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DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS
GS-II: Seize the opening. Context The spokesperson for Iran’s nuclear agency announced that the country had the ability to enrich uranium up to 20% and it had launched advanced centrifuge machines. Implications This further violates its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). It is also an escalation of the brinkmanship since US President Donald Trump withdrew from the JCPOA in May 2018. JCPOA The 2015 JCPOA came into being after arduous
The policy is way out. News India is in the middle of a sharp growth slowdown. The debate surrounding the slowdown is whether it is a cyclical downturn or a structural correction. Diagnosing the problem is key for devising policy responses. Slowdown Cyclical slowdowns can be dealt with using temporary fiscal and monetary stimulus. Structural problems require long-run policy responses. The slowdown is structural – Oil imports Most of the growth between 2014
A TURKISH MISADVENTURE History : Ottoman Empire under the Khilafat ideology ruled the whole of West Asia along with Syria till World War I 1 with Istanbul as its capital. After World War I, Kemal Ataturk's Revolution transitioned from Ottoman Empire to a secular Turkish National identity Present Ideology of Erdogan: 1. Similar views like Ottoman's Khilafat.Reiterating Turkish Islamic rules (against Kemal's secular ideology). 2. Wanted to establish a buffer zone o
Six European nations join Iran's barter system Syllabus subtopic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian diaspora. News: Paris, London and Berlin on Saturday welcomed six new European countries to the INSTAX barter mechanism Prelims focus: about INSTEX barter mechanism, working and members Mains focus: the significance of the move, U.S-Iran issue and its impact on India’s trade with Iran and other asp
Iran nuclear deal parties meet in Vienna as accord nears collapse Syllabus subtopic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian diaspora. News: The signatories to the Iran nuclear deal stressed their commitment to the faltering accord during crunch talks in Vienna on Friday, as Tehran vowed to continue to breach limits on its nuclear programme. Prelims and Mains focus: About Iran nuclear deal, US withdrawal from JCPOA
Qatar hopeful of ending rift with Saudi Arabia Syllabus subtopic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian diaspora. Prelims and Mains focus: on the Qatar diplomatic crisis and the countries involved; related geographical locations; impact on India’s interest News: Qatar’s Foreign Minister has voiced optimism over ending a bitter rift with Riyadh, saying early talks broke a “stalemate” but st
India, and Iran agree to accelerate the Chabahar port development Syllabus subtopic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests Prelims and Mains focus: About the 19th India-Iran joint commission meeting; Chabahar port and its significance for India’s diplomacy News: The External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif for a meeting of the 19th India&s
LOOKING AT THE LARGER PICTURE Context : India should not let the contentious issues dictate the overall tenor of bilateral relations Background: India's decision to put off PM Modi's visit to Turkey on the basis of Tukey's criticism over dilution of Article 370. This decision over foreign policy is a sign of knee-jerk diplomacy and also demonstrates a lack of familiarity with the Turkey's historical record on Kashmir. Relations between Pakistan and Turkey:
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL BETWEEN INDIA AND SAUDI ARABIA CONTEXT: The Prime Minister of India visited Saudi Arabia from 28th- 29th October 2019. The visit was the second visit of the Prime Minister to the country in three years. NEWS : • India-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council was formed to coordinate on strategically important issues. The council will be headed by the Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed and will meet every two years. &bu
U.S. forces hit Iraqi Hezbollah bases Syllabus subtopic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian diaspora. Prelims and Mains focus: about the conflict in West Asia and its consequences for global geopolitics; about Hezbollah News: The U.S. has bombed the headquarters of the Iran-backed Iraqi Hezbollah militant group in Iraq and Syria, the Pentagon said on Sunday, following a rocket attack in Iraq that killed an Ame
Economy braces for a crude shock after US airstrike kills Iran general Syllabus subtopic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian diaspora. Prelims and Mains focus: escalating US-Iran tensions and their impact on India’s economy News: Investors in India were rattled on Friday after a US airstrike killed a top Iranian general, sending crude oil prices soaring, a development that could further strain the financ
Rising oil prices may hit Budget math Syllabus subtopic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian diaspora. Prelims and Mains focus: on the geopolitical tensions between U.S. and Iran and their impact on India’s economy News: The prices of crude oil constituting the Indian basket has been increasing since October and is likely to exceed $70 a barrel this month on escalating U.S. Iran tensions.
