A recent report by the Lowy Institute, one of the leading Australian think tanks, underlined the fact that the geopolitics of the Pacific Islands region has been hotting up as a hotbed of strategic rivalry. The report, titled The Great Game in the Pacific Islands, outlines the fine balancing act the small island nations in the region face now in leveraging growing interest from major global powers. As Chinese influence expands, old or traditional friends, such as the United States, Australia, and Japan, try to contend and hold on to their possession of a foothold in the region. This has…
Author: Swati Sakshi Mishra
Swati Sakshi Mishra
Journalism major, International Relations and Affairs masters. If that doesn't sum it up, I care about Feminism, Politics, Geopolitics and Fashion with heart full of love for storytelling through words and visuals.
ISTANBUL — What has been frozen for years, due to the Uyghur problem, now seems to enter a new phase of both diplomatic and economic cooperation between Turkey and China. Already, with recent meetings between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Chinese President Xi Jinping, ties between the two nations have shown improvement, with possible state visits on the cards and heavy Chinese investments flowing into Turkey. Diplomatic Engagements Pave the Way for Progress The talks between Xi and Erdogan at the SCO summit in Kazakhstan were a milestone in their bilateral relationship. Xi said that China-Turkey relations have been…
Long-standing war between Israel and Hamas again gained momentum. Alarming developments uncover the depth of crisis in Gaza. