Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Swasti Rao’s article ‘Ukraine now a bottomless pit for Western aid. With no attention to its chronic corruption’ has been published in ‘The Print’ on 16 December 2022.
The longer the war stretches, the more Ukraine's ability to fight systemic corruption gets diminished as more money and weapons will flow to sustain the country, says Dr Rao.
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Swasti Rao’s article ‘G-20 Presidency: Can India reverse the Discontentment with Multilateralism’ has been published in the annual edition of the Diplomatist, on 15 December 2022.
India’s presidency of the G20 will be focused on these issues. Differences over energy diversification and the emerging challenges in trade and technology will also need reconciliation by a credible player like India. Policy coherence in macroeconomics and trade shall be a key ponderable, says Dr Rao.
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Swasti Rao’s Opinion Piece ‘Shrewd oil politics played out in Europe with ramifications for all’ has been published in ‘The New Indian Express’ on 14 December 2022.
The chessboard of geopolitics and geo-economics is being played out at its shrewdest best in Europe with ramifications for all, says Dr Rao.
Swasti Rao's Opinion Piece 'Who will pay the bill for rebuilding Ukraine? The answer lies in unfreezing Russian assets' Published in The Print
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Swasti Rao's opinion piece 'Who will pay the bill for rebuilding Ukraine? The answer lies in unfreezing Russian assets' has been published in 'The Print' on 02 December 2022.
The rebuilding load will have to be shared among the western allies but the West is also keen on making Russia foot the bill for its destruction of Ukraine, says Dr Rao.
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Swasti Rao’s article ‘Industrial closures add to growing signs of stress in Europe’s economy’ has been published in ‘The Print’ on 18 November 2022.
Economic concerns are to take precedence before the EU can form a consensus on further assistance to Ukraine, says Dr Rao.
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Swasti Rao’s Opinion Piece ‘G20 fault lines making it hard to walk its talk. India’s presidency a chance to plug gaps’ has been published in ‘The Print’ on 04 November 2022.
G20 meetings are more important for their sidelines than their outcomes. One sideline will be the first in-person meeting of UK PM Rishi Sunak and PM Modi, says Dr Rao.
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Swasti Rao’s opinion piece ‘Europe is discarding human rights concerns and reaching out to energy-rich Middle East’ has been published in ‘The Print’ on 21 October 2022.
Gulf States’ refusal to side with the West and ramp up oil production is less about Russia and more about a fundamental tenet of pursuing national interest, says Dr Rao.
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Swasti Rao’s article ‘Ukraine has world’s attention but look around, 2 new flashpoints emerging for US-Russia clash’ has been published in ‘The Print’ on 07 October 2022.
The Caucasus and the Balkans might witness further militarisation by Russia to hold on to its weaning influence, thereby raising stakes in the already tense environment, says Dr Rao.
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Swasti Rao’s article ‘Olaf Scholz’s visit to the Gulf: Energy Diversification vs Liberal Values’ has been published in the Diplomatist on 06 October 2022.
Being Europe’s largest economy, Germany needs to secure new oil and gas supplies, but at the same time, it doesn’t want to be seen as soft on human rights. Therefore, the German Chancellor’s visit is being called a diplomatic balancing act, says Dr Rao.
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Swasti Rao’s article ‘The Nordic-5 is tired of China’s power-games, and Modi’s India has its eyes out’ has been published in ‘The Print’ on 23 September 2022.
When China was a country that preferred to be loved, its most sustainable outreach in Europe was to the Nordics. Needless to say, its not the same anymore, says Dr Rao..
