Arms Trade Treaty and Africa On April 2, 2013, the UNGA approved the draft text of the ATT- 154 countries voted for the treaty, three voted against and 23 abstained. It remains to be seen whether the treaty succeeds in fulfilling the goal of curbing violence in Africa. Rajiv Nayan | November-December 2015 | Africa Trends
Egypt’s About Turn on Ethiopia’s Renaissance Dam In what some see as a startling change of stance, Egypt has said that it is now willing to reconsider its staunch opposition to the Renaissance Dam that its neighbour, Ethiopia, is in the process of building; and that it will also mull over participating in the construction of the same. Sneha Bhura | November-December 2015 | Africa Trends
The Crash of Metrojet 9268 in Sinai The air crash might prod the US and its allies to seek a political accommodation with Russia on Syria, and a grand coalition might emerge against the IS. But, even such a coalition will take long to dismantle the IS, assuming it were doable. K. P. Fabian | November 13, 2015 | IDSA Comments
Restoration of Inherent Financial Powers of Defence Services The MoD Order mentions that the IFAs are expected to give due attention to macro- management issues, highlighting the need for them to be involved in the planning and plan-review process. These are laudable objectives, but a well-knit mechanism for their implementation does not seem to exist at present. Gautam Sen | November 12, 2015 | IDSA Comments
Re-calibrating Iran-India Energy Ties India needs to capitalise on the emerging Iranian gas supply market and the current low price scenario, before rival consumers snap up Iranian exports or prices go up. Developing broader relations that entail incorporating gas supplies from Iran would give India greater leverage at a time when other countries in South Asia are emerging as key gas importers. Shebonti Ray Dadwal | November 10, 2015 | IDSA Comments
Need to Build an Effective Indo-German Partnership India and Germany have complementarities that can make them effective partners. However, converting these complementarities into possibilities will depend on creating conducive environment for greater German investment and a better understanding of the German world view. Nachiket Khadkiwala | November 09, 2015 | IDSA Comments
Project Loon: Internet via Stratosphere There is a need for India to participate in Project Loon to increase its ‘internet footprint’. The project perfectly fits into the scheme of ‘Digital India’. It could also lead to surge in India’s interest in near-space technologies. Ajey Lele | November 09, 2015 | IDSA Comments
Ruling AKP in Turkey Gets a Lifeline The AKP needs to go over the fundamentals of its decade long success in the country before it charts its future course. Its success in the previous decade was built on the pillars of national consolidation, economic growth and religious tolerance. Rajeev Agarwal | November 05, 2015 | IDSA Comments
Vienna Conference on Syria The Vienna Conference was far from a gathering of powers with common goals. The key powers involved have yet to reach the conclusion that it is in their interest to end the multiple wars raging in Syria. K. P. Fabian | November 03, 2015 | IDSA Comments
Enabling Transition of a Soldier to Second Career through Skilling The wellbeing of veterans and their transition to a second career by ensuring implementable policy initiatives is a national obligation. This not only has a welfare agenda but also an economic sense to it?. Pradeep Sofat | November 02, 2015 | IDSA Comments