What’s next in the U.S.Iran conflict? Syllabus subtopic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian diaspora. Prelims and Mains focus: on the escalation in US-Iran tensions and its geopolitical implications News: Five days after Major General Qassem Soleimani, the Qods Force chief, was killed in a U.S. air strike outside Baghdad airport, Iran on Wednesday launched ballistic missile attacks at American troop
Iran’s violation of the nuclear deal Syllabus subtopic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian diaspora. Prelims and Mains focus: about the move by European countries to restrict Iran and its likely implications; about JCPOA News: Britain, France and Germany ratcheted up pressure on Iran on Tuesday to cease its violations of a landmark nuclear deal, stressing that they want to resolve differences through tal
Iran says it may pull out of NPT Syllabus subtopic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian diaspora. Prelims and Mains focus: about the NPT and its significance; about JCPOA News: Iran said on Monday it will consider withdrawing from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) if a dispute over its atomic programme goes before the UN Security Council. Background Britain, France and German
Trump unveils West Asia plan Syllabus subtopic: Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s interests, Indian Diaspora. Prelims and Mains focus: on the proposals in the west Asia plan and its implications; on the Israel- Palestine dispute News: U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday unveiled the West Asia plan as part of a peace plan to end decades of conflict in the region. What are Trump’s proposals? The US
Arab Spring Syllabus subtopic: Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s interests, Indian Diaspora. Prelims and Mains focus: on the Arab Spring and its features News: Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian leader who for nearly 30 years was the resolute face of stability in the Middle East, died on 25th February, ending his days after a swift and ignominious tumble from power in the Arab world’s pro-democracy upheaval. Though Tunisia&rsquo
India-Iran relations Syllabus subtopic: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. Prelims and Mains focus: about the issue; about India-Iran relations News: India summoned the Iranian ambassador to the foreign office to protest remarks made by Iran’s foreign minister on the recent riots in the national capital. Background In a rare rebuke to India, Iran’s foreign minister slammed the g
Vande Bharat Mission is one of the largest evacuation mission In one of the largest evacuation exercises named Vande Bharat Mission, the government will operate 64 flights between the 7th and 13th of May to bring home nearly 14,800 Indian nationals stranded abroad due to the Coronavirus lockdown. Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar said that preparations for the operation have commenced and also urged the stranded individuals to stay in touch with the Indian embassies in their countrie
In Persian Gulf littoral, cooperative security is key Hamid Ansari is the former Vice-President of India, 2007-2017 GS- Paper-II West Asia India’s interests would be best served if stability in the region is ensured this way The United Nations defines this body of water as the Persian Gulf. The lands around it are shared by eight countries (Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates)(PT SHOT), all members of the UN. There is a commo
In pandemic crisis, bridging the gulf with West Asia By, Navdeep Suri is Distinguished Fellow and Director of the Centre for New Economic Diplomacy, Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and former Indian Ambassador to the UAE and Egypt and High Commissioner to Australia. Kabir Taneja is Fellow, Strategic Studies Programme, ORF Context # As the world continues to collaborate in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic , the post-pandemic architecture may look drastically different from what we h
Should Kuwait’s draft expat bill worry India? Context * The Kuwait National Assembly (NA) is discussing several proposals to reduce the share of foreigners in the country’s population, which is now pegged at 70%. * There are many proposals under consideration, and one is to put caps on the number of emigrants in the country. In this, the plan is that Indians should not exceed 15% of Kuwaiti citizens, while Egyptians, Bangladeshis and Filipinos among others must not each exc
Iran drops India from Chabahar rail project, cites funding delay Four years after India and Iran signed an agreement to construct a rail line from Chabahar port to Zahedan, along the border with Afghanistan, the Iranian government has decided to proceed with the construction on its own, citing delays from the Indian side in funding and starting the project. Last week, Iranian Transport and Urban Development Minister Mohammad Eslami inaugurated the track-laying process for the 628 km Chab
Lost opportunity: On India losing Chabahar project Importance of Chabahar - Right from the beginning of its tenure, the government has underlined the geostrategic importance it attaches to the Chabahar port project. - The project, signed in 2003, has been a symbol of traditionally important India-Iran ties. - Connected by sea lanes to ports on India’s west coast, Chabahar would form the fulcrum of India’s outreach to Russia and Central Asia, enhancing connecti
