Global Horizons
Date: January 04, 2025
This issue opens with the author recalling that the world has entered 2025 on a somber note, as international norms are being violated, global institutions marginalised, and wars of aggression or by other means are becoming the new norm. This does not augur well for the emerging economies of the Global South, whose need for rules based order is the greatest.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election is leading chancelleries around the world to prepare for changes in the direction of US policy, even though Trump is unlikely to waver on ensuring that America remains the most consequential nation.
The author goes on to review the increasingly complex domestic political and economic situations prevailing among US allies in Europe, the status of the conflict in Ukraine, the growing internal challenges in China, the careful messaging from China regarding US-China relations, developments in Japan and South Korea, the emerging outlook for the Indo-Pacific, and the evolution of the Quad into a “full-fledged partnership” over the last two decades. In West Asia, Israel has for all practical purposes altered the strategic outlook in a direction favourable to the US, though uncertainties remain.
He observes that December was another busy month for Indian diplomacy, with the focus on the immediate neighbourhood and the “Act West” policy. Major visits were exchanged with Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Kuwait, with high level interactions also taking place with the US, China, Bangladesh, Qatar and Bahrain.
Abiding bonds of friendship were affirmed with Bhutan, a new chapter was opened in relations with Sri Lanka, the offer of constructive people-centric relations made to the caretaker regime in Bangladesh, dialogues with China were used to affirm the importance of border tranquility for progress in bilateral ties, relations were reinforced with the Gulf region, and talks held with US interlocutors for ensuring continuity in relations going forward.
The author concludes by paying homage to late PM Dr. Manmohan Singh for his pathbreaking contributions to India’s economic prosperity and forging the India-US nuclear deal which marked a milestone for India’s most consequential partnership.
To read this issue of Global Horizons, Vol. II, Issue 12, please see the PDF attached.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election is leading chancelleries around the world to prepare for changes in the direction of US policy, even though Trump is unlikely to waver on ensuring that America remains the most consequential nation.
The author goes on to review the increasingly complex domestic political and economic situations prevailing among US allies in Europe, the status of the conflict in Ukraine, the growing internal challenges in China, the careful messaging from China regarding US-China relations, developments in Japan and South Korea, the emerging outlook for the Indo-Pacific, and the evolution of the Quad into a “full-fledged partnership” over the last two decades. In West Asia, Israel has for all practical purposes altered the strategic outlook in a direction favourable to the US, though uncertainties remain.
He observes that December was another busy month for Indian diplomacy, with the focus on the immediate neighbourhood and the “Act West” policy. Major visits were exchanged with Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Kuwait, with high level interactions also taking place with the US, China, Bangladesh, Qatar and Bahrain.
Abiding bonds of friendship were affirmed with Bhutan, a new chapter was opened in relations with Sri Lanka, the offer of constructive people-centric relations made to the caretaker regime in Bangladesh, dialogues with China were used to affirm the importance of border tranquility for progress in bilateral ties, relations were reinforced with the Gulf region, and talks held with US interlocutors for ensuring continuity in relations going forward.
The author concludes by paying homage to late PM Dr. Manmohan Singh for his pathbreaking contributions to India’s economic prosperity and forging the India-US nuclear deal which marked a milestone for India’s most consequential partnership.
To read this issue of Global Horizons, Vol. II, Issue 12, please see the PDF attached.
