“Reflections on American Grand Strategy in Asia” By Ash Carter, October 2018
Ash Carter, an academic with considerable experience in the Pentagon as also United States (US) Secretary of Defence from February 2015 to January 2017, is a strategic thinker. This is evident from his treatise on “Reflections on American Grand Strategy in Asia”; which is easily one of the better essays on US President Barack Obama's rebalance' and what should be done for its implementation. It is logically presented and charts the course to be followed to fulfill the medium and long-term interests of the US.
Centre For Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), New Delhi, India
Copyright (c) 2018 Centre For Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), New Delhi, India
Invisible Migration in India’s North-eastern Region
If Bangladesh continues to deny illegal migration taking place from its territory to the north-eastern region of India, in the similar vein, India is unable to provide evidence of any Bangladeshi nationals staying illegally in its territory as sought by the former. However, the successive Indian governments and major political parties have consistently promised to detect foreign nationals who are believed to be staying illegally in different parts of the country. India also continues to refrain from discussing the matter with Bangladesh. But, the concerns of ethnic communities in the north-eastern region of the country of being increasingly outnumbered by the non-indigenous population in their land have led to the rise of organised resistance movements. As a result, several agreements have been concluded in which the central government promised to take measures to detect foreign nationals from the region. Meanwhile, the recently updated citizens’ register of Assam and the amended citizenship law of the country have rather upset the region’s ethnic communities. They are worried and helpless at the same time. This essay intends to discuss these issues in detail.
Artha Journal of Social Sciences; Vol. 20 No. 4 (2021): Artha Journal of Social Sciences; 37-57
Centre for Publications, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore
Copyright (c) 2021 Artha Journal of Social Sciences
Military Diplomacy: An Appraisal in the Indian Context
Defence Diplomacy is an integral part of foreign policy and state security, it helps in increasing military cooperation between thecountries and strengthening relations between the states. India’s growing global outreach and vibrancy of its foreign policy can begauged by the fact that it has made substantial efforts in defence and security cooperation, however, India’s defence diplomacy effortsdo not commensurate to its rising global status, since all tools of defence diplomacy have not been used optimally. In this context, thepaper argues for the need to revisit and formulate a strategy that is aligned with India’s foreign policy. It is because defence diplomacy is vital for a state to not only ensure its stable and strong international position but is also significant in shaping a structured and functional security policy.
Copyright (c) 2021 Centre For Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), New Delhi, India
India’s Strategic Gameplan vis-à-vis China-Pak Collusive Linkage
The basic approach of this article is to discuss an outline optimum strategy or broad game-plan to tackle collusive Sino-Pak threats. The detailed strategy and specific action plan are beyond the scope of this article. However, deliberations and inferences drawn in this article can help refine/validate template for such formulation. It will be appropriate to reiterate that clarity on threat parameters is an essential pre-requisite for planning levels of preparedness, force structures, equipment profile, modernisation and budgetary allocations, hence these are discussed in brief. Reasonable assumptions have been factored in, where necessary, as detailed national security policies are yet to be promulgated.
CLAWS Journal; Vol. 15 No. 1 (2022): Summer 2022; 21-37
Copyright (c) 2022 Centre For Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), New Delhi, India
Securing the Independence of the Judiciary--The Indian Experience
Indiana International & Comparative Law Review; Vol. 10 No. 2 (2000); 245-292
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
China's Great Game in the Gulf: Implications for India
Chinese interaction with the Gulf started under Deng Xiaoping when its economy was opened and Beijing felt that it needs to interact with the outside world. China's relations with Persian Gulf countries can be divided into three phases: one, wherein it first interacted amicably with the countries in the region in 1978; two, furthering of relations due to Chinese thirst for energy security and economic investments through BRI; and three, China's extra-economic or strategic footprints in the Gulf. It is the last phase that will have some implications for India, thus is of much interest globally and in particular for New Delhi which has huge stakes in the region based on its own energy security, human security due to its 9.5-10 million strong diaspora and economic and trade investments. Therefore, the article argues that New Delhi should be watchful of Chinese intent with regard to the Gulf, though as of now it need not worry.
