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Russia
Risks of Exaggeration: What to Make of Russia’s Relations with China after the Xi Visit
Amb D.B. Venkatesh Varma, Distinguished Fellow, VIF Article

Xi Jinping’s three-day visit to Moscow, 20-23March, his first abroad in his third term as China’s President, evoked considerable interest. Two joint statements and a dozen bilateral cooperation documents were signed. Xi’s personal equation wit....

April 06, 2023 International Relations and Diplomacy , China , Russia , Article , India , US , China , Russia , Putin , Ukraine , Xi visit
Neighborhood News Digest – 05 April 2023

Afghanistan
Afghanistan Taliban raid kills six members of Islamic State group – The Hindu
An overnight raid by Taliban forces in Afghanistan’s northern Balkh province killed six members of the extremist Islamic State group, a ....

April 05, 2023 VIF Neighbourhood News Digest , Pakistan , China , Russia , economy , Iran , Afghanistan , Islamic State , Bhutan , Supreme Court , elections , India-Nepal , Saudi Arabia , Bangladesh , UNHRC , Taliban , Tourism , Rohingyas , India Security , Nepal-China , Punjab elections , Myanmar China , India-Sri Lanka , Rupee , Fire , GoI , Bhutan King , 13 FYP , Japan-Maldives , USD , SLINEX-23
Neighborhood News Digest – 20 March 2023

Afghanistan
Afghanistan: OIC to send Islamic scholars to Kabul, will discuss women’s rights with Taliban – Firstpost
With women’s rights in Afghanistan suffering a major setback under the Taliban, the Organization of Islami....

March 20, 2023 VIF Neighbourhood News Digest , Pakistan , China , Russia , Nepal , foreign policy , Maldives , Iran , Myanmar , Sri Lanka , Afghanistan , Bhutan , ISIS , Saudi Arabia , election , CPEC , defence cooperation , Taliban , Unemployment , Tourism , refugees , IMF , UN , Diplomacy , women rights , Vice President , Submarine , India-Bangladesh , Drought , Rohingyas , Drugs , Pak Army , BNP , Electricity , Friendship Pipeline , Khaleda , Teesta , (In)Security , Confidence vote , Local Election
Could the Reaper Have Been Saved – An Analysis
Air Marshal GS Bedi (Retd) Commentary

The Incident
According to "Defense One," two Russian SU-27 aircraft intercepted a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle over the Black Sea on March 14, 2023. Apparently, the interceptors dumped fuel on it and then struck its propellers....

March 16, 2023 National Security and Strategic Studies , Defence , Commentary , US , Russia , UAV , Reaper , SU 27
Has Singapore Changed its Stance on Ukraine?
Amruta Karambelkar Commentary

On 8th of March 2023, Singapore’s minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam delivered the keynote address on the occasion of one year of the Russia-Ukraine war at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. His speech took a critical view of the West which merit....

March 16, 2023 International Relations and Diplomacy , Commentary , US , Russia , Singapore , Ukraine
India Impacted by the Great Geopolitical Churn
Lt Gen (Dr) Rakesh Sharma (Retd.), Distinguished Fellow, VIF Article

Any attempt towards predicting the emerging world order is more likely to be incorrect. The geopolitical churn is so immense and future so fundamentally incomprehensible that it will be well served to desist from dire prognostications. The era is cau....

March 15, 2023 International Relations and Diplomacy , Article , India , US , China , Russia , economy , sanctions , Ukraine , Oil , G20 , Covid , defence budgets
Neighborhood News Digest – 14 March 2023

Afghanistan
SAARC Secretary General Position not awarded to Afghanistan – The Print
It was Afghanistan’s turn to suggest a candidate for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation’s (SAARC) Secretary General Posit....

March 14, 2023 VIF Neighbourhood News Digest , India , Pakistan , US , Russia , Nepal , ASEAN , Afghanistan , Nepal politics , Bhutan , elections , Bangladesh , MEA , Taliban , Imran Khan , SAARC , Social Media , Oil , Tourism , ISRO , Human Rights , India-Bangladesh , Nepal Economy , India-Maldives , China-Sri-Lanka , Ram Chandra Poudel , Worl Bank
How Useful was Secretary Blinken’s Visit to Central Asia?
Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF Article

Background
A year has passed since the Ukrainian conflict erupted in February last year. This crisis has had a devastating impact not just on the countries involved but also on those not part of this conflict. Supply chain disruptions, a ....

March 07, 2023 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , Article , China , Russia , SCO , Central Asia , reforms , CSTO , C5+1 , Ukraine Crisis , Sanctions. USA
China Weekly Digest 15 February-28 February 2023

India-China Relations
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar's reality check on China : The India China Newsletter, March 1, 2023
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang’s visit to India, and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar’s r....

March 03, 2023 China , Russia , India-China relations , China Daily Digest , China-Russia strategic cooperation , Wang Yi’s declaration on Ukraine Crisis , Chinese style o modernization , 2nd plenary session of 20th party Congress , China WTO , China-energy , South Africa’s joint maritime exercise
Neighborhood News Digest – 02 March 2023

Afghanistan
Pakistan's special representative to Afghanistan resigns – India Today
Pakistan's Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq on Wednesday resigned from his post, citing personal reasons. “After serving c....

March 02, 2023 VIF Neighbourhood News Digest , India , Russia , ASEAN , Maldives , Bhutan , India-Nepal , Bangladesh , Tourism , IMF , India-Pakistan , Nepal-China , BNP , India-Myanmar , Census , Afghanistan-Pakistan , A K Momen , Sri Lanka- Indonesia , Strikes , Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sukanya , Myanmar-China
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