INDIA, SRI LANKA SEEK TO RESET TIES, RBI CURRENCY SWAP
Focus: GS-II International Relations, GS-III Indian Economy Why in news? India was holding “close and constructive” discussions with Sri Lanka, on Colombo’s pending request for a ($960 million) debt freeze and for swapping currency under bilateral and SAARC arrangements. The Reserve Bank of India has agreed to a $400 million currency swap facility for Sri […]
INDIA AND CHINA DEVELOPMENTS
Focus: GS-II International Relations Why in news? India and China have agreed to hold another round of high-level military talks to take forward the slow-moving disengagement process along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which remains only partially complete after four rounds of talks between Corps Commanders. India has made it clear to China that […]
DEEPENING INDIA-SOUTH KOREA TIES
Focus: GS-II International Relations Introduction India and South Korea have signed numerous bilateral agreements with the aim of taking their ties to the next level. However, the economic partnership is struck and their defence partnership appears to have receded from great all-round promise to the mere sale and purchase of weapon systems. Indians in South […]
TIES WITH U.S. SEVERELY HARMED: CHINA
Focus: GS-II International Relations Why in news? China warned it will be forced to respond after the U.S. ordered the shutdown of its Houston consulate. Details Washington gave China 72 hours to close the consulate “to protect American intellectual property and Americans’ private information”, marking a dramatic escalation of tension between the world’s two biggest […]
INDIA APPRECIATES DHAKA’S KASHMIR POSITION
Focus: GS-II International Relations, GS-I History, Prelims Why in news? India spoke of its unique relation with Bangladesh, in response to Pakistan raising the Kashmir issue with the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) saying India appreciates Bangladesh’s position which regards Kashmir as an ‘internal’ matter of India. The MEA […]
U.S. ORDERS CHINA TO CLOSE TEXAS CONSULATE
Focus: GS-II International Relations Why in news? The United States has told China to close its consulate in Houston, further deteriorating bilateral ties. Details Washington “abruptly demanded” closure of the Houston consulate according to China. Beijing condemned the order and threatened retaliation, but did not say what measures it might take. The State Department confirmed […]
WHAT WAS SAID RECENTLY ABOUT INDIA – U.S.
Focus: GS-II International Relations Why in news? External Affairs Minister has said that the U.S. needs to learn to work with a more multipolar world and “go beyond” alliances – at the U.S. India Business Council’s India Ideas Summit. At the same summit, the Prime Minister invited U.S. companies to invest in India’s healthcare, infrastructure, […]
ANOTHER FRONT: ON INDIA, BHUTAN AND CHINA
Focus: GS-II International relations Why in news? For the third time China repeated its claim that Bhutan’s eastern boundary was a “disputed” area with Bhutan. A look at the beginnings of the Claim Chinese representative tried to stop funding for the Sakteng forest reserve at a UNDP-led Global Environment Facility (GEF) conference. The Sakteng forest […]
CHINA REPEATS CLAIM ON BHUTAN’S EAST
Focus: GS-II International Relations Why in news? China said that it has offered Bhutan a “package solution” to its boundary dispute, reviving a reference to its 1996 proposal for a territory swap to give Bhutan the disputed areas in its north in exchange for the disputed western areas, including Doklam. Forcing a Border Settlement? The […]
THE MAIN PLANKS IN A COUNTER-CHINA POLICY
Focus: GS-II International Relations Why in news? The situation along the China-India border in Ladakh region is still tense. The disengagement process is proving difficult, and the latest meeting of the Corps Commanders has not resulted in any demonstrable progress regarding troop disengagement/de-escalation. China’s objective It appears that China is intent on managing the ground […]