The Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organised a talk on “Global and Regional Uncertainty and the Prospects for India-Indonesia Relations” on 10 November, 2022. Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director, VIF, chaired the session and gave welcome remarks. The talk was delivered by Her Excellency Ina Haniningtyas Krishnamurthi, the Indonesian Ambassador to India.
On 16 November 2022, the delegation of Singapore from the Ministry of Defence visited the Vivekananda International Foundation to interact on the issues of counter-terrorism and cyber security. Ouyang Zi Qi, Counter Terrorism analyst, Tan Kian Jui, Senior Director and David Chen Yeshan, Counsellor High Commission of the Republic of Singapore visited as part of the delegation.
The West Asia Experts Group Meeting was held on 6 October 2022 by the Vivekananda International Foundation, the discussion was focused on "Morocco’s Foreign Policy and India-Morocco Relations". The key speaker for the session was Mr. Mohamed Maliki, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to India. The members attending and contributing were Amb. Anil Trigunayat (Coordinator); Amb. D P Srivastava; Amb. Satish Chandra; Dr. Meena Singh Roy; Dr. Sreeradha Datta; Vice Admiral Satish Soni; Lt. Gen. Ata Hasnain; Brig. Vinod Anand; Lt. Gen. Ravi Sawhney and Director, VIF, Dr. Arvind Gupta.
The latest edition of the Quad Plus dialogue at the think tanks level was held on 20th September 2022 virtually. The topics discussed were a review of recent developments with the Quad, role of multi-lateral organisations in identifying opportunities and addressing challenges in the current geo-political situation. The review also discussed Quad-related work at our various institutions including potential paths ahead.
Dr. Daniel Markey is a senior advisor on South Asia at the United States Institute of Peace. He is also a senior fellow at the Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) Foreign Policy Institute. VIF experts and he had an hour long conversation in which exchange of views on China, Pakistan and the US policy towards then in addition to him covering his recent visit to Islamabad, India- China relations, US policy in the region, on Thursday 22 September.
Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), organized a Round Table Discussion on “Shanghai Cooperation Organization: Achievements and Prospects” on September 5, 2022. Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director VIF, delivered the welcome remarks, followed by remarks of Amb DB Venkatesh Varma, Distinguished Fellow VIF. The other participants of the discussion included Amb D. P. Srivastava, Amb Ashok Kantha, Lt. Gen Ravi Sawhney. Amb. Ashok Sajjanhar, Amb. Skand R. Tayal, Amb. PS Raghavan and Amb TCA Raghavan.
The Vivekananda International Foundation unveiled its latest "Connect Africa" programme on September 22, 2022. This initiative's primary goal is to invite prominent African and Indian figures, such as academics, diplomats, practitioners, and journalists, for conversations on various emerging African issues. The event will allow Africanists in India and elsewhere to engage with Africa by bringing attention to several important factors influencing the continent. It will also facilitate cross-learning.
The Vivekananda International Foundation hosted a Visiting Singapore MOD Delegation on 24 Aug 2022. The Singapore delegation members included Mr Chia Huan Boon, Mr David Chen, Mr Kumuthan Maderya and Ms Clare Chng Shuling. From the VIF side, Lt Gen Ravi Sawhney (Retd), Brig Vinod Anand (Retd), Mr Naval Jagota and Ms Prerna Gandhi attended the discussion. The discussion focussed on changing regional dynamics with recent developments following the Russia-Ukraine war and the US House Speaker’s visit to Taiwan.
The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) organized the visit of the fifth batch of Gen-Next Democracy Network Programme with delegates from Austria, Costa Rica, Greece, South Korea, Romania, and Australia. The delegates visited Vivekananda International Foundation on 9th September 2022 for a lecture on different aspects and dimensions of Indian democracy.
In the month of August 2022 Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organized a total of seven expert group, think tank, round table and eminent person interactions with most of them being hybrid but with increasing in person attendance. The month saw the commencement of a new expert group on Geo-Economics in which the first discussions was on India and the neighbourhood.