| Sreemoy Talukdar brings you the essential cheat sheet on foreign affairs covering India and the world |  | | The virtual meeting of BRICS nations is our kick-off this week since the geopolitical import of this grouping amid a raging war demands prime attention. But the tragedy in Afghanistan which suffered its deadliest quake in two decades (pic above) is what we are closely following, and India's quick and admirable response. Elsewhere, we have updates from Sri Lanka, India-Australia ties, Macron's fresh troubles and Le Pen's rise in France. | | TOP FIVE NEWS UPDATES | | Amid greater media focus, BRICS nations call for Russia-Ukraine talks, indicate openness for expansion | | This year's BRICS meeting, hosted by China in virtual mode on Thursday, attracted unusual attention from global media which usually gives this talking shop a perfunctory glance. Held in the context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Xi Jinping's boundless friendship with Vladimir Putin and India's neutrality, the BRICS summit — that brought together Xi, Putin, prime minister Narendra Modi, South Africa's president Cyril Ramaphosa and president of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro, saw Xi slamming 'abuse' of international sanctions, and Putin scolding the West for fomenting global crisis, with both leaders calling for greater BRICS cooperation. The Hindu observes that "while Modi focused on the importance of BRICS in the post-pandemic global economic recovery, Xi called on members to reject the 'Cold war mentality' and oppose what he called the US and EU's 'unilateral sanctions'." The report adds that "this was the first such meeting of the leaders since the invasion of Ukraine on February 24 and comes just days ahead of the G-7 summit in Germany, which Modi and Ramaphosa will attend." In the joint declaration, the five nations indicated that they are open to inducting new members, but through clarifying "guiding principles, standards, criteria and procedures for this expansion process through Sherpas' channel on the basis of full consultation and consensus." The members said that Ukraine did come up for discussion and they "support talks between Russia and Ukraine," adding "we have also discussed our concerns over the humanitarian situation." A day before the summit on Wednesday, at a BRICS business forum, Xi had set the tone for the meeting, criticising sanctions as "weaponizing" the global economy. "The tragedies of the past tell us that hegemony, group politics and bloc confrontation bring no peace or security; they only lead to wars and conflicts," he said, reports CNN. In that same forum, Modi said that "India's digital economy and the infrastructure sector has a total potential for $2.5 trillion", and "the digital transformation unfolding in India has never before been seen on the world stage." | | More than 1000 killed in deadly Afghanistan quake, India reopens diplomatic presence to oversee aid | | Afghanistan's deadliest earthquake in two decades, that measured 6.1-on the Richter scale has flattened the country's mountainous eastern region made of largely stone and mud-brick homes and killed at least 1,000 people. The disaster posed a new test for Afghanistan's Taliban rulers and relief agencies already struggling with the country's multiple humanitarian crises. Associated Press reports that the toll could rise. In a rare move, the Taliban's supreme leader, Haibatullah Akhundzadah, who almost never appears in public, pleaded with the international community and humanitarian organizations "to help the Afghan people affected by this great tragedy and to spare no effort," adds the report. India was among the very first responders to answer that call with New Delhi — that had pulled out its embassy officials around 10 months ago when the Taliban captured power in coup — reintroducing its diplomatic presence to oversee the distribution of aid at a time of great need and distress. In a statement, India's ministry of external affairs stated, "India has a historical and civilizational relationship with the Afghan people. In order to closely monitor and coordinate the efforts of various stakeholders for the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance and in continuation of our engagement with the Afghan people, an Indian technical team has reached Kabul today and has been deployed in our Embassy there." The Hindu reports that India has "sent its first consignment of earthquake relief assistance to Afghanistan, where more than 1,000 Afghans have been killed in an earthquake outside the city of Khost. The MEA said the assistance was handed over by the Indian team that travelled aboard an Indian Air Force Ilyushin-76 aircraft, in the first such military, non-commercial transportation since last year." In a tweet, prime minister Modi said he is "deeply saddened at the news of the devastating earthquake in Afghanistan today" and expressed his "deepest condolences on loss of precious lives", adding, "India stands by the people of Afghanistan in their difficult times and is ready to provide all possible disaster relief material at the earliest." | | India assures of 'fullest support' as IMF opens bailout talks with bankrupt Sri Lanka | | International Monetary Fund (IMF) team begun its long-awaited bailout talks in Sri Lanka on Monday, as the country's cabinet cleared a constitutional amendment to dilute the powers of