International Relations This Week: Episode 65

International relations is a very important segment of the UPSC syllabus. In this series, we present an analysis of the most important international issues and developments that occurred over the past week relevant for the IAS exam. In this article, you can learn more about the Ukraine Crisis and Europe, India-Japan, Developments in Pakistan and the Developments in Sri Lanka.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Ukraine Crisis and Europe
2. India-Japan
3. Developments in Pakistan
4. Developments in Sri Lanka

1. Ukraine Crisis and Europe

Ukraine Crisis and Implications on Europe:

• The conflict in Ukraine could be a turning point in European security.
• There has been much discussion about how divided European governments are over the conflict, but European citizens appear to be remarkably united around three key ideas.
• Firstly, they believe that another Russian invasion of Ukraine is likely.
• Secondly, they see this as a problem that affects not only Ukraine but European security as a whole.
• Thirdly, they want Europe to respond to the crisis, with large majorities favouring NATO and the EU in particular.
• The crisis will almost certainly put Europeans’ ability to defend the European security order to the test.

Ukraine Crisis and Germany

• Sanctions on Russia
  • Germany has put a stop to a key Russian gas pipeline (Nord Stream 2 pipeline) following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
• Germany’s Dependence on Russia
  • Russia accounts for 27% of Germany’s energy supply and two-thirds of its natural gas consumption.
  • Russia provides about 55 percent of Germany’s gas imports, as well as about 50 percent of hard coal and 30 percent of oil.
• Nord 2 Stream Pipeline
  • The contentious Nord Stream 2 pipeline is meant to bring natural gas from Russia to Germany. It is a system of underwater natural gas pipelines.
  • The energy pipeline will facilitate an uninterrupted supply of natural gas under the Baltic Sea from Ust-Luga city of Russia to Lubmin city in Germany, bypassing transit through Ukraine and other countries.
  • Know more about Nord Stream 2 and its Geopolitical Aspects.

Source: BBC

India’s stand on the Russia-Ukraine conflict

• India appears to be pursuing a non-alignment strategy and promoting dialogue as a means of resolving differences. India has been pleading for peace for a long time.
• India, along with 34 other countries, voted no on a United Nations General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.
• India had also voted against calling a General Assembly session on the Ukraine crisis in a procedural vote at the UN Security Council.
• Know more about India’s stand on the Russia- Ukraine conflict.

Why is India not criticising Russia over invasion?

• India appears to be following its famed strategy of non-alignment and promoting dialogue to resolve the Ukraine crisis.
• There are several reasons for India’s quest to find a diplomatic balance over Ukraine.
• Diplomatic Ties:
  • It’s hard for India to overlook decades of history of diplomatic cooperation with Russia on several issues.
  • Russia has vetoed UNSC resolutions over disputed Kashmir in the past to help India keep it a bilateral issue.
• Defence Ties:
  • The most important are India’s time-tested defence ties with Russia.
  • Russia continues to be India’s largest arms supplier.
  • Russia is supplying equipment like the S-400 missile defence system which gives India crucial strategic deterrence against China and Pakistan.
• India hasn’t criticised Russia directly but it has talked strongly about territorial integrity at the UNSC and it was clearly meant to highlight Ukraine’s plight.

2. India-Japan

Context:

• Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited India in March 2022.
  • This visit assumes great significance due to the factors such as:
    • Japan’s partnership with India under the Indo-Pacific strategic construct
    • the Quadrilateral security dialogue, or Quad,
    • a raging war between Russia and Ukraine.
  • Know more about India-Japan relations

India-Japan Summit

• The 14th India-Japan Annual Summit concluded at a time when both countries celebrated the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
• The Special Strategic and Global Partnership has been emphasised by the leaders of both the countries with an objective to expand the purview of the India-Japan Vision Statement of 2018.
• Know more about India-Japan Summit.

