Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Swasti Rao’s article Wagner Group is a shadow instrument of Russian policy, product of a ‘deny-endorse’ paradox’ was published in ‘The Print’ on 30 June 2023.
Private military company Wagner has kept operating within the grey zone as a shadow instrument of State policy, giving the Russian Army a perfect alibi to invoke deniability, wrote Dr Rao.
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Swasti Rao’s article ‘Germany is undergoing end-of-an-era change. But its National Security Strategy still half-baked’ has been published in ‘The Print’ on 16 June 2023.
The Ukraine war highlighted Europe’s vulnerabilities in three critical dependencies on Russia, China, and NATO. Berlin's increased defence spending shows its awakening, says Dr Rao.
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Swasti Rao’s article ‘NATO knocking on Indo-Pacific door. How India can make the best of this opportunity’ was published in ‘The Print’ on 02 June 2023.
From India’s perspective, it is important that a more global avatar of NATO has been engaging with its arch rivals China and Pakistan, says Dr Rao.
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Swasti Rao’s article ‘Pakistan’s oil deal with Russia shows it’s getting best of ‘both worlds’ India must take note’ has been published in ‘The Print’ on 19 May 2023.
Pakistan’s oil deal with Russia is being touted as a major success story of a Western ally circumventing Western sanctions. Nothing could be more half-baked, says Dr Rao.
The future of Europe’s security architecture will depend largely on how well it blends its dependence and deepening with NATO on the one hand and its quest for strategic autonomy on the other.
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Swasti Rao’s article ‘Russian military showing cracks within. Rise of two private army leaders proves that’ has been published in ‘The Print’ on 05 May 2023.
Extra-legal PMCs are crucial to Russia due to their grey zone status. But Chechen leader Kadyrov and PMC Wagner's Prigozhin might be aiming bigger, says Dr Rao.
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Swasti Rao’s article ‘Macron’s gaffes in China open a door for India — unwavering French support at the UNSC’ has been published in ‘The Print’ on 21 April 2023.
Macron’s views do not and will not change his policies either towards the Indo-Pacific or towards Taiwan and least of all towards Ukraine, says Dr Rao.
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Swasti Rao’s article ‘Era of peace for Europe has ended. Future depends on how it deepens its ties with NATO’ has been published in ‘The Print’ on 07 April 2023.
Europe’s focus on equal and flexible partnerships for more comprehensive security mean EU has struck right opening notes to emerge as a global security provider, says Dr Rao.
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Swasti Rao’s opinion piece ‘India-France space alliance key to Delhi’s ambitions. But it must deepen ties with Quad too’ has been published in ‘The Print’ on 24 March 2023.
The IAF's revised doctrine aims to transition India from an air power to an aerospace power. But can India do it by itself in time and cost-effectively?, says Dr Rao.
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Swasti Rao’s chapter ‘India’s G 20 Presidency: A Thematic Overview of its Origin, Evolution, Structure, Function, Priorities and Challenges amidst the present geopolitical context’ has been published in the edited volume by the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
