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 OPEC+ Agrees to cut oil production, the UN Peace Keeping Forces (UNPKF), the Gambia Cough Syrup Scandal, etc.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. OPEC+ Agrees to cut oil production 2. UN Peace Keeping Forces (UNPKF) 3. Gambia Cough Syrup Scandal 4. Nobel Peace Prize 5. Crimea Bridge Explosion
1. OPEC+ Agrees to cut oil production
Context
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its Russia-led allies have agreed to cut oil output by 2 million barrels of oil per day which is said to be the biggest cut since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
Background
- The OPEC+ countries slashed the oil output by a massive 10 million barrels of oil/day in 2020 in order to stabilise the oil market post the fall in the demand for oil due to the pandemic.
- However, post-pandemic, oil production has constantly increased until the recent slash because of increasing demand on account of post-pandemic recovery.
- The recent reversal in the production policy has come in the wake of already-high global energy prices which is a consequence of the Russia-Ukraine war.
OPEC and OPEC+
- The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a permanent, intergovernmental organization, created at the Baghdad Conference in September 1960 by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.
- OPEC currently has 13 member countries which account for about 30% of the global crude oil production.
- OPEC functions as a cartel that determines the production and supply of oil thereby managing the supply-demand relationship which determines the prices of oil.
- Headquarters: Vienna in Austria
- OPEC+ was formed when the OPEC countries joined hands with 10 other oil-producing countries in 2016 when oil prices had fallen.
- OPEC+ is a group of 23 oil-exporting countries that meets regularly to decide how much crude oil to sell on the world market. These countries now account for 40% of global crude oil production.
Reasons for the cut down of production
- The oil prices which had surged to over $120 in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict have now fallen to less than $90. This development caused concern to the OPEC+ countries as it would impact their profit margins.
- The fear of an imminent global economic recession has also played its role in undertaking a production cut.
- Further, the decrease in the oil demand from China which has imposed a fresh set of lockdowns and restrictions because of a surge in the number of COVID cases has also forced a production cut.
- Experts also believe that the Russian influence has forced the OPEC countries to slash production to make oil costly for western countries.
Significance of the move to slash oil production
- OPEC and OPEC+ countries have started playing a significant role in recent geopolitical scenarios as oil and energy are extremely important to fuel the economy.
- The recent oil production slash is expected to increase global oil prices significantly.
- The move is expected to put extra pressure on the struggling global economy.
- The slash in the production of oil will also fuel global inflation and people across the world will have less money to spend on other essentials such as food and medicines.
- Additionally, this move has also taken a political angle as it was announced in the wake of midterm elections in the U.S.
Impact on India
- This move is expected to have a significant impact on India’s economic interests as India will have to spend extra on its oil imports.
- The move will also adversely affect the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Project of India.
- The rise in fuel prices on account of production will also increase India’s current account deficit and impact the Balance of Payments.
Way forward
- The US criticised the move and is looking to gain the support of like-minded countries such as India, Japan, the UK and South Korea to work against the oil production cut.
- India has announced the release of 5 million barrels of crude oil from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve in tandem with the US, China, Japan, and other major economies to act against the move by OPEC+.
2. UN Peace Keeping Forces (UNPKF)
Context
- The United Nations Peacekeeping Forces (UNPKF) Undersecretary General Jean-Pierre Lacroix recently visited India.
- During the visit, the Undersecretary General said that the number of fatalities among UNPKF in direct attacks is increasing in recent times.
- U.N. Peacekeeping fatalities due to malicious acts have risen from 13 in 2020 to 25 in 2021 and 26 till August 2022.
United Nations Peacekeeping Forces (UNPKF)
- The United Nations Peacekeeping Forces (UNPKF) was founded in 1948 and operates under the UN Charter.
- The United Nations Peacekeeping Forces are employed to maintain or re-establish peace in an area of armed conflict.
- UNPKF are also referred to as ‘Blue Helmets’ or ‘Blue Berets’.
Know more about – United Nations Peacekeeping Forces (UNPKF)
India and UNPKF
- India is among the largest troop contributing countries for UNPKF.
- India has taken part in over 49 out of 71 UN Peacekeeping missions.
- Over 2,53,000 Indians have served as a part of UNPKF.
- Further, about 175 Indian peacekeepers have laid their lives while serving with the United Nations so far.
- At present, there are around 5,700 troops and police from India who have been deployed on 9 out of 12 UN Peacekeeping missions.
- Recently, two BSF personnel who were part of the UN Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) were killed during a protest.
