Author: Gaurang Salkar

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan embarked on a three-stop tour of Persian Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, with the objective of enhancing trade and investment opportunities for Turkey’s struggling economy. The visit signifies the thawing of relations between Turkey and the Gulf Arab states, presenting an opportunity for economic collaboration and regional cooperation. Promoting Economic Collaboration for Turkey’s Ailing Economy Accompanied by a delegation of approximately 200 businesspeople, Erdogan arrived in Jeddah and met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Al Salam Palace. During the welcoming ceremony, both leaders expressed their satisfaction with…

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, following her recent visit to China, has arrived in India to attend the G20 summit. In a press conference held in Gujarat, Yellen emphasized the significance of India as an “indispensable partner” in the United States’ policy of “friend-shoring.” She highlighted the importance of derisking and friend-shoring in promoting the shift of manufacturing away from authoritarian states towards allied nations.  India as an Indispensable Partner in Friend-shoring Yellen reiterated the United States’ recognition of India’s pivotal role in its friend-shoring strategy. She emphasized the significance of India as an excellent place for producing and exporting…

Breakthrough Agreement Reached to Finalize Deal on Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Ethiopia and Egypt have reached a significant breakthrough in their long-standing dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile. On Thursday, July 13, 2024, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed held talks in Cairo, where they discussed ways to overcome the stalemate in negotiations regarding the dam. A joint statement released by the Egyptian presidency announced that the two leaders agreed to expedited negotiations to finalize an agreement on the dam’s filling and operation within the next four months. Talks…

India’s strategic outreach in Southeast Asia has been gaining momentum in recent years, as the country seeks to enhance its political, social, and military influence in the region. With a focus on countering China’s assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific, India has been forging strategic partnerships with countries in Southeast Asia, deepening defense cooperation, and expanding diplomatic engagements. These efforts have garnered attention and support from regional counterparts, signaling a growing alignment of interests. As External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar currently embarks on his visit to Indonesia just after Defense Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to Malaysia, such high-level visits highlight India’s constant…

Russia’s veto at the United Nations (UN) Security Council has signaled the demise of a long-running humanitarian operation in northwest Syria. The operation, which delivered aid to 4 million people in rebel-held areas, has come to an end after Russia vetoed a nine-month extension of the UN authorization. Russia’s own proposal for a six-month extension also failed to secure approval. Russia’s UN Ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, stated, “If our draft is not supported, then we can just go ahead and close down the cross-border mechanism.” This move has left the fate of the aid operation uncertain, raising concerns among aid groups…

A court in eastern Libya has delivered verdicts in a significant human trafficking case, sentencing 38 individuals for their involvement in a Mediterranean smuggling operation. The defendants, part of a network responsible for smuggling migrants and refugees from Libya to Europe, were held accountable for the deaths of 11 individuals attempting the perilous crossing. The court’s ruling adds to the ongoing efforts in Libya to combat human trafficking and provides a glimpse into the challenges faced in addressing this issue. The verdicts underscore the importance of international cooperation in tackling the root causes of irregular migration and protecting the rights…

Top diplomats from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are set to gather in Indonesia, this week, to discuss critical regional issues. The agenda will be dominated by the ongoing civil strife in Myanmar, tensions surrounding the South China Sea disputes, and concerns over arms buildups in the region. The ASEAN talks will also feature the participation of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who will engage as dialogue partners. This gathering takes place against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the intensifying U.S.-China rivalry and…

India’s Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs, V Muraleedharan, is set to embark on a significant visit to Syria this week, marking the first ministerial visit from India to the West Asian nation in several years. This visit is part of India’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its engagement with the Bashar al-Assad government, following the previous visit of Syrian Foreign Minister Fayssal Mekdad to Delhi last year, where he engaged in discussions with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. India’s Multifaceted Approach: Commitment to Syrian People India has adopted a comprehensive approach in its relations with Syria,…

As the White House confirms its “difficult” decision to provide Ukraine with cluster munitions, it has sparked a heated ethical debate surrounding the potential implications and consequences of this action. Cluster munitions have a history of causing unprecedented civilian casualties and have been banned by 120 countries. Such a move requires looking into the reasoning behind the US decision, the perspectives of key stakeholders, and the concerns raised by human rights groups. Ukraine’s Plea and US Justification Ukraine’s Dire Need for Ammunition The Ukrainian government had persistently requested dual-purpose improved conventional munitions (DPICM) from the United States. Uptil now,…

Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon, also called the planet’s lungs, has witnessed a crucial decline of 33.3% since President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva came to power six months ago. According to the data released by the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe), this positive trend marks a reverse point compared to the alarming rise in deforestation observed under President Jair Bolsonaro’s administration. The trend however also portrays the long term challenges that still persist in the fight for climate change.   Decreased Deforestation Rates: Satellite data shared by the government highlights that deforestation alerts covering an area of 2650 sq. km…