Comment & Briefs

Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has witnessed a 2000 per cent surge in heroin-related drug seizures between 2017 and 2022, with significant national security and societal consequences.

The I2U2 is a promising initiative with immense potential for cross-regional cooperation.

India can carve a niche as a capacity-builder in helping the southern Pacific countries meet developmental goals and tackle climate change.

India needs to strengthen its existing bilateral relations with all the Arctic countries and continue to re-emphasize its call for peaceful resolution of Arctic disputes.

Several Belt and Road Initiative projects pass through ecologically sensitive areas and in countries with weak environmental laws and governance.

The impending removal of the piracy High Risk Area off the coast of Somalia presents an ideal opportunity for India, in partnership with the wider Indo-Pacific maritime community, to delegitimise China’s naval presence and strengthen regional mechanisms for ensuring maritime security.

Export controls or strategic trade technology control has been used as a significant tool to impose sanctions on Russia, for its military operations in Crimea and Ukraine.

European imports of Russian gas have steadily declined either voluntarily or on account of Russia weaponising energy, propelling the push towards LNG imports.

Given that the Department of Expenditure will henceforth be the nodal department for issuing procurement related instructions in future, the Ministry of Defence must institute a system to promptly incorporate them in the MoD procurement manuals.

The Namibian Foreign Minister’s visit to India saw the signing of a critical wildlife pact relating to relocation of African Cheetahs, and provided a boost to bilateral ties.