Vivekananda International Foundation | Seeking Harmony in Diversity

Interaction with Ms. Kavita Kewal, Department of Defence, Australia

Ms. Kavita Kewal, Assistant Secretary, DOD, Australia along with other officials visited VIF on 22 July 2014 to interact with the VIF faculty on issues of mutual concern. Ms. Kavita Kewal explained Australian views on regional security environment including Australia’s role in America’s pivot to Asia strategy. She also dwelt on the ongoing process of formulating the Defence White Paper and Australia’s requirement of building up its defence capabilities. She stressed on enhancing Indo-Australian defence and security cooperation.

July 29, 2014 Event Report

The Communist Party-Army Equation in China

Lt Gen Gautam Banerjee, Editor, VIF

Preamble In republican scheme of matters, warfare is the ultimate political recourse that is to be prosecuted to seek conditions for advantageous settlement of external disputes. Conversely, in communist theology, military force is but an integral component of external as well as domestic political articulation, more of the latter in fact, for it to remain committed as the guarantor of the regime’s autarkic endeavours. Click here to read full Paper

July 08, 2014 Paper

Seminar on ‘Engaging China: Opportunities and Challenges’

Vivekananda International Foundation held a day long seminar titled ‘Engaging China: Opportunities and Challenges’ on June 26, 2014. The seminar attempted to approach the issue of Sino-Indian relations from a multi-dimensional perspective and included sessions on Geopolitical and Regional Dynamics, India-China Economic Relations and a discussion on the Security Challenges faced by the two countries.

July 02, 2014 Event Report

Interaction with US Army War College Scholar

Dr. Jeffrey McCausland of the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College visited the VIF on 11th June afternoon for an interaction with the VIF faculty on the subject of Pakistan’s tactical nuclear weapons. VIF Director, Gen (Retd) NC Vij chaired the meeting and pointed out about the flaws about Pakistan’s approach to nuclear weapons and the possibilities of the same falling into the hands of jihadis/terrorist outfits. Dr. McCausland is a retired U.S.

June 16, 2014 Event Report

Interaction with French Delegation

On 11th June Mr. Nicholas Roche (Director for Strategic Affairs at the French Atomic Energy Agency) and H.E Francois Richier, Ambassador of France to India, accompanied by other members of the Embassy staff visited the VIF to deliberate on Pakistan’s Tactical Nuclear Weapons, French experience of counter-terrorist operations in Mali and Libya and for exchanging of views on French Defence Institutional organizations.

June 16, 2014 Event Report

VIF MoU with Centre for South Asian Studies, Peking University

On 30th May 2014, Dr Wang Xu, Asst. Director, Centre for South Asian Studies, Peking University, Beijing visited the VIF for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutes for academic exchanges.

June 02, 2014 Event Report

Interaction with Chinese Think Tank Scholars

A three member delegation from the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, Beijing led by Dr Li Li, Associate Research Fellow at CICIR visited the VIF on 30th May 2014 and interacted with the VIF faculty. The other members of the delegation were Dr Wang Shida and Song Qingrun.

June 02, 2014 Event Report

Interaction with Delegation from Royal College of Defence Studies, UK

A 17-member delegation of senior level defence officers and defence ministry officials from the UK and other countries led by Commandant RCDS, Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS), Lt. Gen (Retd) Sir David Bill, KCB, visited the VIF on 30th May for a briefing and interaction on Indian economic and security perspectives.

June 02, 2014 Event Report

VIF MOU with Vietnam Think Tank

A ten member Vietnamese delegation visited Vivekananda International Foundation on 16 April 2014 for discussions and signing of an MOU between the Institute of Foreign Policy and Strategic Studies (IFPSS), Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and the VIF for academic exchanges. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan, Director General of the Institute and Mr. Ajit Doval, Director VIF signed the MOU in the presence of visiting Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam H.E. Pham Quang Vinh.

April 21, 2014 Event Report

Interaction with Egyptian Ambassador to India

H.E. Khaled Ali Moustafa El-Bakly, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt interacted with members of the strategic community at the VIF on April 02, 2014. The Ambassador spoke on the current situation and the upcoming elections in Egypt. He elaborated on the challenges posed by radical extremists of the Muslim Brotherhood and how the state is coping with them. The spiral of violence in Egypt has given a fresh impetus to Al Qaeda linked terror groups particularly in the Sinai, which could have far wider regional ramifications if left unchecked.

April 14, 2014 Event Report