While efforts are being made to ensure freedom of navigation, the hotspots in the region, including in Gaza and Yemen and the civilian and humanitarian strife which can spiral out of control, need to be addressed on global priority. The Red Sea, with its strategic maritime routes, is an important artery for trade and sea borne traffic as well as for the choke points in the Bab-El Mandab which needs to be kept open.
While India has been consistent in its support for de-escalation of the situation and "humanitarian pauses" in Gaza, this is the first time it has backed calls for a "ceasefire"
As the US and the West are stuck in the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars, apart from the ongoing energy crisis and cuts, President Putin (on December 6) dashed to Abu Dhabi and Riyadh to meet and deliberate with UAE President Sheikh Zayed al-Nahyan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), then quickly back to Moscow to meet Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi (on December 7) overtly to discuss the deteriorating situation in Gaza. Putin is not too fond of travelling abroad let alone the current ICC warrant against him. Hence this visit acquires a special strategic significance in terms of symbolism and substance. A grand welcome also awaited him.
Two months of Israel-Hamas war — It appears that after the ongoing war is over, when the objective of Hamas being destroyed or decimated achieved by the IDF, Netanyahu might agree to convert Gaza into a ‘Zone D’. With this, IDF could exercise the ‘overriding , overarching military envelope ‘ as part of politico-security arrangement with the Palestinian Authority, writes former diplomat and a keen observer of international affairs, Amb. Anil Trigunayat.
Anil Trigunayat It has been a given that for their geo-political ends the major powers have always kept the extremists , terrorists and separatists as their pliant tool to subserve their interests . Regime change agenda has been a favourite…
On 22 November, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the follow-up virtual summit of the G20 before passing on the baton to Brazil, another developing country in the unusual trail that encompasses Indonesia, India, Brazil, and South Africa. This is essential to ensure that the legitimate aspirations and needs of the Global South are not lost in the ongoing din of global disorder and geopolitical contestations. India, immediately after assuming the presidency of G20, had called for a Global South summit to take onboard their concerns and requirements at this increasingly important G20 forum as the UN and others have been losing their sheen.