Courtesy: MEA Flickr
The imperative for India to move away from its non-aligned posture is now, especially if it wants to be consequential in the global reordering underway. This will play out in the contention between the U.S. on one side, and China and Russia on the other.
Courtesy: MEA Flickr
Maldives president Mohamed Solih comes to India this week, fresh from his election win and with a host of good intentions. His aim is to recast the bilateral and restore balance in Maldives’ external relations after the previous president’s China-centric leanings. Such a reversal may not emerge instantly
Courtesy: Nikkei Asia
Six months after Malaysia’s parliamentary elections, its domestic affairs are still untidy. The government is combating corruption, but not bringing in constitutional reform. A successor’s name is not emerging clearly either. But Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad’s foreign relations priorities – principally, Japan and China – are in order
Courtesy: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China
Laos has come a long way from being an exotic kingdom and scene of violent conflict to relative political stability and pragmatic external relations. With External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj currently on a visit to Laos, this is the time for the two countries to focus on scaling up bilateral cooperation
Courtesy: Flickr / Paul Kagame
China’s footprint in the African continent is growing because it is a zealous summiteer. And now, in response to ‘debt-trap’ criticism, it also appears to be stressing private sector investment in Africa over loans and credit. Are there any takeaways for India in this?
Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
The United States, Europe and the Asia Pacific today form Canada’s tripartite foreign policy priorities. The ASEAN is its sixth largest partner, which was not so 20 years ago, but economic engagement with India – still small, compared to China and Japan – has scope to grow
Courtesy: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China
In Cambodia, democracy exists only in form. Liberal values, inculcated by the West, take second place to poverty alleviation and employment. Such priorities have affected its diplomatic allegiances while bilateral relations with India have not expanded
Courtesy: Deccan Chronicle
A major upcoming international conference on the Blue Economy in Nairobi in November will focus on the impracticalities of pursuing any one goal – such as sustainability – to the exclusion of business. In fact, the many interests at stake need not be in conflict with one another, to realize the goal of a true blue economy, in which business must have a significant stake.
Courtesy: MEA/ Flickr
India and Brunei have a 34-year-old diplomatic relationship; but as yet no Indian president or prime minister has paid the country a bilateral visit to strengthen these ties. The strategically-located nation is rich in its history, with a unique political system. Its foreign policy approach is non-controversial, yet noticeably pragmatic.
Courtesy: Mea/ Flickr
The 21-year-old regional organisation, which will hold its fourth summit on August 30-31, was formed because of the opportunities to make headway in economic and social development through cooperation, but it has achieved modest success. It has a relevance independent of SAARC or ASEAN and goals of its own to pursue