debate later, she conceded that the government's response to the worsening situation had been slow, implying evacuation of a lot of Dutch and associates weren't evacuated in time. The Dutch ministers are believed to be the first western officials to resign over the chaos after the Taliban's takeover of Kabul, although Britain's Dominic Raab was demoted as foreign secretary earlier this week.
Haiti: PM sacks justice minister amid murder inquiry
On 17 September, Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry sacked the justice minister after the latter backed prosecutor Bed-Ford Claude who sought charges against the former over the murder of President Jovenel Moïse on 7 July. The government is in disarray as senior officials are resigning, saying that they won't work under a prime minster "who had come under suspicion for the murder of the president". The investigation took a dramatic turn last when the prosecutor sent a letter to the Prime Minister which had phone records showing that the latter had phone conversations with one of the key suspects just hours after the president was killed.' The suspect - former justice official Joseph Felix Badio - is suspected of giving the order to Colombian gunmen to kill the president. Police have arrested 44 people - including 18 former Colombian soldiers - in connection with the killing but it is not yet clear who ordered the killing.
Argentina: President reshuffles cabinet after crisis within the coalition
On 18 September, Argentine President Alberto Fernandez reshuffled his cabinet to draw a line on fighting within the governing Peronist Judicialist Party, which seemed to threaten the government coalition. The move was preceded by the powerful Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner's criticism of the government. The reshuffle has seen new ministers in the key roles of Cabinet chief, foreign minister and agricultural minister. The president's office said that Regional Governor Juan Manzur would take over as Cabinet chief, replacing Santiago Cafiero who will now become the foreign minister.
Venezuela: UN investigative report says that the judiciary contributes to rights abuses
On 16 September 2021, UN investigators said in a news report that judges and prosecutors in Venezuela have played a significant role in serious rights violations against government opponents. According to the report, the lack of judicial independence and the deficiencies in the justice system have allowed violations, including the use of torture, to continue with impunity.
The US: Pentagon acknowledges 29 August Afghan drone strike was a mistake that killed ten civilians.
On 16 September, the Pentagon acknowledged that the last US drone strike before American troops withdrew from Afghanistan was a tragic mistake that killed ten civilians, including seven children, after initially saying it had been necessary to prevent an attack on troops. The acknowledgement will place President Biden and the Pentagon at the centre of a growing number of investigations on how the administration and the military carried out the order to withdraw from Afghanistan.
The US: California to examine tighter rules for recall elections after Newsom victory
On 15 September, Reuters reported that Californian lawmakers, including the Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments, are considering ways to reform the state's system for recalling elected officials. The move comes after the recently concluded elections saw voters rejecting a Republican effort to oust the Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom.
The US: Blinken defends Afghan withdrawal at a congressional hearing
On 13 September, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken defended President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan at a congressional hearing where at least two Republicans called for his resignation. He blamed the previous administration for lacking a plan when the former Republican President Donald Trump had negotiated the withdrawal agreement with the Taliban. He said that this absence of plans stopped the State Department from helping Americans and at-risk Afghans from being evacuated. He added that the current Biden administration couldn't renegotiate due to threats from the Taliban to resume killing Americans.'
The US: Security measures for an upcoming pro-Trump rally
On 17 September, the Department of Homeland Security warned to boost security measures against the possibility of potential violence at a planned pro-Trump rally that supports people charged with the deadly riot in January. The "Justice For J6" rally is expected to bring hundreds of far-right demonstrators in the District of Columbia.
The US: Navy, Boeing conducts first refuelling between unmanned tanker and F-35C
On 15 September, the US Navy's MQ-25 Stingray unmanned tanker conducted its first aerial refuelling with an F-35C Joint Strike Fighter, the third aircraft type to take fuel from the Navy's unmanned system.
