Now that the P5+1 countries have struck an interim nuclear deal with Iran which has limitedly eased off sanctions against it, India feels relieved from the frustrated pressure of Western sanctions that had disabled India and Iran to enhance their indispensable bilateral relations. In addition to Iran-US relations being at their worst for the past 35 years and Iran’s ongoing influence in Iraq during US’s occupation of Iraq, the West had slapped heavy sanctions on… Read More »Indo-Iran trade

When the Arab Spring broke out and spread like wild fire across the MENA (Middle East and North African) countries, not only did the decade’s long dictator regimes fall, so did the countries’ economies. Among the first industries to suffer to major setbacks were the oil markets, which constitute a major percentage of the economies of these countries. In many respects, economic conditions in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, and, other countries in the Middle East, are… Read More »Libya’s Oil Industry

Amidst rising tensions between China and Japan over the Senkaku islands in the East China Sea, the visit of the Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe to New Delhi from 25th to 27th January, 2014 was watched with great interest not only in the Chinese strategic circles but also in the entire Asia Pacific region as India holds the key to the new power balance in the area. Strategic analysts are assessing the possibilities of… Read More »Balance of Power

Prospects of Myanmar gas for India As a growing power, India requires energy. Yet, it is not self-sufficient in energy security and is highly dependent on oil and gas imports from various energy basins. For this, India has begun looking eastwards, eyeing the oil and gas reserves of Myanmar. Myanmar, being geographically close and economically attractive is a viable answer to India’s energy problems. However, seeing the attraction that Myanmar has become following lifting of… Read More »Accessing Energy

Prospects and challenges for the Trilateral Highway The balance of power is consistently pivoting toward Asia as it enhances trade with the rest of the world. In the meantime, in Asia, there is an emerging trend of multi-modal connectivity projects, cutting through country boundaries to boost economic as well as strategic ties. These projects are creating a strategic land and sea infrastructure in the region while they significantly alter the geo-political landscape. Of these, one… Read More »Connecting links

Rare earths will add new dimension to Indo-Japanese political and economic relationship other than already deepening cooperation in the area of defence and strategic issues. The agreement with India’s Department of Atomic Energy for cooperation in the production of the rare earths in India was to be signed during the postponed visit of Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to Tokyo from November 15-18 which was preceded by very high level interactions between the two… Read More »Moving forward: India to replace China