Events

The Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses and The Strategic Studies Centre, Cairo

Is organising a webinar on

“Global Geopolitics and Regional Security Environment in West Asia”

Amb. Sujan R. Chinoy, Director General MP-IDSA and Staff General Adel Mohamed Hassan Eldeeb, Director Strategic Studies Centre Cairo, will lead the Webinar on both sides.

The Programme of the Webinar is attached.

Download Event Report [PDF]

Webinar on “Global Geopolitics and Regional Security Environment in West Asia” organised by the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) and the Strategic Studies Centre (SSC), Cairo, on July 27, 2021.

1. The world is experiencing a major global geo-economic shift and COVID-19 pandemic has acted as an accentuating factor. China’s economic rise has been accompanied by unilateralism and a military assertiveness that is bound to be resisted by all peace-loving nations. Technology, particularly in fields of telecom, Artificial Intelligence, cyberspace and data security are the new battle grounds.
2. Chinese bid to bring trade diplomacy in South Asia has brought a new challenge in India’s neighbourhood. The most challenging aspect of the security is the unfolding situation in Afghanistan. Taliban is coming back with great momentum and is trying to establish its hold in Afghanistan in a violent manner. Regional cooperation is needed to contain this issue but Pakistan is not on board. If the issue is not contained the region will become a breeding ground for fundamentalism which will further increase the security challenges.
3. For India, Indo-Pacific is gaining currency as a vastly more inclusive concept in terms of economic prosperity in a much wider region. The Biden Administration has taken a more engaging outlook towards the Indo-Pacific region. His policies towards Asia include more focus on multilateral mode of engagement with respect to climate change, trade, connectivity and development; focus on building a responsive partnership with Japan and South Korea; continuing rivalry with China and to remain engaged in the Korean peninsula.
4. Scholars from the SSC stated that the previous US administration’s ‘maximum pressure’ policy that pushed Iran to the corner has affected the regional security and stability. On the other hand, the activities of Iran-backed proxies or armed groups increased in the region, particularly in Syria and Yemen and has caused serious security concerns for the regional countries.
5. Participants from SSC argued that for the Biden Administration, the case of Iranian nuclear deal remains a top priority. Ho in their policies and perspectives towards each other and the region. They argued that given the change of behaviour from both the parties, an amended nuclear deal is possible, if Iran adheres to the JCPOA and the US removes sanctions on Iran.
6. Egypt believes that Israel wants to be the only state with nuclear power in the region. Its policies are to ensure that no other state possess such power. Israel is working with the US, and other Western countries to ensure sanctions on Iran to continue so as to force Iran to abandon its nuclear programme.
7. The situation between Iran-Israel will continue to remain tense. Tehran’s support to Assad regime, and groups like Lebanese Hezbollah and Hamas will continue to challenge Israel’s national security.
8. Turkey is following a Neo-Ottoman policy in West Asia which has alarmed other key regional players. Its policies have led to several problems in the African countries especially in Libya. Also, with its new maritime ambitions, Turkey intends to expand its naval presence in the Horn of Africa, Red Sea and Persian Gulf regions. It taken steps to enhance its naval capacity in the region, especially Africa which has led to serious fictions between Turkey and other regional powers like Saudi Arabia, UAE and Egypt.
9. For India the goal is to achieve rapid and inclusive economic growth in a stable and peaceful environment. Our strategic autonomy is better today. India is non-permanent member in the UNSC that has given it a fresh opportunity to engage with partners including Egypt and to help strengthen multilateralism.
10.  Egypt’s role has become more significant as it has taken a number of steps to stabilise the region by rooting out terror groups, minimising internal conflicts and preventing regional turmoil in Libya and Palestine. Egypt played a critical role in bringing a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas in May this year, which was praised by the international community. Egypt’s position on Libya as well as Mediterranean region is to balance Turkey’s presence in the region.
11.  Counter-terrorism has emerged as one of the leading areas of cooperation between India and Egypt. There are several mechanisms including regular cooperation between the Ministry of Defence of two countries and the Joint cooperation committee’s regular meetings between senior officials from both sides.
12.  India and Egypt that have common interests in security and the stability of the West Asian region to strengthen their partnership. It is imperative for both the countries to cooperate and coordinate on regional security, especially in the area of strategic cooperation.

The 53rd Annual General Body Meeting (AGM) of the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) will be held on 15th July, 2021 at 1030 hours at the MP-IDSA Auditorium. Individual invitations to the Life Members and Members have already been mailed. However, any Life member and Member who may not have received the same due to any reason may treat this as a notice for the meeting.

Please note that only LIFE MEMBERS AND MEMBERS form the General Body of the Institute.

Norms of social distancing and other COVID-19 related precautionary measures will be ensured.

For any clarification please contact.

• Col Rajeev Agarwal (Retd)
  Assistant Director
  Tele: 2671 7983, Extn. 7301
  Fax: 26154192 (DG)
  26154191 (DDG)
  26146833 (AD) (Telefax)

The Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), in partnership with The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), is organising a Webinar on ‘India and the United Kingdom in a Changing International Environment.

The Webinar aims to discuss how India and UK fit into each other’s Indo-Pacific visions, examining areas of complementarity as well as divergence. While identifying specific areas for cooperation, it will focus on the geopolitical, and defence and security components of the relationship, assessing the impact on the relationship from the current coronavirus pandemic as well as China’s growing assertiveness.

The Integrated Review lays out the UK’s foreign policy ambitions and outlines its ‘Indo-Pacific tilt’. As the UK seeks to become more integrated in the region with the aim of bolstering international rules and norms, addressing security challenges and identifying greater economic opportunities, India will be viewed as an important partner that shares these objectives.

And, conversely, since it outlined its own Indo-Pacific vision in 2018, India has played a growing maritime security role and engaged with a growing array of partners and coalitions in the Indo-Pacific. Although India-UK relationship has occasionally been stymied by differences, the current geopolitical environment has enabled a greater convergence of interests between the two countries. While Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s planned visit to India was postponed owing to the sharp rise in coronavirus cases in India, the two leaders are expected to engage shortly. The meeting is expected to deepen defence and security, economic and people-to-people ties as well as reinforce UK–India cooperation in areas such as climate change and global health.

Below is the link for Registration. Once you register, you will receive the meeting details from the host (RUSI).

https://rusi.org/event/india-and-united-kingdom-changing-international-e...

Download Programme Schedule [PDF]

With the aim of understanding the complexities of the COVID-19 response, the vaccine roll-out in India, Nigeria and the rest of Africa, role of multilateral health institutions and also discussing the ways that India and Africa can collaborate and cooperate in the fight against the pandemic, the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), India in collaboration with Gusau Institute (GI), Nigeria are organising a webinar on ‘India-Nigeria: Facing the COVID-19 Pandemic Together’.

Opening Remarks by Amb. Sujan R. Chinoy, Director General, MP-IDSA and Lt. Gen. Aliyu Gusau Mohammed, Retd, Founder, GI.

Programme

Event address for attendees: https://mp-idsa.webex.com/mp-idsa/onstage/g.php?MTID=e8f19cde95fcc20beb7...