The US: Celebration of one year of Abraham Accords
On 14 September 2021, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed the yearlong success of the Abraham Peace Accords at the Abraham Accords Institute of Peace. He acknowledged the presence of the UAE, Bahrain and Israel in the meeting along with Egypt, Jordan, Sudan and Morocco. He said: "We will continue to urge more countries to normalize relations with Israel – and will look for other opportunities to expand cooperation among countries in the region. As a result, I expect Israel's group of friends to grow even wider in the year ahead."
About the Authors
Lokendra Sharma and Harini Madhusudan are PhD Scholars in the School of Conflict and Security Studies at the National Institute of Advanced Studies. Joeana Cera Matthews and Keerthana Nambiar are postgraduate scholars in the Department of International Relations in the University of Mysore. Sukanya Bali and Avishka Ashok are Research Associates at NIAS. Juan Mary Joseph is a research intern at NIAS.
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Madhura Mahesh
The FTX Collapse: Depleting cryptocurrencies
Harini Madhusudan
The Space race: Scaling new technological feats
Avishka Ashok
G20: More challenges
Akriti Sharma
COP27: Hits and Misses
Padmashree Anandhan
The Ukraine War
Poulomi Mondal
French Exit from Mali: More questions than answers
Mohaimeen Khan
Yemen, Syria, and Sudan: Continuing humanitarian crises
Padmashree Anandhan
NATO and the Madrid Summit: Expanding defence frontiers
Padmashree Anandhan
Elections in France, Sweden, and Italy: The rise of the right
Janardhan G
North Korea: Missile Tests Galore
Avishka Ashok
The Taiwan Strait: Political and military assertions
Anu Maria Joseph
Ethiopia: Uncertainties despite ceasefire
Apoorva Sudhakar
Tunisia: The end of the Jasmine Revolution
Rashmi BR
Iraq: Deadlock and breakthrough
Kaviyadharshini A
Iran: Anti-government protests
Chrishari de Alwis Gunasekare
Sri Lanka: Political and Economic Crises
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Myanmar: The coup and after
NIAS Africa Team
The US-Africa Leaders Summit
IPRI Team
Workers strike in the UK
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | End of Operation Barkhane
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | The ceasefire in Ethiopia
IPRI Team
Drone attacks in Russia
Vignesh Ram | Assistant Professor | Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal
Malaysia’s recent Elections: More questions than answers
Vignesh Ram
Anwar Ibrahim: Malaysia's new Prime Minister
Harini Madhusudan, Rishma Banerjee, Padmashree Anandhan, Ashwin Immanuel Dhanabalan, and Avishka Ashok
What next for Russia, Ukraine, Europe, South Asia & India, and China
Padmashree Anandhan and Rishma Banerjee
UNGA 77: Who said what from Europe?
Rashmi BR and Akriti Sharma
COP27: Ten key takeaways
Rashmi Ramesh
Ice Melt in Alps in Europe: Three impacts
Rishma Banerjee
Tracing Europe's droughts
Padmashree Anandhan
Major causes behind Europe’s continuing heatwaves
Emmanuel Selva Royan
100 days of the Ukraine war: US Responses in the war
Padmashree Anandhan
100 days of the Ukraine war: What next for Europe?
Ashwin Immanuel Dhanabalan
100 days of the Ukraine war: More loss than gain for Russia
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Challenges to peace in Eastern Congo
Avishka Ashok | Research Associate | National Institute of Advanced Studies
20th Party Congress of the Communist Party of China: Major takaways
Angelin Archana | Assistant Professor, Women’s Christian College, Chennai
China's response to the Ukraine crisis: Shaped by its relationship with Russia and EU under the US Shadow
Shreya Upadhyay | Assistant Professor, Christ (Deemed to be University), Bangalore
Transatlantic Ties in the Wake of Ukraine-Russia War
Uma Purushothaman | Assistant Professor, Central University of Kerala, Kerala
Ukraine and beyond: The US Strategies towards Russia
Debangana Chatterjee | Assistant Professor, JAIN (Deemed-to-be University), Bangalore
Lessons from Ukraine War: Effectiveness of Sanctions
Himani Pant | Research Fellow, ICWA, Delhi
Ukraine and beyond: What next for Russia and Europe?
