China and the Indian Ocean Region China has been incessantly increasing its footprint in the Indian Ocean in the past decade by undertaking port infrastructure projects, managing and running ports, gaining port access for naval platforms, acquiring military bases and conducting naval exercises with countries in the region.

The VIF on 18 April 2016 invited noted women rights activist and exiled Baloch leader Prof Naela Quadri for a talk on the current situation in Pakistan’s restive province, Balochistan. Following the talk, an interaction was held with the speaker. With General NC Vij, former Chief of the Indian Army and the VIF’s present Director, in the Chair, a powerful battery of strategic experts, including Gen VN Sharma, former Chief of the Indian Army, Lt Gen SK Sinha, former Governor J&K and Assam, Amb Kanwal Sibal, former Foreign Secretary, Mr. PC Haldar, former Director IB, Mr.

A panel of eminent policy experts representing the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), including representatives from the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), among others, engaged H.E. Nadir Patel, Canada’s High Commissioner to India, over a range of bilateral issues on 11 April 2016.

The VIF-IPIS Joint forum on India-Iran cooperation in Post-JCPOA held its first meeting in Tehran from March 5 to 8, 2016. The Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) is part of the Centre for International Research and Education (CIRE) of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The VIF delegation was led by Director VIF, Gen N C Vij and comprised of Shri C D Sahay, Distinguished Fellow VIF, Lt Gen Ravi Sawhney, Dean- Centre for Defence Studies- VIF, Amb Kanwal Sibal, Dean Centre for International Relations & Diplomacy- VIF, Dr.