Articles

Portents of the Xi-Putin Meeting of May 2024

Summits between Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are invariably closely monitored in world capitals, especially since the onset of Russia’s war with Ukraine in 2022 and the two having declared a “no limits friendship”! C....

July 16, 2024 International Relations and Diplomacy , China , Article , US , China , Russia , Xi Jinping , Putin , Europe , CCP , Taiwan independence

Global Developments and Analysis: Weekly Monitor (17-23 June 2024)

Economic

China's influence on U.N. space agency grows as top funder

China has been making the largest voluntary contribution to a United Nations outer space agency in recent years, underscoring the country's growing ambition i....

July 02, 2024 Israel , South China Sea , Putin , Covid-19 International Daily Scan , Nuclear Power , Hajj , UNOOSA , Shale , China-EU , China data

As Russia-Ukraine conflict reaches two year mark, it is advantage Putin

Amb D.B. Venkatesh Varma, Distinguished Fellow, VIF Article

With the West locked into a semi-permanent conflict with Russia, and the fraying deterrence equations between the big powers, the consequent disequilibrium on the Eurasian continent is a matter of deep concern. It works primarily to China’s advanta....

February 24, 2024 International Relations and Diplomacy , Russia , Article , Russia , Putin , NATO , Ukraine Conflict

Global Developments and Analysis: Weekly Monitor (05-11 February 2024)

Economic

Trump says U.S. must impose more tariffs on China, possibly over 60%

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said he would impose tariffs on China again if he is elected in November and they could exceed 60%. "....

February 14, 2024 North Korea , China , Myanmar , Donald Trump , Putin , OPEC , TSMC , Dengue , Covid-19 International Daily Scan , ECOWAS , Nippon Steel , Zelenskiy

India-Russia Relations Show Resilience and Stability

Amb D.B. Venkatesh Varma, Distinguished Fellow, VIF Commentary

The year 2023 ended on high note for India-Russia relations with the successful visit of External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar. The five-day visit to Moscow and St Petersburg was significant for numerous reasons for both sides and also contained....

January 05, 2024 International Relations and Diplomacy , Russia , Commentary , Defence , Putin , BRICS , G20 , EAM , Lavrov , Jaishankar , Russia-Ukraine War

Forgotten Dimensions of Strategy: Russia- Ukraine War - Lessons for India

Amb D.B. Venkatesh Varma, Distinguished Fellow, VIF Article

(Given below is the modified version of presentation given by Amb. DB Venkatesh Varma during Prof. Matinuzzaman Zuberi Memorial Lecture, Jawaharlal Nehru University on 7 December 2023.)

Kissinger Syndrome

By the time I joined th....

December 15, 2023 International Relations and Diplomacy , Russia , Article , Palestine , India , Russia , Putin , PM Modi , Ukraine , Policy , Lessons , Biden , Zelensky , Kautilya , Grand strategy , Zuberi

Eurasia News Digest (1-15 November, 2023)

Russia & Central Asia

Uzbekistan, France hold imperative bilateral agreements

The governments of Uzbekistan and France signed eight bilateral documents on November 2, in Samarkand on various areas of cooperation to vitalize th....

November 21, 2023 Putin , Military cooperation , Eurasia News Digest , French Ammunition , Russian Gas Deal , Donald Lu , Iran-Tajikistan Rapprochement , Roghun Dam

Russia’s Fuel Export Ban and its Implication for Africa and Beyond

Samir Bhattacharya Article

Background

On September 21, by a decree signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Russia banned the export of all types of diesel, including summer, winter and Arctic blends, as well as heavy distillates, including gasoline and diesel.<....

November 20, 2023 International Relations and Diplomacy , Africa , Russia , Article , India , China , Russia , Africa , Putin , Energy Security , Ukraine , EU , energy , Export ban

Second Russia-Africa Summit: A Mixed Bag for Africa

Samir Bhattacharya Article

Background

In recent years, Russia may have increased its influence in Africa more than any other external power. However, Russia has a long history of interaction with Africa. These two continents were extremely close during the Cold War....

September 10, 2023 International Relations and Diplomacy , Africa , Article , Russia , modi , UNSC , Africa , Putin , Ukraine , G20 , Russia Africa Summit , Neo-colonialism

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