Sethuraman Nadarajan
Israel-Lebanon Maritime Border Deal
Avishka Ashok
G20 Summit: Four takeaways from Bali
NIAS Africa Team
China-Africa relations: Looking back and looking ahead
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Chad's political crisis
Sourina Bej
Elections in Sweden
Padmashree Anandhan
Italy's far-right wins 2022 elections
Padmashree Anandhan
Putin’s address in the Valdai Discussion: Six takeaways
Devjyoti Saha
Solomon Islands’ China card: Three reasons why
NIAS Africa Team
Floods in West Africa: Nigeria and beyond
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Famine in Somalia
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Kenya Elections 2022
IPRI Team
Protests in Iran
IPRI Team
Clashes between Armenia-Azerbaijan
Padmashree Anandhan
Queen Elizabeth: End of an era
Padmashree Anandhan
Russia and Eastern Economic Forum 2022: A sturdy Far East
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | The reinvention of Al Shabab
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Lavrov's visit to Africa
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Macron's visit to Africa
GP Team
Floods and Emergency in Pakistan
IPRI Team
Six months of War in Ukraine
GP Team
Regional round-ups
Padmashree Anandhan
Who will be the next UK prime minister: Liss Truss v. Rishi Sunak
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Tunisia's political crisis
NIAS Africa Team
Tunisia’s political crisis: Five questions
NIAS Africa Team
Tribal conflict in Blue Nile: Causes and Implications
STIR Team
Geopolitics of Semiconductors
Padmashree Anandhan
France: Uber files leak, and Macron’s trouble
Emmanuel Selva Royan
Italy: Three factors about its current political instability
NIAS Africa Team
Sudan-Ethiopia border tensions and a profile of Blaise Compaoré
NIAS Africa Team
Africa’s continuing migration problem: Three issues
STIR Team
China in Space: Shenzhou-13 and Tiangong
NIAS Africa Team
Africa’s displacement crises: Three key drivers
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Into the Sixth Decade of African Unity
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Communal Tensions in Ethiopia
Padmashree Anandhan
What does Macron's victory mean for France and the EU
Rishma Banerjee
The rise of Marine Le Pen
Sourina Bej
Four challenges ahead for President Macron
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Mali ends defence ties with France
GP Team
New US assistance for Ukraine
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | UK-Rwanda asylum deal
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Africa, Russia, and the War in Ukraine
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Political Crisis in Tunisia
GP Team
Russia's gas ultimatum to Europe
IPRI Team
30 days of War in Ukraine
NIAS Africa Team
60 years of Algerian independence
IPRI Team
Sri Lanka’s worsening economic crisis
NIAS Africa Team
In Focus: Libya
IPRI Team
The end of Denmark’s Inuit experiment
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS | Europe and Africa: Will AU and EU be equal partners?
Anu Maria Joseph
Europe and Africa: Will AU and EU be equal partners?