Significant Aspects of India-Japan Ties

• Japan’s Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) to India
  • Japan began providing ODA to India in the form of Yen Loans in 1958.
  • Since 2003, India has surpassed China as the top recipient of yen loans from Japan.
  • Japan has pledged a total of JPY 3.1 trillion in infrastructure projects in India between 2010 and 2020, including connectivity projects in India’s northeastern region.
  • Through ODA, Japan is supporting India’s Dhubri-Phulbhari Bridge, which spans the Brahmaputra River and connects Dhubri, Assam, and Phulbhari, Meghalaya.
• QUAD, Japan and Indo-Pacific
  • Japan is a firm believer in the Quad’s ability to keep the Indo-Pacific “free and open.”
  • Japan’s trade with the rest of the world is heavily reliant on open sea lanes.
  • Concerns about China’s role in the region and Beijing’s challenges to the rule of law are shared by Japan and its Quad partners.
  • Japan is concerned that China imposes economic conditions on Indo-Pacific countries.
  • To counter China’s growing influence, it wants to provide Southeast Asian countries with alternative sources of assistance and trade.
• AUKUS, Japan and the Indo-Pacific
  • AUKUS is the new security partnership of the U.S., the U.K. and Australia.
  • Though Japan welcomes the launch of AUKUS in the sense of strengthening engagement in the Indo-Pacific region, it shared its concern with respect to the nuclear submarine deal in the region.
• India, Japan and Ukraine Crisis
  • The international community is confronted with a situation that threatens the global order’s very foundation.
  • Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is both a clear violation of international law and an attempt to change the status quo unilaterally through force.
  • From the standpoint of diplomacy and security in the Indo-Pacific, upholding the core principles of the international order is essential.
  • Japan will band together with the rest of the world and take decisive action.
  • Such actions must not be tolerated in the Indo-Pacific, and it is critical to continue to promote efforts to achieve a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”
• Know more about the Significance of Japanese PM Fumio Kishida’s India visit in AIR Spotlight.

3. Developments in Pakistan

• Recent Developments:
  • Pakistan’s Prime Minister faces the prospect of being booted out if he fails a no-confidence vote.
  • The opposition is attempting to depose Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan, accusing him of economic mismanagement and poor foreign policy.
  • More worrying for him is that the ‘opposition’ includes members of his own party.
• Pakistan and Ukraine Crisis
  • Pakistan has taken a neutral stance on the issue, abstaining from voting in favour of a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly.
  • Concerns about “spill-over effects of unilateral sanctions” on Russia were expressed by Pakistan.
  • Pakistan has argued that it needs to take a step back from global bloc politics in order to improve relations with all countries, including Russia, as well as address domestic economic challenges.
• Pakistan and Afghanistan:
  • Given that the Taliban regime in Kabul shares a strategic multi-dimensional relationship with Pakistan, the changes in Pakistani foreign policy relations will also affect the Afghan Taliban.
• Economic Problems
  • The balance of payments may hit a record and the Pakistani rupee has lost about half its value.
  • Pakistan has never been able to solve its dependence on imports.
  • Pakistan faces concerns of high inflation after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caused spikes in commodity prices.

4. Developments in Sri Lanka

• Economic crisis:
  • The economic crisis in Sri Lanka has led to a steep rise in the prices of essential commodities and frequent blackouts.
  • The economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened the economic state of Sri Lanka which has been under pressure from high debt levels.
  • Know more in detail about the Sri Lankan Economic Crisis in IRTW episode 58.
• Challenges for Sri Lanka:
  • Sri Lanka’s external debt is dominated by market borrowings and international sovereign bonds constituting half of the country’s total foreign debt.
  • The American credit rating agency “Fitch” downgraded the nation to a ‘CC’ rating, which is the lowest rating.
  • Know more about Challenges for Sri Lanka
• Implications for India:
  • Sri Lanka is in the midst of an economic crisis that is causing widespread human suffering which would have implications on India in terms of socio-economic aspects.
  • Know about the Implications for India.

Read more International Relations This Week articles in the link.

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