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New alliance: India-China exploring joint strategy for Afghanistan

The specter of post 2014 Afghanistan is haunting the regional powers. The Great American retreat is perhaps forcing the allies and enemies of Taliban to discuss their fate on a common platform. The Americans and their western allies may be living in illusion that Afghanistan will continue to be ruled by the democratic forces. However, it is not a million dollar question and the regional powers have taken it as a foregone conclusion that the… Read More »New alliance: India-China exploring joint strategy for Afghanistan

Changing scenario: Impact of Europe-Russia defence industry ties

The French government’s decision to sell several Mistral-class amphibious warships to Russia has aroused concerns that the Russian Navy will use the vessels to intimidate or even invade its neighbors. Yet, the ship would add little to Russia’s already substantial military advantage over many other countries. In a stark confession, former US President George W Bush had once admitted that Russia’s military dominance will remain impact making and it can not be decimated. Actually, US… Read More »Changing scenario: Impact of Europe-Russia defence industry ties

Coercive orbit: Chinese maritime build-up in South-East Asia

China’s assertive rise in the first decade of the twenty-first century has been unequivocal in its economic and strategic rise. As China’s economic growth burgeoned, its resources sourcing outreach increased in dramatic dimensions. China is seized with three dimensions of a ‘strategic dilemma’ that has resulted in its aggressive overdrive. Its zest for a power rise is based on the perception that it should aggressively monopolise natural and mineral resources that would fuel its rapid… Read More »Coercive orbit: Chinese maritime build-up in South-East Asia

Adding a pearl: China looks for a naval base in Bangladesh

On the invitation of Bangladesh, China which has been eyeing for a naval base in Bay of Bengal has decided to initially develop Sonadia Islands as a deep sea port for Bangladesh which may later turn out to be another Gwadar-giving a high voltage headache to Indian defence establishment. China has agreed to fund 99 per cent of the Sonadia Islands deep water port project and by 2015 the first phase will be completed. The… Read More »Adding a pearl: China looks for a naval base in Bangladesh

Defending mainland: China’s leadership change and its implications

China’s once-a-decade leadership change in November brought to focus the opaque character of Chinese politics and what direction it will take in years to come, given the underneath tensions in the heavily guarded Chinese polity which are now being realized in public domain. The 18th Congress of the Communist Party of China meeting in November, with over 2200 delegates, confirmed Xi Jinping as the next Party Chief as well as the President of PRC, while… Read More »Defending mainland: China’s leadership change and its implications

Connecting pass: Apprehensions and options

On the occasion of the 11th BCIM (Acronym of Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar) forum meeting, held in Dhaka on 23-24 February 2013, a car rally from Kolkata to Kunming was flagged off. The initiative has ambitions of Indo-China road connectivity passing through Bangladesh and Myanmar. In the pattern of ASEAN-India car rally, the rally followed the route through Dhaka, Silchar (Assam), Imphal (Manipur) and Mandalay and Ruili (Yunnan). But this long route has been… Read More »Connecting pass: Apprehensions and options

Raising hopes: Iran-Pakistan energy ties and China factor

Iran recently announced the setting up of a $4 billion oil refinery near Pakistan’s Gwadar port with an estimated capacity of about 400,000 barrels per day. This intensification of ties with Iran is said to have snubbed the US and the international community that had placed economic sanctions on Iran with a view to hinder its nuclear program. The understanding was reached during a meeting between Iranian delegation led by Oil Minister Rostam Ghasemi and… Read More »Raising hopes: Iran-Pakistan energy ties and China factor

Strategic alliance: India-Japan economic engagement

India-Japan strategic partnership can only be sustained on a long term basis on the solid foundation of deep economic engagement, for which Japan has provided enough fertilizer to nurture the relationship. Along with the promise to conclude the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement by the end of the year, other mega projects will help propel the bilateral economic and political relationship to unimaginable heights. The Civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Japan will help India enter many… Read More »Strategic alliance: India-Japan economic engagement

Seeking eminence: GCC-Iran dynamics and rivalry

Iran is making fresh efforts to increase its influence in the Arab world mainly among the GCC countries because Iran finds the Arab Spring an idea which is closer to the Iranian Revolution. This has heightened the already apparent tensions that existed between Iran and GCC. Since the Revolution in the Arab world is making impact, Iran feels that the time is right for Iran to get a fair chance to enhance its influence and… Read More »Seeking eminence: GCC-Iran dynamics and rivalry

Great expectations: But positive mood in Washington

Post-election murmurs from Foggy Bottom on relations with India and also among all the political and thinking class has reaffirmed the bipartisan support for stronger relations and engagement whereas the recent political developments in India has cast a shadow on Indian bipartisan support for strong relations with the US. The warm telephonic conversations after his reelection with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and later his meetings in Phnom Penh during the East Asia summit has… Read More »Great expectations: But positive mood in Washington