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The visit of the Afghani president Ashraf Ghani came at a time when Pakistan has elected its military backed new Prime Minister Imran Khan. During his visit to Delhi, the Afghani president held closed door meetings with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. President Ghani discussed the security situation in Afghanistan and how the recent terrorist attack in Ghazini was carried out by Pakistanis. The attack was followed by the kidnapping of more than 100 foreign nationals including Indians. Prime Minister Modi asked President Ghani regarding the whereabouts of the seven Indian nationals kidnapped by the terrorists. Thereafter President Ghani emphasised on his government dealing with the Taliban prudently and defended his decision to create a ceasefire. He stressed that, even though the process is long and will see a lot of bloodshed, the Taliban are a part of Afghani society. Fixing a problem that is ailing the Afghani society is a priority for President Ghani who aims at holistic development.
In addition to this President Ghani also discussed the rising threat of Daesh in Afghanistan, which also is a concern emphasised by Iran and the United States. Finally, President Ghani, while commenting on relations with Pakistan guaranteed India, that conducting talks with the new Pakistani establishment will not happen anytime soon. Reacting to this, Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s commitment to peace and stability in Afghanistan led by the Afghani people. He also hoped that Afghanistan will one day emerge as a country adopting and safeguarding the principles of Democracy and eventually emerge as prosperous and economically vibrant country.
Russia’s VOSTOK 2018, a week-long military manoeuvre was the largest military exercise to be conducted since 1981 in Eastern Siberia. It officially commenced on September 11 and concluded on September 17. Though the military exercise is held every four years, this year had a special significance because it was taking place during the time of deteriorating relations between Russia and the West. Reportedly over three lakh personnel, 36,000 pieces of ground force equipment, 1,000 fixed and rotary winged aircraft and about 80 ship support vessels were in participation.
Russia, through this exercise aimed at sending a strong message to its opponents that its military stands ready in defence of its Far East territories. Besides this, China also sent a contingent of about 3,200 personnel, 1000 military vehicles and equipment and 30 fixed and rotary winged aircrafts. China’s participation was strategically important in order to show the rivals that Russia and China are standing together. In addition to that, the units from Mongolia and the NATO member Turkey were invited to be part of the exercise.
Nepali Prime Minister K.P Sharma Oli and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Beijing on June 20, 2018 to discuss Cross-Border Railway Connectivity. This has paved way for bilateral relations between the two countries. High speed railway network is being built between Kerung in Tibet and Kathmandu although the route passes through an earthquake prone zone, both the Chinese and Nepali are very optimistic regarding the project. The project will improve trade communication between Nepal and China. China is determined to make major investments in Nepal as Nepal is keen on searching for an alternate to India. Establishing ties with Nepal gives China a more prominence near the Himalayan region, thanks to years of discontentment brewing in Nepal against India’s failure to act in spite of making great promises, India’s use of soft power hegemony and creating blockades in Nepal regarding change of Nepali constitution provisions.
China and Nepal have also signed eight agreements worth 2.4 billion dollars in the month of June as reported in the Shillong Times on 21st June 2018. China is also keen on undertaking infrastructural development projects like hydroelectricity, water resources and cement factories in Nepal. It has already spread its charm in Nepal—Chinese language schools are built in the country. The future shall depict the prospects of this new relationship given the fact that Nepal has joined the BRI project.
United States of America and China have indulged themselves into ceaseless tariff tussles since the beginning of 2018. The trade-war between the two major economies has escalated to a state where it's on the verge of disrupting the international trade flow. Countries such as Europe, Canada, Mexico and India who are also pertinent trade partners of China and U.S. are equally affected by this trade war. The consecutive tariff lashes imposed by both the parties against each other has dreadfully lead to the anticipation of a new economic order of antagonism where nationalism will be paid more heed than globalization. Neither claims to step down despite knowing the repercussions of such futile tariff war. It is not just affecting the market stability of both the countries but impelling them to redirect their market economic growth from the monopolistic foreign market to the enhancement of the domestic market.
This will help each of the countries to depend less on the foreign market such that they can unfold the ability of their domestic-market and eventually prevent foreign market infiltration, theft of intellectual property and reduction of trade deficit.
Despite WTO’s intervention, to set up dialogues between the two nations twice, the meetings have failed to hit any settlement. The latest tariff attack of 10%, imposed by the Trump Administration earlier this week was $200 billion worth of Chinese goods to which China retaliated with a fresh tariff of $60 billion worth of imported American goods to protect their ‘legitimacy’.
The recent interview with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the Atlantic suggests a paradigm shift with respect to Saudi-Israel relations. He said exclusively in the interview, “I believe that each person, anywhere, has a right to live in their peaceful nation. I believe the Palestinians and the Israelis have the right to have their own land.” A rather bold and ambitious statement coming from a Saudi Royal, which puts forth the attitude and ideas the young and ambitious prince has in mind for Saudi foreign policy.
However, there are a lot of ways this change in approach towards the Israel-Palestine issue could go on from here. Firstly, the alliance if at all comes to fruition, should initially try to form a bloc against the rise of Iran in the region. Secondly, Saudi needs a long-lasting security alliance as the present US Government has different interests which might not involve Saudi Arabia or Israel, as the Trump administration is looking towards securing the Indo-Pacific region. Thirdly, in the present world political scenario as well as the growing trend of populism in the Western countries along with the growing influence of China and India. Saudi and Israel should look to work towards keeping aside differences and ensuring that their cumulative interests are maintained.
Whilst keeping all the contemporary issues in mind, both countries have their work cut out as the credibility of the ambitions can only be seen through the Saudi policies. Also, how the Crown prince goes about and convinces his fellow countrymen about the necessity of this approach to the safety of the Arab countries.
The United Nations General Assembly is set to convene its 73rd session on 18th September 2018. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, the President-elect for the session will be chairing the meeting. Under resolution 71/323, entitled “Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly" it established a new process for the selection of the President of General Assembly in accordance to informal interactions with the candidates thus contributing to inclusivity and transparency. The new process is in alignment to the resolution 33/138 of 19 December 1978 which establishes the principle of geographical rotation for the election of the President.
The theme of the upcoming general debate was announced in July to be ‘Making the United Nations Relevant to All People: Global Leadership and Shared Responsibilities for Peaceful, Equitable and Sustainable Societies.’ The President-elect has urged Heads of Governments participating in the debate to "comment on continuing relevance" of UN system and international conventions and agreements. Monday, 24th September a high- level plenary known as Nelson Mandela Peace Summit meeting is scheduled in honour of the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela on global peace. Followed by this, a similar meeting is scheduled on 26th September on the fight against Tuberculosis. 27th September will see the leaders convene on the issue of prevention and control of non- communicable diseases (NCDs).
CONTRIBUTORS: Sameer Guduru, Rohan Malhotra, Abanteeka Hoare, Annesha Bhattacharjee, Sooraj Kashyap, Aastha Vohra