India’s Concerns
- India has been demanding a greater say for the troop-contributing countries in the decision-making process of UNPKF.
- Currently, as UNPKF is under the control of the United Nations Security Council, the decision-making is under the control of the P5 Nations.
- India has also complained that the mandate is for UN Peacekeeping, but when troops are actually deployed the mandate changes to peace enforcement and the troops are not usually prepared for it.
India’s other contributions to UNPKF
- India has proposed a 10-point formula to address security and operational challenges faced by peacekeeping forces and make those targeting U.N. peacekeepers more accountable.
- In 2021, India launched “UNITE AWARE” which is a situational awareness software programme for real time threat assessment.
- India has also been sending women personnel on Peacekeeping Missions. In 2007, India became the first country to deploy an all-women contingent to a Peacekeeping Mission.
Context
Recently nearly 70 children in the Gambia lost their lives which has been linked to contaminated cough syrups made in India.
Details
Image Source: World Atlas
- Haryana-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited is under the scanner for its substandard paediatric cough syrups.
- According to the World Health Organisation, the medicines may have been contaminated with diethylene glycol or ethylene glycol and the Indian pharma company is accused of not undertaking quality testing.
Impact on India-Africa relations
- India is a major drug supplier to Africa and these drugs play a significant role in the healthcare sector of African nations.
- India accounts for 45% of all generic medicines in Africa.
- This latest incident has threatened the India-Africa relations in the healthcare sector.
- Further, India is known as the “pharmacy of the world” and the latest incident will adversely impact this reputation of India.
- Africa is emerging as a key geopolitical playground and China is increasing its influence in the region and gaining access to key resources, and the incident can act as an impediment to India’s interests in the region.
- Indian generic medicines which are exported will now attract more scrutiny which can be exploited by other countries.
Way forward
- As such tragedies have a direct impact on India, it is important to impose and enforce stringent standards and regulations in the pharma industries.
- India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has to ensure that such kind of instances do not repeat.
Context
The announcement of the Nobel Peace Prize for 2022.
Nobel Peace Prize
- The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the Nobel Prizes awarded to those who have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.
- The Nobel Peace Prize can be awarded to both individuals as well as organisations.
- The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded for the first time in 1901 and has been given out annually since then (with some exceptions).
Nobel Peace Prize 2022
Image Source: https://www.nobelprize.org/
- The Nobel Peace Prize for 2022 has been jointly awarded to Ales Bialiatski who is a Belarusian human rights advocate, the Memorial which is a Russian human rights organisation, and the Centre for Civil Liberties which is a Ukrainian human rights organisation.
- According to the Nobel Committee:
- The Peace Prize laureates represent civil society in their home countries.
- They have for many years promoted the right to criticise power and protect the fundamental rights of citizens.
- They have made an outstanding effort to document war crimes, human rights abuses and the abuse of power.
- Together they demonstrate the significance of civil society for peace and democracy.
- With this, the Nobel Committee has sent a message against Russia and has indirectly held Russia responsible for human rights violations, war crimes, abuse of power and erosion of peace and democracy in Belarus, Ukraine and Russia.
Ales Bialiatski
- He is the founder of Viasna which is a human rights centre in Belarus created in 1996 when a wave of democratic opposition took over Belarus called the Minsk Spring.
Memorial
- Memorial is a Russian human rights organisation that was set up in 1987 in the erstwhile Soviet Union.
- The organisation which was started as a movement to expose repression under the regime has now expanded into civil society groups that support centres to help Soviet-era repression victims and their family members and has focused on compiling data on the political repression and human rights violations in Russia.
Centre for Civil Liberties
- The Centre for Civil Liberties is a Ukrainian human rights organisation that was started in 2007 in Kyiv with the objective of transforming Ukraine into a full democracy.
- In 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea, the Centre for Civil Liberties participated in mobile monitoring groups in Crimea and Donbas region.
- Centre for Civil Liberties is presently working on identifying and documenting Russian war crimes in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Context
A major explosion took place on a key bridge that linked the annexed Crimea to Russia.
Details
Image Source: New York Post
- The explosion caused the partial collapse of a key bridge linking Crimea to Russia.
- According to experts, the explosion might have been carried out by Ukrainian intelligence agencies.
- The bridge includes a railway and roadway and is also known as Kerch Bridge. It is crucial to supply military supplies to Crimea from Russia.
- Russian President has called this a terror attack.
- Russia has retaliated with airstrikes and missile strikes.
- India states that it is deeply concerned at the recent escalation of conflict between the two countries which includes the targeting of infrastructure and civilians.
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