president Gotabaya Rajapaksa that is expected to assuage protesters calling for his removal. So acute is the country's paucity of foreign exchange reserves that the island nation of 22 million people is scrambling to get fuel shipments in the next three days, the energy minister was quoted as saying, by Reuters. Due to lack of fuel, Sri Lanka on Monday was forced to close schools and halt non-essential government services, starting a two-week shutdown. State offices worked with skeleton staffing as part of government plans to reduce commuting and save precious petrol and diesel, adds a CNA report. On Wednesday, Lankan prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told the country's Parliament that nation faces "a far more serious situation" than the shortages alone, warned of "a possible fall to rock bottom" and added that "our economy has completely collapsed". Meanwhile, a four-member Indian delegation led by Indian foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra on Thursday met Sri Lanka's top leadership, including president Gotabaya, and underlined that India stands ready to accelerate its neighbour's quick economic recovery through promoting investments, connectivity and strengthening economic linkage, says a PTI report via Business Standard. During the meeting, India assured Sri Lanka of its "fullest support" to help the island tide over its unprecedented economic crisis while "considering further financial assistance", the Sri Lankan President's office said on Thursday, reports The Hindu. The Indian high commission in a statement stressed on the importance of "promoting India-Sri Lanka investment partnership including in the fields of infrastructure, connectivity, renewable energy, and deepening economic linkages." | | Visiting deputy PM Richard Marles says India 'completely central' to Australia's worldview | | Reinforcing the upward trajectory of India-Australia ties, the country's deputy prime minister Richard Marles was on a four-day visit of India from Monday. Marles, who also holds the defence portfolio in the new Anthony Albanese government and held talks with prime minister Modi, external affairs minister S Jaishankar and defence minister Rajnath Singh during his visit, told reporters here that China is the "biggest security anxiety" for Australia, and added that India too has similar security concerns and that Australia stands in solidarity with New Delhi over its border row with China in eastern Ladakh. Times of India reports that both nations "resolved to further crank up their defence ties through combat exercises, intelligence-sharing, reciprocal logistics and military-industrial collaboration." The report adds, "China's recent security pact with Solomon Islands in the Pacific and its expansionist moves in the South China Sea also figured in the extensive talks with the Indian delegation led by defence minister Rajnath Singh." During his speech at the National Defence College on Wednesday, the Australian deputy PM said, "Insecurity is what drives an arms race. India's own experience illustrates this maxim more than most. The assault on Indian forces along the Line of Actual Control in 2020 was a warning we should all heed. Australia stood up for India's sovereignty then and continues to do so now. It is vital that China commits to resolving this dispute through a process of dialogue consistent with international law. The global rules based order matters everywhere, including in the highest place on earth." Later, speaking to reporters before departing on Thursday, Marles said, "Australia sees India as 'completely central' to its 'worldview', and added that both countries had a shared objective to try and protect the global rules-based order, reports The Hindu. | | A 'seismic event' in France as president Macron loses majority in Assembly, Le Pen makes breakthrough | | We now shift our attention from India's neighbourhood to France, where president Emmanuel Macron has received a rude jolt, having lost his majority in France's National Assembly due to a strong showing in Sunday's legislative elections by a left-green opposition alliance and a late surge from the far-right. According to Financial Times, "France's hung parliament means that Macron will need to strike deals with other parties in the assembly to pass legislation over the next five years and his ministers will face a turbulent ride in parliamentary debates. Final results on Monday showed that Macron's centrist Ensemble (Together) alliance had won 245 seats in the assembly, well short of the 289 needed for the outright majority that he had enjoyed since 2017. The left-green alliance formed by far-left politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon — the New Ecological and Social People's Union (Nupes) — was supported by many young urban voters and emerged as the main opposition bloc with 131 members in the 577-seat chamber. Marine Le Pen's far-right Rassemblement National was the big surprise of the night and won 89 seats — more than 10 times as many as the eight it secured in the previous legislative elections. The conservative Les Républicains and its partners won 74 seats." Reuters adds that Le Pen's party will win between 85-90 seats, up from just two in 2012 and eight in 2017, which could make it the second-largest party in parliament. "We have achieved our three objectives: that of making Emmanuel Macron a minority president, without