Global Horizons
Date: August 05, 2024
This issue opens with major developments in the United States, which saw the withdrawal of President Biden from the election race, the endorsement of Kamala Harris as the Democratic party’s nominee, and a changed scenario for the outcome of the US presidential election in November.
All major actors and nations in the world will need to factor in an element of uncertainty with regard to the US outlook going forward. Meanwhile, despite trouble at home, US diplomatic pursuits and activities intensified during the month, with a particular emphasis on Asia and the Middle East.
Israel continued to enjoy a free hand in pursuing its objectives in Gaza, and the killing of a senior Hezbollah commander as well as the political leader of Hamas in late July threatened to unleash even greater turmoil across the region.
NATO celebrated its 75th anniversary with a summit in Washington D.C., declaring that Russia remains the most direct threat to the security of the alliance, while using more guarded language in respect of China. The outcomes of the NATO summit on Ukraine were within the parameters that had already been defined in advance.
The author goes on to examine the outcomes of the Third Plenum of the Central Committee of the 20th CPC Congress held in Beijing in mid July, which came as the external environment for China’s ambitious goals and continued economic growth have become more challenging. The Plenum made it clear that the CPC under President Xi will exercise tight control over all elements of national governance while realising socialist modernisation by 2035. Xi himself indicated that national security will get higher priority in the balance with development.
Two important elections were held in Europe during the month, one in the UK with a predictable result and the other in France with a fractured mandate. The author examines the implications.
Also covered are initiatives to stop the horrendous conflict in Sudan, the flawed election in Venezuela, and political upheavals in Nepal and Bangladesh.
July was a busy month for India’s external relations, with multiple engagements involving the SCO, ASEAN, and the QUAD.
PM Modi visited Moscow on July 8-9 for the 22nd annual India-Russia summit, the centrepiece of which was a forceful appeal by him for an end to the Ukraine conflict, and the announcement of a strategic roadmap for the enhancement of bilateral economic relations for the period up to 2030. PM Modi also visited Austria, the first high level visit to that country in 41 years.
This issue concludes with commentary on the two meetings held in July between EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the margins of multilateral events. The author observes that China’s intransigence over restoring the status quo ante along the LAC continues, as does the impasse in bilateral relations.
Overall, the international chess board moved in very complex ways in July, and the challenges before India’s foreign policy continue to mutate.
To read this Global Horizons, Vol. II, Issue 7, please see the PDF attached.
All major actors and nations in the world will need to factor in an element of uncertainty with regard to the US outlook going forward. Meanwhile, despite trouble at home, US diplomatic pursuits and activities intensified during the month, with a particular emphasis on Asia and the Middle East.
Israel continued to enjoy a free hand in pursuing its objectives in Gaza, and the killing of a senior Hezbollah commander as well as the political leader of Hamas in late July threatened to unleash even greater turmoil across the region.
NATO celebrated its 75th anniversary with a summit in Washington D.C., declaring that Russia remains the most direct threat to the security of the alliance, while using more guarded language in respect of China. The outcomes of the NATO summit on Ukraine were within the parameters that had already been defined in advance.
The author goes on to examine the outcomes of the Third Plenum of the Central Committee of the 20th CPC Congress held in Beijing in mid July, which came as the external environment for China’s ambitious goals and continued economic growth have become more challenging. The Plenum made it clear that the CPC under President Xi will exercise tight control over all elements of national governance while realising socialist modernisation by 2035. Xi himself indicated that national security will get higher priority in the balance with development.
Two important elections were held in Europe during the month, one in the UK with a predictable result and the other in France with a fractured mandate. The author examines the implications.
Also covered are initiatives to stop the horrendous conflict in Sudan, the flawed election in Venezuela, and political upheavals in Nepal and Bangladesh.
July was a busy month for India’s external relations, with multiple engagements involving the SCO, ASEAN, and the QUAD.
PM Modi visited Moscow on July 8-9 for the 22nd annual India-Russia summit, the centrepiece of which was a forceful appeal by him for an end to the Ukraine conflict, and the announcement of a strategic roadmap for the enhancement of bilateral economic relations for the period up to 2030. PM Modi also visited Austria, the first high level visit to that country in 41 years.
This issue concludes with commentary on the two meetings held in July between EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the margins of multilateral events. The author observes that China’s intransigence over restoring the status quo ante along the LAC continues, as does the impasse in bilateral relations.
Overall, the international chess board moved in very complex ways in July, and the challenges before India’s foreign policy continue to mutate.
To read this Global Horizons, Vol. II, Issue 7, please see the PDF attached.
