The world community is aghast over the acute tensions between the United States and its NATO allies on one side and Russia on the other, which is poised critically on the brink of a military confrontation, the like of which the world didn’t see in the entire Cold War era. The shocking part is that …
German military on the rebound
In a historic decision after the defeat in World War 2, Germany is setting up a special fund to rebuild its military. €100 billion investment, including drones, fighter jets, are on the agenda. Military spending will be raised above 2% of GDP permanently, by far outstripping France or UK. Whichever way the U.S.-Russian tensions pan …
India shouldn’t miss world war pointer
Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin had a phone conversation on February 24, 2022 The transition of India’s foreign-policy mindset during the post-cold war period from an international outlook to a national one, and then its colossal drop to a ‘mofussil’ thinking, is a tragic phenomenon. One outcome of it has …
Germany Can No Longer Be Put Down
Whichever way the U.S.-Russian tensions pan out — or, get protracted — Germany hopes to be the net winner. Prima facie, it may seem German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s inexperience in world politics showed in his first appearance at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday when he was dismissive about a remark by Russian leader earlier …
Pope, Putin and Ukraine in crisis
Russian President Vladimir Putin after a papal audience with Pope Francis, Vatican, June 10, 2015 Papacy is back in global politics — that is, assuming it ever left. The gesture by Pope Francis to visit the Russian Embassy in Rome on Friday undoubtedly makes a notable event, for a variety of reasons. Pope Francis has …
Ukraine’s hybrid war is mutating
Ukraine president Zelensky gave a video address after midnight on February 25, 2022 disclosing a Russian offer of talks The first signs of the dual track in Russia’s hybrid war in Ukraine have surfaced. By Thursday evening, the Kremlin held out an olive branch to the Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky. Succinctly put, President Vladimir Putin expressed …
Putin crosses the Rubicon. What next?
People wave Russian national flags celebrating Moscow’s recognition Donetsk and Lugansk, eastern Ukraine, Feb 21, 2022 Russia’s recognition of the ‘people’s republics’ of Luhansk and Donetsk in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbass on Monday is a watershed event. In a manner of speaking, by this decision President Vladimir Putin crossed the Rubicon. But a …
India and the Donbass republics
President Vladimir Putin in an address to the nation announced Russia’s recognition of the Donbass Republics, Moscow, Feb 21, 2022 India’s dilemma over humanitarian intervention is revisiting it, with Russia’s recognition of the two self-proclaimed Donbass republics of Donetsk and Lugansk as independent states. India is certainly not going to follow the Russian footfalls. The …
India, China in Europe’s crisis
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi addresses the Munich Security Conference via video link, Feb 19, 2022. The remarks by China’s State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday constitute the first full statement on Beijing’s stance regarding Russia’s current tensions with the West and its sub-plot …
Moscow’s coercive diplomacy is working
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz gesturing at a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin , Moscow, February 15, 2022 The upshot of the Russian response, transmitted to Washington on Thursday, regarding security guarantees may look as if the stalemate is heading toward a war. Moscow has rejected the US’ call for ‘de-escalation’ by pointing …