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

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

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

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

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

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