Iran ties need quiet diplomacy By, Rakesh Sood is a former diplomat and currently Distinguished Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation Context - Recent reports that Iran’s Transport and Urban Development Minister had launched the track laying programme for the 628 km long rail link between Chabahar and Zahidan last week sparked concerns that India was being excluded from the project. - Iran has since clarified that it is not the case and India could join the project at a la
Why is India out of the Chabahar rail project? - The inauguration of a track-laying project from Iran’s Chabahar port to Zahedan on the border with Afghanistan on July 7, has ensured that Chabahar is once again in the middle of a storm over the fate of India’s investment there. - The port project along Iran’s southern coast in the Sistan-Baluchistan province has been a part of discussions between New Delhi and Tehran since their first agreement to
Kafala system The kafala system is an exploitative system used to monitor migrant labourers, working primarily in the construction and domestic sectors in Gulf Cooperation Council member states and a few neighbouring countries. The system requires all unskilled labourers to have an in-country sponsor, usually their employer, who is responsible for their visa and legal status. This practice has been criticised by human rights organizations for creating easy opportunities for the exploi
The South Asian-Gulf migrant crisis By, S.Irudaya Rajan is Professor at the Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, and Ginu Zacharia Oommen is a Member of the Kerala Public Service Commission Context In early July, the Kerala High Court issued notice to the Central and State governments on a petition seeking to set up a mechanism to assist NRIs who had lost their jobs abroad and had returned to India, to seek due compensation. The petition was initiated by Lawyers Bey
Beirut battered: On Lebanon blast Context The devastating blast in central Beirut on Tuesday that killed 135 people and wounded 4,000 has once again turned the spotlight on a city that had in the past survived civil wars, sectarian violence, foreign interventions and terrorist attacks. Reason for the blast While there is no dearth of conspiracy theories, the initial assessment of the government is that the blast was caused by the detonation of more than 2,700 tonnes of ammon
UAE, Israel reach an agreement to establish diplomatic ties Context: The United Arab Emirates has become the first Gulf Arab country to reach a deal on normalising relations with Israel The United Arab Emirates and Israel have agreed to establish full diplomatic ties as part of a deal to halt the annexation of occupied land sought by the Palestinians for their future state. The development caps years of discreet contact between the two countries in commerce and technology. The so-
Why has the Israel-UAE pact unsettled Palestine and Iran? Context On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had reached a peace agreement. Many countries, including the European powers and India, have welcomed it, while the Palestinian leadership as well as Turkey and Iran have lashed out at the UAE. Abraham Accord: According to the joint statement, the UAE and Israel would establish formal diplomatic relations and in
Troubled waters: on EU-Turkey relations Context Tensions in the eastern Mediterranean soared last week, with Turkey sending an exploration vessel, accompanied by a Navy fleet, to the disputed waters and France despatching warships to assist Greece. The trigger The trigger for the recent hostility between Turkey and Greece, which have historically shared troublesome relations, has been the discovery of gas in the Mediterranean waters. The EU’s plans to transport the
Chora Museum Context Recently, the Turkish President reconverted the Chora museum into a mosque. This is the second museum after Hagia Sophia to be converted into a mosque. Turkey has also found a new gas field in Black Sea. Chora Museum: It was built initially as a church in 534 AD, during the early Byzantine period. In the 11th century, its internal walls, pillars and domes were covered with mosaics and frescoes showing scenes from biblical stories. After the c
Crisis in Caucasus: On Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh Context The ongoing fighting between Armenian rebels and the Azerbaijani Army in Nagorno-Karabakh, a self-declared republic within Azerbaijan, risks becoming a wider regional conflict. Ceasefire truce Though Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to a Russia-mediated ceasefire last week after days of fighting, the truce crumbled immediately amid a blame game. Whatever the truth is, an emboldened Azerbaijan, backed by
Ending conflict in the Caucasus Context: The military confrontation between Armenia and Azerbaijan. News: Given that the military confrontation has been raging on between Armenia and Azerbaijan there have been calls for a ceasefire. The Madrid Principles could be the starting point for ending the hostility between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) consisting of Russia, France and the U.S. had put for
India and the Abraham Accords Abraham Accords: It is the first Arab-Israeli peace deal in 26 years. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have agreed to establish full diplomatic ties with Israel as part of a deal to halt the annexation of occupied land sought by the Palestinians for their future state. The so-called “Abraham Accords”, announced by United States President Donald Trump, secures an Israeli commitment to halt further annexation of Palestinian lands in the oc
