Strengthening India–Vietnam Friendship Considering that the year 2021 marks the fifth anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Vietnam, the upcoming visit of Mr Vuong Dinh Hue, the current Chairman of the Vietnam National Assembly, to India is likely to strengthen India–Vietnam relationship further. P.K. Chakravorty | December 14, 2021 | IDSA Comments
Political Changes in Nepal and Bhutan: Emerging Trends in Foreign Policy in Post 2008 Period The two Himalayan states—Nepal and Bhutan—adopted a new political system in 2008. Nepal upgraded the existing multiparty system by excluding the monarchy. Therefore, Nepal had Constituent Assembly elections in May 2008. Nihar R. Nayak | 2021 | Monograph
Principled but Evolving: India’s Approach to Multilateral Peace and Security India's multilateral approach has been influenced and guided by multiple strategies, interests, values and has transformed significantly through the decades. However, most foreign policy scholars have argued that India has often acted like a "spoiler" or "rule-breaker" in multilateral negotiations. Rajeesh Kumar | 2021 | Monograph
Leveraging Cyber Power: A Study of the Approaches and Responses of the Major Powers The monograph looks at how major powers have tried to pursue three objectives in cyberspace, viz. (1) strengthening or enhancing national cyber defences, and (2) striving to shape the international cyber environment by leveraging economic and technological capabilities, and (3) through defining and evangelising international cyber norms. A section on the cybersecurity preparedness of the countries of the South Asian region is incorporated to highlight those vulnerabilities and deficient capacities and capabilities that give the major powers a foothold to pursue their objectives. Cherian Samuel | 2021 | Monograph
Intersecting Geo-economics and Geopolitics: Nord Stream 2 and Europe Nord Stream 2, a Russian undersea gas pipeline project that intends to deliver natural gas from Siberia to Germany, currently sits at an intersection of several geopolitical and geo-economic cross-currents that determine the economic security as well as the geostrategic balance of Europe. Swasti Rao | December 10, 2021 | IDSA Comments
China’s Inconsequential Bid to Sign Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty Showing readiness to sign the SEANWFZ treaty seems to be a low-cost, high-return proposition for Beijing. It could be a calculated symbolic gesture having no bearing on the region’s precarious security situation. Niranjan Chandrashekhar Oak | December 09, 2021 | IDSA Comments
India–Russia Cooperation in Indian Ocean Region, Arctic and Russian Far East India–Russia cooperation in the Indian Ocean and the Arctic, including the Russian Far East, could give strong thrust to their deepening engagement. However, there is a need for heavy lifting from both sides to achieve the desired potential. Anurag Bisen | December 06, 2021 | Policy Brief
Developments in Pakistan: The More Things Change… As the civilian political space shrinks and the capacity of the state gets hobbled by political dissension and internal resistance from forces armed with an alternate blueprint for action, Pakistan is likely to rely more on its anti-India stance to build national unity, seeking especially to suck in the militant religious groups into its orbit. Ashok K. Behuria | December 03, 2021 | IDSA Comments
Defence Procurement in India: A Historical Perspective Defence procurement in India needs to adopt a mix of procurement avenues in which the indigenous solutions, foreign equipment and futuristic R&D continue together in a balanced manner. Considering that piecemeal solutions are not effective in the long term, there is a need to adopt a ‘Systems Approach’ to come up with a holistic solution which is enduring and progressive. Manish Rana | December 02, 2021 | IDSA Comments
Beijing’s Lead in Renewable Energy: Why India Needs to Introspect? As India’s strides in the renewable sector are increasingly gaining pace, it gives an opportunity to assess what potential challenges and opportunities arise for India in the face of China’s growing dominance in the renewable energy industry. Mayuri Banerjee | November 30, 2021 | Issue Brief