Ashwin Immanuel Dhanabalan
Lecture report: Ukraine, Russia and Europe
Joeana Cera Matthews
Into History: Northern Ireland and Bloody Sunday, 50 years later
Nireekshan Bollimpalli
Africa’s slow COVID vaccination continues. Four reasons why
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS: Conflict over the Nile Dam
NIAS Africa Team
IN FOCUS: Instability in Burkina Faso
Padmashree Anandhan
Munich Security Report: Six takeaways
Joeana Cera Matthews
Europe and Africa: An elusive search for an equal partnership
Ashwin Immanuel Dhanabalan
Femicides in Europe: The case of France
Padmashree Anandhan
Post Brexit: Three challenges in Northern Ireland
Porkkodi Ganeshpandian and Angkuran Dey
The return of the Left
Ashwin Immanuel Dhanabalan
Lithuania and China: Vilnius has become Beijing’s Achilles heel. Four reasons why
Mohamad Aseel Ummer
Africa: The anti-France sentiments in Mali and beyond
Shalini Balaiah
The Middle East in 2021: Never-ending wars and conflicts
Angelin Archana
Russia in 2021: Expanding boundaries
Prakash Panneerselvam
East Asia in 2021: New era of hegemonic competition
Apoorva Sudhakar
Coup in Burkina Faso: Five things to know
Joeana Cera Matthews
In Europe, abortion rights are "a privilege." Four reasons why
Padmashree Anandhan
Mapping COVID-19 protests in Europe: Who and Why
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Pakistan, US and Russia: Putin Online, Biden Offline
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
The unrest in Kazakhstan: Look beyond the trigger
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Deepening Pakistan-Russia ties
D. Suba Chandran
Justice Ayesha: Breaking the Legal Ceiling
Ankit Singh
Pakistan's Judiciary in 2021
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Same Page Story: Civil-Military Relations in 2021
D. Suba Chandran
Pakistan's Foreign Policy in 2021
Ankit Singh
Pakistan’s economy in 2021: Major highlights
Ankit Singh
Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank
Apoorva Sudhakar
The PDM is back, again
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Qureshi’s visit to Brussels: Three takeaways
GP Team
The Complete Compendium for 2021
GP Team
The Americas in 2021
GP Team
Europe in 2021
GP Team
Middle East and Africa in 2021
GP Team
South Asia in 2021
Apoorva Sudhakar
Protests in Gwadar: Four major highlights
Ankit Singh
Mini budget, IMF and a contemporary puzzle.
Ankit Singh
Pappu Sain bids adieu to the world
Apoorva Sudhakar
Smog, pollution and more: Deteriorating air quality in Pakistan
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
PTI’s secret dealing with the TTP and TLP
Vaishnavi Iyer
France, Algeria, and the politics over an apology
Joeana Cera Matthews
NATO-Russia relationship: Looking beyond the suspensions and expulsions
D. Suba Chandran
PTI’s TLP flip-flop and a secret deal
Apoorva Sudhakar
The increasing curbs on digital media freedom in Pakistan
Padmashree Anandhan
Facebook's Metaverse: Why it matters to Europe
Joeana Cera Matthews
Poland, EU and PolExit. It is complicated, for three reasons
Harini Madhusudhan
Europe's Energy Crisis and Gazprom
D. Suba Chandran
TLP: The government caves in again
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
TLP is back again
Apoorva Sudhakar | Project Associate, School of Conflict and Security Studies, NIAS
Pakistan’s transgender community: The long road ahead
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Since January 2021: Why the US President has not called Pakistan’s Prime Minister so far?
Apoorva Sudhakar
No honour in honour killing
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
The Military Reshuffle: A strategic or routine decision?
D. Suba Chandran
Dr AQ Khan: Between a national hero and a nuclear proliferator
Apoorva Sudhakar
Rising child abuse in Pakistan: Five reasons why
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Hazara Persecution in Pakistan: No end in sight
D. Suba Chandran
Protests in Gwadar: Who and Why
Chetna Vinay Bhora
Europe's Energy Crisis: It could get worse. Five reasons why
STIR Team
Cover Story: War against Malaria
Aswathy Koonampilly
Japan: New Prime Minister, Old party
GP Team
Europe's Energy Crisis
STIR Team
The Science and Politics of Materials
Sourina Bej
France: Paris Terror Trial
Harini Madhusudan
Belarus: Weaponization of the Migrant Crisis
Juan Mary Joseph
Attacks on Chinese Investments in Pakistan: Who, Where And Why?
Joeana Cera Matthews
Haiti: Two months after the assassination, the storm is still brewing
Joeana Cera Matthews
From Crimea to Navalny: Putin's calibrated Europe strategy
Joeana Cera Matthews
Nord Stream-2: Why is the region unhappy about the pipeline?
Lokendra Sharma
Two months of Cuban protests: Is the ‘revolution’ ending?
GP Team
The New Afghanistan
STIR Team
Climate Change and Energy Options
Apoorva Sudhakar
Digital Pakistan: Idea, Potential and Challenges
Anu Maria Joseph
South Africa: What is behind the pro-Zuma protests?