control of power and that of pursuing the political recomposition essential to democratic renewal," a triumphant Le Pen told reporters after being re-elected in northern France and vowing to be a respectful opposition, adds the report. The Guardian has five takeaways from the French elections, that includes "a more representative – but potentially paralysed – parliament." French media outlet France24 quotes Paul Smith, a professor of French politics at Nottingham University, as saying, "Le Pen's performance at 90 seats is a 'seismic event; an extraordinary result for them'… There were no polls predicting this and I haven't seen anybody predicting it." | | | | | | | | | | TOP ANALYSES OF THE WEEK | | Sri Lanka has no problem about Adani coming in, says PM Wickremesinghe | | In an interview to The Hindu's Meera Srinivasan, Sri Lanka's prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said India has "really helped" the nation in its efforts to cope with the island's economic crash, and New Delhi has "taken the lead so far in providing assistance", and he also said that Sri Lanka has "no problem about Adani coming in." | | India-Australia ties will grow and prosper: Deputy PM Marles | | Australia's deputy prime minister and defence minister Richard Marles in his column for Indian Express writes, "Australia's interests don't just align with India's, they are inextricably entwined. Expect this relationship to grow and prosper, our cooperation to deepen." | | US no longer holds any claim to moral high ground | | Professor Joseph E. Stiglitz of Columbia University writes in Project Syndicate that "since the United States seems serious about confronting China in an extended contest for global supremacy, it had better start getting its own house in order. Other countries will not want to ally themselves with a power that rests on increasingly uncertain economic, social, and political foundations." | | China is watching Russia's failures with keen interest: Rudd | | Former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd writes in Project Syndicate that Chinese president "Xi Jinping and the PLA will watch Russia's military difficulties in Ukraine with keen interest… and with a deep confidence that China can and will do better." | | US must rearm and increase defence budget | | Former US national security advisor HR McMaster and Gabriel Scheinmann, executive director of the Alexander Hamilton Society, write in Foreign Policy that the "US must end its unilateral restraint vis-à-vis Russia and China and be realistic about the nature of the adversaries it faces. First, the US must rearm, and the defense budget must increase. It must pay for new capabilities that counter and exceed those China and Russia have invested in." | | Russia and the UK have striking similarities on disrupting the EU | | Dutch author Caroline de Gruyter argues in The Guardian that Britain and Russia are enemies in Ukraine – but both want to disrupt Europe. She writes, "there are many obvious differences between what Russia is doing in Ukraine and what the UK is doing in Northern Ireland… But there are striking similarities." | | Russia-Ukraine conflict has exposed state-non-state collusion | | ORF vice-president Gautam Chikermane writes that the "Russia–Ukraine conflict has brought one thing out in the open. It has exposed that non-state actors in western democracies are nothing but appendages to state actors. Whether we agree with the actions of Putin or not, the fact that an entire country has been effectively cancelled on western platforms displays this state-non-state collusion in gritty glory." | | IPEF is a trade bloc without creating a trading bloc | | ORF visiting fellow Akshobh Giridharadas writes on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), arguing that it has been seen as a way for Washington to create an Indo-Pacific trade bloc without creating a trading bloc, that is without lowering trade barriers, ergo enticing Quad players like New Delhi. | | Majority of Le Pen's supporters are neither fascists nor racists | | Gavin Mortimer writes in The Spectator on French elections. On Le Pen's stunning show, he writes, "contrary to how they're often portrayed in the media, the vast majority of Le Pen's supporters are neither fascists nor racists: they are hard-working men and women in low-paid jobs who feel, with some justification, that no one in Paris gives two hoots about their struggles to make ends meet." | | US, UK are determined to destroy Assange for his journalism | | Glenn Greenwald writes in his Substack column that the UK's decision to extradite Wikileaks Julian Assange shows why the US and UK's "freedom lectures are a farce" and the Assange persecution is the greatest threat to Western press freedoms in years. It is also a shining monument to the fraud of American and British self-depictions. | | PODCAST WATCH | | Decoding the French elections | | This week we recommend The Local's 'Talking France' podcast where host Ben McPartland talks to Local France editor Emma Pearson, reporter Genevieve Mansfield and political expert John Lichfield to dissect the aftermath of the parliamentary election that has plunged France into a political crisis. They look at what happened, what Macron's options are for the months ahead and how the far-right ended up with so many seats in parliament. | | | | Copyright © 2022.Firstpost - All Rights Reserved. | |
