WORLD
OPINION | Fujian, China’s third aircraft carrier, changes Quad incentives for military ties
Over the past two decades, China’s naval shipbuilding has executed the fastest peacetime fleet expansion in history, transforming its navy from a coastal force into one rivalling the U.S. in the Western Pacific. It amplifies incentives among Quad members for deeper ties
WORLD
OPINION | Pakistan experiences ‘two-front’ conflict
Outbreak of armed conflict between Pakistan and Taliban-controlled Afghanistan is a reminder that one should be careful what one wishes for. That said, Afghanistan can at times bring rivals on to the same page. The layers to the interrelationships in the region make for a complex situation
POLITICS
OPINION | US military is caught between a rock and a hard place
President Trump’s address to the brass was very political in nature. The dilemma for the military comes from the effort to demand loyalty to the President, which will challenge a force that swears loyalty to the US Constitution
WORLD
OPINION | Belated European recognition for Palestinian statehood is a response to popular empathy but lacks teeth
UK and France have taken the lead to diverge from the US position on Palestinian statehood. But on their own, there’s little they can do to bring about a viable Palestinian state. As for India, it’s possible to do better in balancing strategic interests with a humanitarian impulse
WORLD
OPINION | US security guarantees are bleeding credibility as Russia and Israel push boundaries
Beginning with the war on terror that US embarked on in 2001, the country has seen an erosion in its reputation as a reliable security partner. The recent incidents in Qatar and Poland have only added to the narrative that the security umbrella is full of holes
POLITICS
Wang Yi’s Delhi visit signals a thaw in Sino-India ties but meaningful progress will depend on political directions of leaders’
A tentative step forward has been taken by both sides but it’s unrealistic to expect quick progress. For now, China holds more cards than India and Delhi will have to move with caution and perspicacity
WORLD
Quad’s future after the Trump tariff shock
For now, it would be desirable for Delhi to remain committed to the bilateral track with Washington as regards security and technology cooperation and strengthen the structural and institutional elements of what could still be the most consequential relationship of this century, even as negotiators try to hammer out a modus vivendi
POLITICS
Acquittal of 7/11 suspects calls for an intense review of India’s anti-terror mechanism
Bombay High Court’s judgement shows investigation agencies in poor light. Not only does it leave everyone with an unhealed wound, it also undermines India’s international campaign to highlight Pakistan’s use of terror as a strategic tool. It can no longer be business as usual
TRENDS
India must stand up for gender equity for its vulnerable betis
The recent cases of Radhika and Ridhanya are tragic reminders of the deeply embedded patriarchal values that exists in large parts of India. The ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ initiative should be nurtured, and it could be the trigger for the larger gender-related socio-cultural transformation that India needs
WORLD
MIA: Gaps in China’s PLA as Xi Jinping unleashes a purge
Last week, China’s ‘Supreme Leader’ Xi Jinping purged high ranking military personnel. A look at the long list of purges unleashed by Xi leads to the question if it’s a form of insurance against being toppled from within. Is China’s contemporary ‘emperor’ a lonely and insecure man?
