North America & Strategic Technologies

About Centre

The Centre focuses on issues related to strategic technologies that have a potential impact on national security. Its main focus is on critical technologies and space technologies. The Centre is engaged in tracking and trend analysis of issues related to Space Security and Cyber Security. The other mandate of the Centre is to undertake research on Biological and Chemical Weapons with a focus on studying the dangers of proliferation and terrorism. The Centre is responsible for the publication of the CBW Magazine – a bi-annual magazine which covers a wide range of issues related to Chemical and Biological Weapons.

Robot now, Human Later: America’s Mars Dream

The US will undertake a manned mission to Mars to once again demonstrate its supremacy as well as to demonstrate the limitations of China’s rise.

Ajey Lele
August 09, 2012
IDSA Comments

China Consolidates the Rare Earth Industry and Builds Strategic Reserves

China’s success in the rare earth industry is the result of both careful thought and consideration at the highest policy making levels which have constantly expedited reform in the industry.

Chemical Weapons in the Syrian Conflict

It is expected that the Syrian inventory could contain several thousand aerial bombs filled mostly with the chemical agent Sarin, and between 50 and 100 ballistic missile warheads.

Ajey Lele
July 30, 2012
IDSA Comments

Challenging China’s Rare Earth Monopoly

Over the last few years, realizing the dangers of Chinese monopoly, countries like India, Japan and Vietnam have started collaborating in Rare Earth Elements, while North America countries are planning to increase investments in this sector.

Ajey Lele
July 19, 2012
IDSA Comments

Should India Conduct an ASAT Test Now?

A decision to conduct an ASAT test has to be a nuanced one considering the strategic advantages such a test could offer and the diplomatic elbow room that it would give during negotiations on a space arms control mechanism.

Ajey Lele
July 11, 2012
IDSA Comments

What does the discovery of Higgs boson mean?

With the discovery of the Higgs boson, the missing link in the Standard Model of physics has been found and the Standard Model stands further strengthened.

Arvind Gupta
July 09, 2012
IDSA Comments

Deliberating the Space Code of Conduct

Ajey Lele argues that, in its present avatar, the International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities is not capable of realizing its stated aim fully because it lacks an accountability mechanism.

Ajey Lele
June 29, 2012
Issue Brief

CBMs in Cyber Space: What should be India’s Approach?

India should support the idea of TCBMs (transparency and confidence building measures) as a first step towards a code of conduct or eventual cyber security convention.

Arvind Gupta
June 27, 2012
IDSA Comments

Space Code of Conduct: Inadequate Mechanism—A Response

An “imperfect” International Code of Conduct can help establish and strengthen norms for responsible space-faring nations. We must make hard choices about which less-than-perfect approach can best serve national and international security.

Space Code of Conduct: Inadequate Mechanism

The EU’s Code of Conduct has been advertised as a mechanism to preserve the sustainability and security of space, but it is difficult to comprehend how a non-binding and voluntary mechanism could help achieve this.