Dincy Adlakha
China and Russia in Myanmar: The interests that bind
Sarthak Jain
Nord Stream 2 is Russia’s geopolitical victory
Jeshil J Samuel
REvil is dead. Long live REvil
STIR Team
Space Tourism
Keerthana Rajesh Nambiar
The EU Summit 2021: Five Takeaways
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Impending famine in Tigray, should make Ethiopia everyone's problem
Anu Maria Joseph
Too late and too little is Ethiopia's international problem
Sankalp Gurjar
Africa's Ethiopia Problem
Apoorva Sudhakar
Ethiopia's Tigray problem is Tigray's Ethiopia problem
Lokendra Sharma
The future of nuclear energy looks bleak
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Five reasons why Afghanistan is closer to a civil war
Mohamad Aseel Ummer
Migration in Africa: Origin, Drivers and Destinations
Dincy Adlakha
The new three-child policy is two decades too late
Dincy Adlakha
Loud Echoes of the National Security Law in China
Joeana Cera Matthews
Farfetched goals on pandemic recovery, climate action and economic revival
STIR Team
Rare Earths and the Global Resource Race
SDP Scholar
The Rise and Reign of Ransomware
Gurpreet Singh
India and the geopolitics of supply chains
Chetna Vinay Bhora
Spain, Morocco and the rise of rightwing politics in Europe over immigration
Vibha Venugopal
The return of Taliban will be bad news for women
Udbhav Krishna P
Revisiting the recent violence: Three takeaways
Joeana Cera Matthews
For the Economist, Taiwan is the most dangerous place. The argument is complicated
Apoorva Sudhakar
15 of the 23 global hunger hotspots are in Africa. Three reasons why
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
The US decision to withdraw is a call made too early. Three reasons why
Lokendra Sharma
Learning from Cuba's vaccine development efforts
V S Ramamurthy and Dinesh K Srivastava
An energy mix of renewables and nuclear is the most viable option
Lokendra Sharma
Deadly second wave spirals into a humanitarian disaster
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
The US-Taliban Deal: One Year Later
Akriti Sharma
The Quad Plus and the search beyond the four countries
Apoorva Sudhakar
India's Endgames, Roles and Limitations in Quad
Sukanya Bali
Tracing the Quad's evolution in the last two decades
Apoorva Sudhakar
Ethiopia: Five fallouts of the military offensive in Tigray
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Afghanistan: The recent surge in targeted killing vs the troops withdrawal
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
In Honduras, a move towards a permanent ban on abortion laws
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Civilian protests vs military: Three factors will decide the outcome in Myanmar
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Trump’s Climate Change legacy: Disruption and Denial
Apoorva Sudhakar
Trump’s Iran legacy: Maximum pressure, minimum results
N Manoharan and Drorima Chatterjee
Five ways India can detangle the fishermen issue with Sri Lanka
IPRI Team
Coup in Myanmar and Protests in Russia
D Suba Chandran
The PDM differences, Gwadar fencing, and Lakhvi's arrest
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Nagorno-Karabakh: Rekindled fighting, Causalities and a Ceasefire
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Thailand: For the pro-democracy protests, it is a long march ahead
Harini Madhusudan
Brexit: A year of the UK-EU transition talks and finally, a Deal
Apoorva Sudhakar
Ethiopia: The conflict in Tigray and the regional fallouts
Aparaajita Pandey
The Americas: Top Five Developments
Teiborlang T Kharsyntiew
Europe: Top five developments
Sandip Kumar Mishra
East Asia: Top Five developments in 2020
Harini Madhusudan
Outer Space in 2020: Missions, Privatization, and the Artemis Accords
Sukanya Bali
5G, Huawei and TikTok: Four trends in 2020
Sumedha Chatterjee
COVID-19: How the world fought in 2020
Harini Madhusudan
The Vaccine Rush: Expectations vs Realities
Harini Madhusudan
Open Skies Treaty: The US should not have withdrawn, for five reasons
Savithri Sellapperumage
Kamala Harris makes history
Mallika Devi
China is against the Quad. Five reasons why
Srikumar Pullat
Space of Tomorrow: The Need for Space Security
Tamanna Khosla
Japan: New Prime Minister, Old Challenges
Vaishali Handique
Not just regime change: Women and protest movements in Sudan
Sneha Tadkal
Technology in contemporary global protest movements
Chavindi Weerawansha
Students as agents of change: Protest movements in Zimbabwe
Anju Annie Mammen
“Unveiling”: Women and protest movements in the Middle East
Harini Madhusudan
‘The Revolution of Our Times’: Protests in Hong Kong
Samreen Wani
Lebanon: Can Macron's visit prevent the unravelling?