Targeting Hezbollah: On Israeli attacks in Lebanon Introduction The Israeli attacks on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon following what it called “cross border fires” mark a significant escalation in the crisis that has been building up along the border in recent years. Historical background: Hezbollah, a Shia militia-cum-political party in Lebanon, and Israel, which have fought two wars before, have been observing a tenuous ceasefire for 14 years. It is con
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Gulf leaders signed a “solidarity and stability” deal after leaders of Saudi Arabia and Qatar publicly embraced, bringing Doha back into the regional fold after a three-year-long rift. Saudi Arabia had led a coalition of countries in the Gulf and beyond to cut ties and transport links with Qatar in June 2017, charging that it was too close to Iran and backed radical Islamist groups — allegations that Doha denied. Those countries, along
Analysis of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) On January 5, the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) met at the ancient town of Al-Ula in Saudi Arabia to end the bitter discord that three of its members — Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain, along with Egypt — have had with their partner, Qatar. On June 5, 2017, the Arab Quartet, as they styled themselves, subjected Qatar to an onerous diplomatic boycott and a total land, sea and air embargo. They accused Qatar of destabi
Analysis of Qatar and GCC The Gulf reconciliation summit, in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia, where the kingdom and its allies decided to end their blockade of Qatar, has brought to an end, for now, their long feud. In 2017, Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt imposed the blockade and severed diplomatic ties, accusing the tiny Gulf country of supporting terrorism. They also issued 13 demands for it to be lifted, which include
The endless war between Saudi Arabia and Yemen Introduction The Biden administration’s decision to end U.S. support for Saudi Arabia’s Yemen war is a signal to Riyadh that the Trump-era open support it had enjoyed is a matter of the past. Background The U.S. offered support to Saudi Arabia’s campaign against the Houthi rebels in Yemen when Barack Obama was the President. Donald Trump continued that policy, overlooking the disastrous effects of the war th
US-Saudi Relations- CIA report on murder of Khashoggi Details of CIA report The declassified version of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) report on journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder states “that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved [the] operation…to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.” It bases this conclusion on the evidence that the persons responsible for the crime were members of the security detail of the Cro
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action- Iran nuclear deal Introduction US President Mr. Biden has consistently advocated a return to the JCPOA provided Iran returns to full compliance; Iran has always reiterated its commitment to the JCPOA maintaining that the steps it took are reversible as long as the United States lifts the sanctions imposed by the Trump administration since 2018. Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action The JCPOA was the result of prolonged negotiat
West Asia and Asian ties Desert Flag exercise Other than India and the UAE, Bahrain, France, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and the United States are have participated in the Desert Flag exercise (6th edition). Prevailing situation in West Asia The sixth edition of Desert Flag this year takes place as tensions between Iran and the U.S. peak. Also added into the mix is the signing of the Abraham Accords in September 2020 between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain, a more cordial and j
USA and the West Asian policy Recent issues between U.S and West Asia On February 25, the U.S. bombed facilities used by Iran-backed militias in Syria, in retaliation for a rocket attack at an American base in Erbil, the capital of the Iraqi Kurdistan, earlier in the month, allegedly by pro-Iran Shia militants in Iraq. The next day, the administration released an intelligence report on the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside Saudi Arabia’s Istanbul consulate on October
Turkey Withdraws from Istanbul Convention Turkey withdraws from the Istanbul Convention - to combat violence against women. About Istanbul Convention: Istanbul Convention is also called the Council of Europe Convention. It aims towards preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. The convention was adopted in 2011. It came into force in 2014. Once ratified the Convention is legally binding on the country. It is the first legally-binding instrument t
West Asia-Labour reforms Introduction Not one of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states can cater to their labour market needs domestically. Their dependence on migration is only set to increase with fertility rates falling. Despite there being unemployment, the citizens of these countries are unlikely to step in and do the supposedly low-skilled, and definitely low-paid, jobs of the millions of migrants who work there. The reality in Qatar Qatar, the richest of