WORLD
Iran’s humiliation nukes the foundation of non-proliferation treaty
NPT divides the world into nuclear haves and have-nots. The have-nots forego the nuclear option under the treaty for safety guarantees. However, from Ukraine to Iran, it’s nuclear weapons owning states which have been aggressors. It makes a mockery of NPT and is bound to catalyse strategic questions by some states on the trade-offs involved in covert nuclear weaponisation
WORLD
Israel’s airstrikes on Iran may fuel global geopolitical instability
The fallout on energy markets and the brittle West Asian security situation will depend on the scale and nature of Iran’s response. This conflict is being played out in the backdrop of a breakdown in the longstanding nuclear consensus among major powers, enhancing geopolitical risks. Middle powers such as India, Germany and Japan have a stake in sustaining the current equilibrium and therefore need to step up
INDIA
Decisive triumph of hard power, questions over soft power
As Indian parliamentarians tour the globe to set the record straight on Op Sindoor and Indian democracy, there are points to ponder. India has been held up to higher standards than its hostile neighbours for good reason; it’s been the beacon of democracy among countries that emerged out of colonialism after World War II. If parliamentarians have to reiterate that, it’s likely because our own doing has led to doubts in other countries
WORLD
Joseph Nye embodied ‘soft power’ with his charm and personality
A giant in the discipline of modern international relations, Nye teased out the many dimensions of power. His concept of soft power and its subsequent iterations were widely studied and followed. A strategic affairs analyst pays tribute to Nye who passed away last week
POLITICS
Op Sindoor succeeded, but Pakistan won’t be deterred from pursuing proxy war
Thirty-five years ago Pakistan acquired nuclear weapon capabilities with China’s help. Since then, it has pioneered nuclear weapon enabled terror. Notwithstanding successful cross-border operations, India will have to find a way to neutralise this complex challenge. Simultaneously, the geopolitical reality of uncritical support extended by China to Pakistan will have to be factored in
POLITICS
India’s military options are subject to the larger political message being sent
Terror will not get a free pass and India has used it first card, suspension of the Indus Water Treaty. Military options remain on the table but require careful consideration. They can’t be viewed through the prism of emotion. Moreover, the nature of military response will be influenced by the larger political message that India wants to convey
INDIA
Torture by police continues because they believe it works
A survey of police personnel reveals 'that a significant proportion of police personnel justify the use of torture and violence in the course of their duties, and also believe that they should be allowed to use force without any fear of punishment.' This is problematic and not something the political class should ignore
WORLD
Indo-US ties recorded an inflection point 25 years ago. This base will insulate the relationship from hiccups in trade and technology
In March 2000, US President Bill Clinton addressed the Indian Parliament, an occasion that encapsulated a nascent bipartisan change in approach to ties with India. The challenge for India in the years ahead to make the engagement with the US more robust will be to navigate two interrelated strands – trade and technology
POLITICS
Criminal-politician nexus is a structural problem undermining internal security
Dhananjay Munde’s resignation from Maharashtra’s council of ministers once again turns the spotlight on the shadowy links between criminal elements and the political class. The former’s role in election funding represents a serious challenge to the country’s internal security
INDIA
In a democracy, a military swears loyalty to the nation and flag, not leaders
A purge of US military brass on ideological grounds by the Trump administration foregrounds the fundamental tenet of civil-military equation in a democracy. Civilian oversight along with military loyalty to the nation. In China, military is subordinate to the communist party and not the state, a radically different approach. Trump’s moves suggest an attempt to reorient civil-military relations in the world’s oldest democracy
WORLD
Europe wakes up to a tectonic shift in the continent’s geopolitics
US-EU-NATO amity nurtured during the Cold War is being buried by the Trump administration. Europe is out in the cold. This message was hammered home on February 18 when the US and Russia agreed to work together to end the conflict in Ukraine, relegating other stakeholders to the periphery.
WORLD
Trump 2.0 and the 'Madman Theory' of nuclear deterrence
Being disruptive and provocative is part of the Donald Trump playbook. Therefore, his observations on Greenland and Panama Canal should not really be a surprise. His position on nuclear equilibrium, however, should of greater concern because after August 1945, the US has maintained a certain degree of nuclear rectitude. But that doesn’t gel with Trump’s unsettling approach to security
WORLD
New Orleans terror strike may have ripple effects
New Orleans and the link with the IS, if proven to be correct, has wider implications – even if it is a lone-wolf operation. South Asia is vulnerable and each country has its own post 9/11 experience. Terror perpetrators seek to disrupt the rhythms of normalcy and sow fear in the citizenry. That objective should be denied. Envisioning a happy 2025 must not be jettisoned
INDIA
Vijay Diwas: Remembering war victories without diminishing the role of heroes of other battles
India commemorates military victories like Vijay Diwas and Kargil Vijay Diwas. However, wars such as 1962 and Op Pawan, where many soldiers perished, remain largely forgotten. A more inclusive remembrance of all fallen soldiers is long overdue