Harini Madhusudan
The Legacy of Shinzo Abe. It is Complicated.
Boa Wang
Two Sessions in Beijing
Boa Wang
How China fought the COVID-19
N. Manoharan
Is COVID-19 a Bio-weapon from China?
Prof PM Soundar Rajan
Is there an overlap of 5G Networks and COVID hotspots?
Rashmi Ramesh
Will COVID-19 provide a new agenda to the NAM?
Harini Madhusudan
Iran's New Military Satellite: Does it violate the UNSC 2231?
Jenice Jean Goveas
Epidemics through History
Sanduni Atapattu
Preventing hatred and suspicion would be a bigger struggle
Chavindi Weerawansha
A majority in the minority community suffers, for the action of a few
Chrishari de Alwis Gunasekare
The Cardinal sermons for peace, with a message to forgive
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Who and Why of the Perpetrators
Natasha Fernando
In retrospect, where did we go wrong?
Ruwanthi Jayasekara
Build the power of Co-existence, Trust, Gender and Awareness
N Manoharan
New ethnic faultlines at macro and micro levels
Asanga Abeyagoonasekera
A year has gone, but the pain has not vanished
Jenice Jean Goveas
In India, the glass is half full for the women
Fatemah Ghafori
In Afghanistan, there is no going back for the women
Lakshmi V Menon
The decline in terrorism in Pakistan in 2019
Rashmi Ramesh
The EU and the Arctic: The interest is not mutual. Why?
Rashmi Ramesh
Iceland, Denmark and Norway: Small is Big in the Arctic
Harini Madhusudan
The Non-Arctic powers: Interests of Japan and South Korea
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Malaysia: New PM, Old Challenges
Lakshmi V Menon
Pakistan to remain “Grey”; North Korea and Iran in “Black”
Rashmi Ramesh
Trump's India Visit: Optics, Substance and Rhetoric
Kabi Adhikari
The controversial MCC Nepal Compact
Malini Sethuraman
ISIS post Baghdadi: Will there be another Caliphate in 2020?
Aarathi Srinivasan
Climate Change: The Economy of the Indian Ocean Region in 2020
Prathiksha Ravi
Israel and the Middle East: The New Alliance Plans in 2020
Padmini Anilkumar
Middle East: The Return of Russia in 2020
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Sudan and Algeria: Road to Democracy in 2020
Lakshmi V Menon
Syria: ISIS Decline, US Retreat and the Return of Russia in 2020
Harini Madhusudan
The US-China Trade Dispute: Towards further disruptions in 2020
Parikshith Pradeep
The US under Donald Trump: The Fall of an Empire in 2020
Vivek Mishra
After Soleimani assassination: Options for the US
Sukanya Bali
Iran, Iraq and the US: Who wants what?
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Old problems to persist with no solutions in the near term
Aashiyana Adhikari
Indian and Chinese investments in Nepal: Managing asymmetry
Shailesh Nayak | Director, National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS)
Blue Economy and India: An Introduction
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
North Africa in 2019: A year of protests, with some positive results
Sukanya Bali
Hong Kong in 2019: China's New Achilles Heel
Harini Madhusudan
The US-China Trade Dispute in 2019: Towards a thaw in 2020?
