As the SCO expands its agenda and welcomes new members, deep-seated contradictions threaten its efficacy. Can an organisation that purports to fight terrorism effectively do so with members who engage in it?
As far as India is concerned although not much change in UK’s focus on Indian opportunity is likely given the strategic and historic nature of relationship, certain issues would need to be watched, writes World Affairs Columnist and former Diplomat Anil Trigunayat.
For the first time since 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not attend the SCO summit meeting, held July 3-4 in Kazakhstan, ostensibly due to the ongoing parliamentary session. However, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was there to articulate India’s position and interests.
No one in their sane mind would debunk the Panchsheel principles which were a harbour of peaceful existence in a fractured world, though Chinese never actually believed in them.
The Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina visited India twice this month, within a span of 12 days. She had previously been in New Delhi on June 9 during the newly re-elected Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s oath-taking ceremony. Her second trip from June 21-22 involved interactions with the Indian President Draupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, PM Modi, and the Indian Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar.
With Male facing increasing domestic and foreign policy challenges, Mohamed Muizzu is possibly aiming at a reconciliation with India.
From calling India a “bully” to visiting New Delhi as an invitee to the swearing-in of Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister of India for a third term, in June 2024, Mohamed Muizzu’s India policy is one of blowing hot and cold. Ever since his swearing-in in November 2023 as the President of the Maldives, Mr. Muizzu has embraced a “pro-Maldives” policy that reduces his country’s dependence on India, increases relations with China, and diversifies its foreign policy with others. More than six months after his swearing-in and impairing Male’s ties with India, his foreign policy is now seeing some recalibration.
The inherent strength of India-Bangladesh relationship was once again in evidence as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, decided to visit New Delhi days after attending the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The ease with which the top leadership in Delhi and Dhaka now interact and engage each other is a tribute to the manner in which Modi and Hasina have managed to build this important partnership over the last decade, often under very difficult circumstances.