About the Issue

Written by domain experts, the current issue of National Security carries a set of policy relevant essays, articles and a policy brief that broadly examines issues that may have implications for India’s foreign and security policies.

Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Rakesh Sharma in his lead essay explains the geopolitical circumstances that led the Hamas to undertake a horrific assault on Israeli civilians. Analysing the military aspects of the assault and the counter offensive by Israel, the writer underscores the lessons that can be learnt by Indian policymakers. Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director of VIF, analyses Russia’s latest Foreign Policy Concept (FPC), a strategic planning document that outlines the fundamental principles, significant purposes, strategic goals and priority areas of the country’s foreign policy. Dr. Ajey Lele in his article focuses on the US-initiated Artemis Accords that pertain to the peaceful and transparent exploration of outer space and that India has signed onto. The author cautions that India’s strategic and commercial interests must be safeguarded while adhering to the requirements of the Accords. In another interesting article, Prof. Priti Singh opines that although India has growing relations with some Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)countries and has signed many strategic partnerships, it needs to engage with the region in a far more dynamic manner.

In his article, Prof. Chintamani Mahapatra explores the many dilemmas, including “complex interdependence”, that confront the United States in tackling the rise of China as an assertive, ambitious and aggressive state. Capt. (Retd.) Gurpreet S. Khurana, in his policy brief, invites the attention of his readers to India’s military-strategic imperatives in the south-west Pacific region coupled with the need of the Pacific Island States for India as a trusted security partner area. The final contribution is an article by young scholar Sarada Subhash who highlights four critical dimensions that explain ‘why’ and ‘how’ China is managing to carry out its repressive policies in Xinjiang.

Letters and Comments

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Editorial Board

International Editorial Advisory Board

CONTENTS: Volume VI Issue IV | October - December 2023

Editor’s Note

Navigating an Uncertain World

Essays

Israel and Hamas War 2023: Lessons for India | Rakesh Sharma

Russia’s Foreign Policy Concept 2023 | Arvind Gupta

Articles

India and the Artemis Accords: Need to Tread Cautiously | Ajey Lele

Abstract:The Artemis Accords refer to a non-binding multilateral arrangement on use of space led by the US and signed onto by several governments. These accords have established a framework of principles, guidelines, and best practices to ensure peaceful space exploration in a transparent manner. India signed the Artemis Accords in June 2023. India becoming a part of these accords is viewed as an important step towards expanding the Indo-US strategic partnership further. However, these accords are in conflict with the concept of Common Heritage of Mankind (CHM). The final aim of the Artemis Programme is to facilitate the outreach of humans to the Moon and Mars. Some provisions in these accords are at variance with the existing norms building process in the space domain. This article identifies the limitations of these accords and argues that as a signatory nation, India needs to remain watchful and ensure that its strategic and commercial interests are well protected.

India and Latin America: Potential Partners in a Changing World | Priti Singh

Abstract:India’s relations with Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have seen an effective change in the last few years. The change reflects the ‘energetic’ foreign policy of India and its increasing dynamism in global politics. The Latin American and the Caribbean region, so far overlooked by India, is increasingly becoming one of the focal points of its various foreign policy overtures. This article draws attention to the growing significance of the Latin American region for India both in terms of resources and a political-diplomatic partnership. Given the recent setbacks of the pandemic, followed by the Ukraine war and the rising tensions between the United States and China, Latin American countries are looking for strategic partners without aligning themselves with any power. While India has growing relations with some LAC countries and has signed several strategic partnerships, it needs to engage with the region much more. Several economic factors favour an increased engagement. Positive perceptions about India in the region also help.

US Policy Dilemmas in the Indo-Pacific | Chintamani Mahapatra

Abstract:The Biden Administration in the United States is confronted with an acute dilemma in dealing with the rise of China as an assertive, aggressive and ambitious power in the global order. It seeks to preserve the economic benefits of maintaining good relations with China, yet is uncomfortable with the spread of Chinese influence across the world. This policy dilemma is not new for the US foreign policymakers and there are several instances of Washington’s dilemma in dealing with China in the post-World War II period. As the existing superpower United States and aspiring superpower China struggle to manage their relationship, the dilemmas faced by the US are likely to continue deep into the future. The complex interdependence marked by trade and investment relations, complex geopolitical imperatives and the need to prevent conflict escalation makes it difficult for Washington and Beijing to escape policy dilemmas.

When Realpolitik Triumphs over Uyghur Rights in Xinjiang | Sarada Subhash

Abstract:The ongoing human rights violations against the Uyghur ethnic minority, predominantly Turkic speaking Muslims, in the China-ruled Xinjiang region are deeply disturbing. This article is an attempt to situate the persecution, violence and Uyghur concerns in a broader framework that highlights four critical dimensions of this issue. These include, the contrasting narratives about the history of East Turkestan/Xinjiang; understanding the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), which China has been portraying as a significant security ‘concern’; highlighting Xinjiang’s geostrategic importance to China vis-à-vis Central, West and South Asia and finally, Washington’s counter-terrorism strategies (post-9/11) which many see as a significant factor in abetting the Uyghur predicament. In short, the article tries to understand if these issues have contributed to aiding or aggravating the continuing Uyghur crisis and via assessing these segments, it shall also try to provide a brief insight into ‘why’ and ‘how’ China is managing to do what it is doing in Xinjiang.

Policy Brief

India’s Naval Engagement with the Pacific Island States | Gurpreet S. Khurana

Abstract: As an area where the geostrategic frontiers of most major powers intersect, the south-west Pacific Ocean is likely to be the next arena of major geopolitical contestation in the Indo-Pacific Region. Lately, India’s vital interests have also expanded to this sub-region. This has ushered India’s politico-diplomatic engagement with the Pacific Island Developing States (PIDS) under its policy initiatives like “SAGAR.” The policy brief argues that as New Delhi expands its outreach to PIDS in multiple functional domains like climate change, blue economy and connectivity, the Indian Navy must necessarily be involved beyond its occasional warship port calls. The rationale is driven by various factors. The foremost is the fact that navies are valuable instruments of the nation’s foreign policy. Secondly, the PIDS are in dire need for trusted security partners like India. Thirdly, some of India’s critical military-strategic imperatives vis-à- vis China lie in the south-west Pacific area.