Parikshith Pradeep
The US in 2019: Trump rollsout a template for a global American retreat
Rashmi Ramesh
The Arctic Littorals: Iceland and Greenland
Harini Madhusudan
The Polar Silk Route: China's ambitious search in the Arctic
GP Team
Syria: Who wants what?
Harini Madhusudan
Violence in Hong Kong: Will the protests end?
Rashmi Ramesh
Is Catalonia Spain’s Hong Kong?
D. Suba Chandran
Why an Arctic foray is essential for India
Parikshith Pradeep
Russia's Polar Military Edge
Nidhi Dalal
Protests rock Chile, Bolivia and Haiti
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Will prosecuting Suu Kyi resolve the Rohingya problem?
Lakshman Chakravarthy N & Rashmi Ramesh
Climate Change: Four Actors, No Action
Sukanya Bali
Brexit: Preparing for the Worst Case
Lakshman Chakravarthy N
5G: A Primer
Rashmi Ramesh
From Okjökull to OK: Death of a Glacier in Iceland
Sukanya Bali
Challenges before Boris Johnson
Parikshith Pradeep
The Hong Kong Protests: Who wants what
Harini Madhusudan
The Hong Kong Protests: Re-defining mass mobilization
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
ASEAN Outlook on the Indo Pacific: Worth all the Hype?
Mahesh Bhatta
Monsoons first, Floods next and the Blame Games follow
Titsala Sangtam
Counting Citizens: Manipur charts its own NRC
Vivek Mishra
Can Hedging be India’s Strategy?
Lakshmi V Menon
Amidst the US-Iran standoff, Saudi Arabia should be cautious
Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer
For Russia, it was big power projection
Harini Madhusudan
For China, it was trade and a temporary truce
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
For Japan, it was commerce and climate change
Sourina Bej
For the US, it was trade, tariff and talks
Titsala Sangtam
Iran, US and the Nuclear deal: Europe in the middle?
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Modi's Colombo Visit: Four issues to watch
Raakhavee Ramesh
Higher than the Himalayas: Pakistan and China
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Across the Himalayas: Nepal and China
Mahath Mangal
The Russian Resurgence: Is the US supremacy waning?
Mahath Mangal
San Francisco wants to ban, Kashgar wants to expand
Jerin George
Espionage or Investigative Journalism?
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
The Huawei Controversy: Five things you need to know
Mahath Mangal
Why the world needs to look at Yemen
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
The Central Asia Connector
Harini Madhusudan
An Under-represented East Asia
Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer
Africa Embraces the Belt and Road
Sourina Bej
It’s Europe vs EU on China
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
Sudan: Between Democracy and another military rule
Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer
Responses and Inspiring Lessons
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Thailand: Between Elections and Instability
Sourina Bej
Two Sessions in 2019: Four Takeaways
Lakshmi V Menon
The End of ISIS Caliphate?
Harini Madhusudan
For China, its a sigh of relief
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
For Vietnam, its a big deal
Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer
For Japan, No Deal is Good Deal
Sourina Bej
For South Korea, a costly disappointment
Harini Madhusudan
No deal is better, but isn't it bad?
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
The Other Conflict in Rakhine State
Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer
Yemen: Will Sa'nna fall?
Harini Madhusudan
Sinicizing the Minorities
GP Team
US, South Korea and Thailand
Lakshmi V Menon
The Qatar Blockade: Eighteen Months Later
GP Team
Yemen, Venezuela and US-China
Sourina Bej
Maghreb: What makes al Shahab Resilient?
Harini Madhusudan
US-China Trade War: No Clear Winners
Abhishrut Singh
Trump’s Shutdown: Five Things to Know
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Myanmar: Will 2019 be better for the Rohingya?