Copyright (c) 2020 Center For Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), New Delhi, India
India-Persian Gulf Relations: From Transactional to Strategic Partnerships
India's relations with the Gulf countries have been exceptionally significant since ancient times and are multifaceted. The two have maintained historical ties with each other in terms of trade, energy, security as well as a vast expatriate population. While the Indo-Gulf relations are dominated by energy cooperation, recent years have experienced a shift in their dynamics. Owing to Persian Gulf countries' quest to achieve Vision 2030 through economic diversification, Indo-Gulf relations have seen an expansion in other non-conventional areas such as security cooperation and strategic partnerships. India is not in a military alliance with any of the major powers, however, it shares close strategic and military relations with many major countries in the world. Owing to the growing stature of India and its clout at the global table, India started to build strategic partnerships with major countries such as France, Russia, Germany, and the US, etc., in 1997. It is noteworthy that India has extended its strategic partnerships with as many as four countries in the Gulf, namely, Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the UAE since 2003.&nbsp; This shows that over a period of time the region holds immense significance for India's ascendance as a growing regional and global power.
Hybrid Tactics Come of Age: Implications of the Aramco Attack
On September 14, 2019, Saudi Arabia's state-owned Aramco's oil facilities were hit by a swarm of 18 drones and seven cruise missiles. Located in the eastern province in the capital city of Dammam, the Abqaiq oil facility and Khurais oil field are protected by a massive air defence system installed jointly by Saudi Arabia and the US. With a market value worth of US$2 trillion and reserves 10 times bigger than Exxon Mobil, Aramco is crucial not only to Saudi Arabia and the region but to the entire world! Therefore, naturally, the attack on the sites at once shut down 5 percent of the world's oil supply, and oil prices rose up by 20 percent. Even though the functioning of the sites and oil production was reportedly resumed in two weeks' time, the attack had serious implications in terms of the security apparatus as well as vulnerability.
Copyright (c) 2019 Centre For Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), New Delhi, India
India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Defence Outreach: Leveraging the Gulf Strategic Partnerships
In May 2020 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the clarion call for Atmanirbhar Bharat or ‘Self Reliant India’; the initiative, atleast until then referred to economic stimulus packages intended for the distressed population during the Pandemic. However, soon after, it became the buzzword for modern India, the one touted as a responsible, reliable regional and global power that visualizes itself as a self-reliant and self-sufficient economy while maintaining its strategic autonomy. This realisation further got affirmation when the country became the first responder and a responsible supplier of basic medicines such as paracetamol and hydroxychloroquine to around 120 countries during the initial stages of COVID-19, thus providing impetus to India’s medical diplomacy.
India-Iran Relations and the Afghanistan Factor
Post-America’s chaotic withdrawal and the resurgence of Taliban in Afghanistan, India’s development and assistance prospects in the country demand stability under the interim regime. Likewise, New Delhi’s Chabahar port development – an initiative along with Iran – seems to remain stalled until the situation in Afghanistan steadies down. With India not being invited (under Pakistani and Chinese objections) in any of the extended troika meetings initiated by Russia, it is imperative for India to develop a one-to-one discussion with the interim government as the country has invested over US$3 billion for Afghanistan reconstruction and development in various aspects. Towards the end of August, India initiated its first public meeting with the Taliban in Doha wherein Indian concerns on the continuation of its developmental efforts in Afghanistan, progress on Chabahar development (though the issue was not explicitlymentioned), and insistence on Taliban not supporting any terror outfits that may harm Indian national security were the prime areas of discussions amongst others. While Afghanistan remains important for India for a host of reasons, the latter’s continued engagement is crucial in maintaining its relations with Iran with which India has had a tumultuous relationship of late owing to the American sanctions on that country.