Titli Basu

Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Titli Basu’s article ‘Tokyo to Delhi: The Post-Pandemic Blueprint’ was published in Hindustan Times on 19 March, 2022.

At this critical juncture, India and Japan have a strategic opportunity to improve their own position in the emerging world order by working more closely together. India-Japan should position itself as a net positive asset in the global system. How India and Japan play the long game will be judged by history. The summit presents a window to sharpen the strategic maturity of India-Japan Indo-Pacific Vision 2025 ahead of the Quad Leaders’ Summit scheduled in Tokyo, writes Dr Basu.

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• Published: 19 March, 2022

As Yoon Suk-yeol takes charge amid global disorder and deep domestic divide, his legacy will be defined by how well he succeeds in effectively walking the talk of positioning Seoul front and centre in shaping a rules-based order in Indo-Pacific.

• Published: March 14, 2022
• IDSA Comments

Prime Minister Kishida Fumio gave a resolute call for pursuing “realism diplomacy for a new era” in his Diet deliberations. How strategically innovative and politically effective will it prove in pursuing Tokyo’s national interests in the US–China–Japan calculus?

• Published: February 08, 2022
• Issue Brief

Japan is manifesting refreshing confidence drawing from its resolve to push the envelope of positive pacifism while determining the strategic balance in the Indo-Pacific.

• Published: January 06, 2022
• IDSA Comments

Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Titli Basu’s article ‘As Tokyo Sharpens its Economic Security Strategy, Has Seikei Bunri Run its Course?’ has been published in 'Australian Outlook' (Australian Institute of International Affairs) on November 11, 2021.

Tokyo’s strategic discourse on economic security — a core pillar of the national security debate — got a major boost when Prime Minister Kishida Fumio instituted the cabinet position of economic security minister. Driving innovation, productivity, competitiveness, and growth while sensitising the private sector to economic security risks presents a gargantuan challenge as Japanese business interests are deeply entrenched in the Chinese market. As Japan connects the dots on economic security strategy, businesses may perceive it as government intervention wearing down predictability. But the aim is not to engage in a zero-sum game with the world’s number two economy, but to alleviate risks and fortify national security while doing business with China.

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• Published: 11 November, 2021

Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Titli Basu’s article ‘Previewing India-Japan Relations under PM Kishida’ has been published in ‘The Diplomat’ on November 10, 2021.

Way back in 2015, much before FOIP caught the political lexicon, and resurrection of Quad, let alone Covid-19 induced shocks to the system, strategic foresight in Delhi and Tokyo culminated into Indo-Pacific Vision 2025 to secure the rules-based order. Kishida as then FM played an instrumental role in laying the building blocks of Vision 2025. Scanning the state of play on heels of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations, how has Vision 2025 fared? more importantly, how has it adapted to post-pandemic complexities? What are the dividends and deliverables?

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• Published: 10 November, 2021

Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Titli Basu’s article ‘Kishida in Kantei: What can the Indo-Pacific partners expect from Japan?’ has been published in Hindustan Times on September 30, 2021.

Charting his road to power, Fumio Kishida played by the LDP rule-book and positioned himself on the right side of the kingmakers amid the murky factional political culture of the ruling party. But that is only half the battle. Measuring up to the burden of expectations will demand deft leadership, bold strategic vision, and intellectual confidence to conceive innovative policies, as Japan navigates the fluid geostrategic and geo-economic matrix in a post-pandemic world, says Dr. Basu.

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• Published: 30 September, 2021

With House of Representatives’ four-year term ending in October, and a general election lined up in Japan, the Liberal Democratic Party needs a leader who demonstrates statesmanship, political vision, boldness in imagining innovative policy responses, and who enjoys popular support.

• Published: September 09, 2021
• IDSA Comments

The COVID-19 pandemic has situated the policy conversation on economic security at the centre stage of national security calculus not just in US and Europe but also in Japan. For Japan, it would entail attaining “strategic autonomy” in critical supply chains at the national level, and pursuing “strategic indispensability” at the global level.

• Published: August 25, 2021
• IDSA Comments

Two key elections are approaching in Japan. As Prime Minister Suga seeks public mandate with just one year's report card amidst a pandemic, his political future is contingent on rapid inoculation and a successful Olympics.

• Published: July 01, 2021
• IDSA Comments