D. Suba Chandran
Bangladesh: The Burden of Electoral History
Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer
US and China: Between Confrontation and Competition
Mahesh Bhatta | Centre for South Asian Studies, Kathmandu
Nepal
Nasima Khatoon | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS
The Maldives
Harini Madhusudan | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS
India
Sourina Bej | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS
Bangladesh
Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS
Afghanistan
Harini Madhusudan
China and Japan: Renewing relations at the right time
Sourina Bej
The INF Treaty: US withdraws to balance China?
Harini Madhusudan
The Khashoggi Killing: Unanswered Questions
Lakshmi V Menon
US and Israel: Trump's Deal of the Century
Nasima Khatoon
The New Maldives: Advantage India?
Harini Madhusudhan
To NAFTA or Not: Trump, Mexico and Canada
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Malaysia’s China Moment: The Mahathir Gamble
Sourina Bej
BIMSTEC: A Bay of Good Hope?
Young Scholars Debate
India, Imran Khan and Indo-Pak Relations
Siddhatti Mehta
Does Brexit mean Brexit?
Oishee Majumdar
Factsheet: China’s Investments in Africa
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
The 8888 Uprising: Thirty Years Later
Harini Madhusudhan
The Tariff War: 'Stick of Hegemony' vs Vital Interests
Druta Bhatt
FactSheet: Shangri La Dialogue 2018
Rahul Arockiaraj
Immigrants as the “Other”: The Social and Economic Factors in the US
Divyabharathi E
Is Trump-Putin Summit a setback for the US?
Apoorva Sudhakar
India and Bangladesh: The Long Haul
Divyabharathi E
Quad as an alternative to the BRI: Three Main Challenges
Oishee Majumdar
FactSheet: India-Bangladesh Relations
D. Suba Chandran
Trump meets Putin; will it cost NATO?
Sourina Bej
Trump and the NATO: One Block, Different Views
Gayan Gowramma KC
Now, the United States withdraws from the UNHRC
Siddhatti Mehta
Will China be able to sustain its Dominance?
Aparupa Bhattacherjee
Myanmar: Why won't they do anything for the Rohingya?
Harini Madhusudan
The Idea of an US Space Force: Strategic Calculations
Apoorva Sudhakar
Afghan Peace: Reality or Illusion?
Hely Desai
Looking beyond Trump: Is the US declining?
Manushi Kapadia
Is China using its soft power to become superpower?
Lakshmi. V. Menon
Middle East: Has Russia chosen Israel over Iran?
Miti Shah
G7: Why Trump wants Russia in?
Hely Desai
FactSheet: G7 Summit
Siddhatti Mehta
The Panmunjom Declaration: “Tip of the Iceberg”
Druta Bhatt
Iran N-Deal and the Trans-Atlantic Divide
Manushi Kapadia
US and China: Towards a Trade War
Miti Shah
Palestine: US triggers new tensions
Divyabharathi E
The "Indo-Pacific Command": What's in the name?
Harini Madhusudan
Trump’s Tariff Strategy: Targetting Adversaries and Allies
Hely Desai
Trump-Kim Summit: Three Likely Outcomes
Apoorva Sudhakar
The Lebanon Pawn: Will it change after elections?
Lakshmi V Menon
Israel, the Game Changer?
Samreen Wani
Deciphering Turkey's External Push
Divyabharathi E
China and Russia: The New Alignments
Ann Maria Shibu
Can India afford to lose Maldives to China?
Dhruv Ashok
Why Maldives is important to China?
Lakshmi V Menon
ISIS and the Yazidi victims: Why the World should stand up?
Harini Madhusudan
US- China Tariff Face-off : Five questions
Jamyang Dolma
Why is Free Tibet important for India
Divyabharathi E
Arctic: The Strategic Significance
Lakshmi V Menon
Do we need the Quad?
Samreen Wani
Why Trump’s Iran exit is a big mistake?
Jamyang Dolma
Inter Korean Summit: Will it work?
Dhruv Ashok
The Fishermen Issue between India and Sri Lanka
Apoorva Sudhakar
Bangladesh's Economy: Decoding a Success Story
Ann Maria Shibu
Why India should not pull out of the Indus water treaty?
Divyabharathi E