Yemen Crisis: Saudi presented a peace initiative In the aftermath of the Yemen crisis, now Saudi Arabia presented a new peace initiative to end the war in Yemen, which would include a nationwide ceasefire under UN supervision and the reopening of air and sea links, the kingdom’s Foreign Minister said. The initiative includes the reopening of Sana'a airport and would allow fuel and food imports through Hodeidah port, both of which are controlled by Riyadh’s enemies, t
Suez Canal crisis- Past to Present Background 1967 closure: The last time the Suez Canal was closed for navigation was in 1967, after the Six-Day War between Israel and Arab nations broke out. 1956 war: Prior to that, the channel had been shut for less than a year during the Suez War of 1956 when Israel, France and Britain invaded Egypt. 2021 closure: What wars did in the past was done by a container ship now. M.V. Ever Given (Taiwanese merchant vessel) got stuck in a dust storm a
Vienna talks- USA and Iran Introduction U.S. and Iran should rebuild the lost trust and resolve the nuclear crisis before time runs out Vienna talks The Vienna talks between the remaining members of the Iran nuclear deal — China, Russia, the U.K., France, Germany and Iran — have raised hopes for the revival of the agreement from which then President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the U.S. in May 2018. After the initial round of talks, European and Iranian d
What Israel wants in Syria? Introduction Ten years since the outbreak of the crisis in Syria in 2011, the regime of President Bashar al-Assad seems to have won the civil war. Background of Assad’s victory over the civil war If in 2015, before the Russian intervention, Mr. Assad’s area of influence had shrunken to the largely Alawite-populated region stretching from Damascus to the Mediterranean coast, his troops now control most of Syria — except Idlib and
Israel-Palestine war, 2021 (Gist) Introduction The ongoing violence in Jerusalem is a culmination of the tensions building up since the start of Ramzan in mid-April. Reason for the incitement When Israeli police set up barricades at the Damascus Gate, a main entrance to the occupied Old City, preventing Palestinians from gathering there, it led to clashes. Eviction of Palestinian families in an Arab neighbourhood of Jerusalem. Israeli police entered the Haram al-Sharif
India’s stand over palestine India’s stand at UN At UN, India backed Palestine but without any reference to Jerusalem, borders At the United Nations Security Council on Sunday, India, a non-permanent member, reaffirmed its support for Palestine, but stopped short of making any direct reference to the status of Jerusalem or the future Israel-Palestine borders. T.S. Tirumurti, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, said: “In conclusion, India reiterates i
100th anniversary of the Kingdom of Jordan PM recently congratulated King Abdullah II on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Kingdom of Jordan. He emphasized the importance of the region and applauded Jordan as a powerful voice and a global symbol of moderation and inclusivity. He appreciated Aqaba Process has contributed to promoting coordination on regional peace and security. The Aqaba Process is an initiative by His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan to enhance global
I2U2 FOOD PARK India will provide appropriate land for food parks across the county that will be built in collaboration with Israel, the United States of America, and the United Arab Emirates. The United Arab Emirates (home to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and host of COP28 in 2023 ) announced an investment of USD 2 billion to develop a series of integrated food parks in India with the help of the I2U2 grouping to address food security in South Asia and the Middle E
Indo-Saudi Strategic Partnership The Indian Minister for External Affairs ends his first official trip to Saudi Arabia. Image Source - Financial Express He reviewed all facets of bilateral ties between Saudi Arabia and India during the visit and spoke about both local and global problems. Key Discussion Points Collaboration: The potential for shared progress, prosperity, stability, security, and development between India and Saudi Arabia exists. C
India - Saudi Arabia Relations Recently, India and Saudi Arabia explored establishing a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) in order to formally cooperate with one another in criminal case investigations. India has already signed MLATs with 45 nations and is currently negotiating MLATs with Germany and Italy. The only other nation except for Saudi Arabia without an MLAT or any other bilateral arrangement with India to assist such inquiries is Pakistan. What is MLAT? It is
India-Oman Strategic Dialogue The eighth India-Oman strategic conversation took place in India, and both nations stressed the importance of working together to combat the threats posed by terrorism, terrorist propaganda, misuse of cyberspace, and new and emerging technology. The highlight of the dialogue: Numerous topics of shared interest were discussed, including bilateral strategic and security cooperation, defense, and regional security. The significance of maintaining ma
Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik is on an official visit to India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held 'productive' talks with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, with a focus on expanding bilateral cooperation in the key areas of security, defence, trade and economy. The two sides also announced the third tranche of Oman-India investment fund worth USD 300 million (around Rs 2,500 crore) that would be used for channelising investment into
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