Wednesday 5 September 2012

Brainstorming 2012: Foreign Relations

Thanks to Anil for his suggestions on important topics/countries in this regard. I have expanded on the list-please find below. And I look forward to suggestions by other readers.
-Spurthi

NEPAL
a. Transition to Democrary and Constitution-writing. Role of India.
b. Nepal's courting of China and concerns for India.
c. Changes in India-Nepal relations


BHUTAN
a. Changes in India-Bhutan relations [political and strategic level] 
b. Economic and Trade ties
c. Bhutan-China relations and concerns for India Read this
d. Bhutan's transition to democracy and India's role.

MYANMAR
a. Transition to Democracy- Role of India.
b. Economic ties and potential for development of North-Eastern states; also potential as link to ASEAN
c. Counter-insurgency cooperation
d. Myanmar-China relations and concerns for India Read this
e. Myanmar's strategic position in Bay of Bengal and connection to South-East Asia
f. Myanmar's ethnic problem (Rohingyas, Kachins) Read this
g. ASI restoring Ananda temple structure in Myanmar 

SRI LANKA
a. Reconciliation of Tamils-India's role
b. India's contribution to resettlement
c. India's foreign policy being influenced by regional interests (TN CM Jayalalaitha's demand for sending back SL soldiers, football team, pilgrims)
d. Cultural ties: Kapilavastu relicsthiruketheeswaram temple, big cultural meet in Jaffna(?)
e. Adam's Bridge- lost potential?
f. Sri Lanka- China relations. Concerns for India

PAKISTAN
Hindu refugees
Boosting Trade ties and people-to-people ties
Water disputes wrt Indus water treaty
Demilitarisation of Siachen
Growing intolerance and violence in Pakistan

AFGHANISTAN
Role of India- projects being undertaken
India's vision for Afghanistan

BANGLADESH
1971 war crimes trial
Tussle between Mohd. Yunus (Grameen Bank) and Sheikh Haseena's govt- US support to former
Rohingya refugee problem Read this
Bangladesh as transit route to North East India, and potential to revitalise economy of NE
Importance of Tripura for Bangladesh Liberation
Celebrations 40th anniversary of Bangladesh’s Liberation War. 
Role of India in Bangladesh Liberation
Integrated Check posts Read this
Enclaves Read this
Water-sharing agreements
Counter-insurgency operations by Bangladesh and its help for India

CHINA
Indo-China trade ties Read this  [Trade deficit, Dumping, Safety of Indian businessmen]
Border Resolution talks
Border talks between China and Bhutan- wrt to Chumbi valley- and concerns for India
Danger of diverting riverwaters, esp Brahmaputra
Infrastructure assistance to Pakistan through PoK- Indian concerns
South China sea disputes [This topic was asked last yr, so may not be repeated. But for info Click here
Containment of China by US, Japan: participation of India in any such strategy
Resolution of Tibet issue. Opening up of Tibet to visits by Indian officials, journalists.
Threat to North-eastern states of India and India's preparedness. For some info Read this
Denial of visa to Arunachal Pradesh residents
China's space aspirations (Shenzou 9 and Tiangong)
Sino-Indian rivalry on Maldives. China's interest in developing Maldives' second airport. [India started a weekly ferry service from Kochi-Male]
Thanks to Ramesh for suggesting additional issues in Indo-Chinese relations.

IRAN
oil-payment difficulties
India's vote against Iran in UN
Iran hosting NAM summit
Iran supporting Assad regime; Irans Syrian interests
Western boycott of Iran and threat of closing Hormuz Strait

CENTRAL ASIA
potential as a resource hub for India

RUSSIA
Arctic Circle melting [Asked in 2011, so most probably wont repeat. But some info available here

JAPAN
Island disputes. Read this and this [Note: they are two different posts]
Japan + US + India for containment of China
India-Japan ties: start of civil nuclear engagement
Fukushima's continuing effects

TURKEY
emerging as a key player  in international relations (trying to end Iran's isolation on nuclear enrichment question; during Libyan civil war; now support to Syrian opposition)

SYRIA: 
civil conflict, 
failure of UN mission under Kofi Annan
role of  Western states in supporting regime-change

ISRAEL
Israel's belligerence towards Iran
Israel-Palestine talks

EUROPE
Eurozone crisis
Status of PIGS
Role of Germany in this crisis
UK- Ecuador face-off

AFRICA
Transition to democracy in Arab revolution states: India's stand on issue; rise of conservative elements in said countries
Sudan and South Sudan issues
Libya- problems cause by violent takeover without central organisation, thus now several armed militias operating in the country.
Meles Zenawi Read this
Indian investments in Africa
India and Africa relations Read this
African regional groups: COMESA and others
Indian diaspora in Africa

LATIN AMERICA
LAC and India Read this
CELAC Read this

More countries (identified by Anil) with which India has important bilateral ties are as follows
Thailand, Maldives*- Coup, Australia - australias-asylum-policypacific-island-countries,Chile, Ethiopia, Mexico- drug wars, Tajikistan, Brazil.


INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS (thanks to Anon) [Items in red have related posts on this blog]
IEA
ITU
CELAC
MGC
WTO-Doha Round
WSF
UNHRC
UNCLOS,ISA
Nuclear Security Summit-NSG,Australia Group, Wassenaar Arrangement,MTCR
IMF Reforms
Arab League
India-ASEAN Summit
APEC
IOR-ARC

6 comments:

  1. You are the best thing to have happened to a naive like me...

    ReplyDelete
  2. International Institutions,Treaties etc

    IEA
    ITU
    CELAC
    MGC
    WTO-Doha Round
    WSF
    UNHRC
    UNCLOS,ISA
    Nuclear Security Summit-NSG,Australia Group, Wassenaar Arrangement,MTCR
    IMF Reforms
    Arab League
    India-ASEAN Summit
    APEC
    IOR-ARC

    ReplyDelete
  3. Shekhar seriously??

    ReplyDelete
  4. Aakash sir's blog can be followed too for high level mnemonics on Pub. Ad.

    ReplyDelete
  5. :) Well Shekzz, that is your name I am presuming.
    Good luck.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yeh Aakash Sir ke blog ka link bhi de do bhai. It can help us access directly instead of wasting time looking for it.

    ReplyDelete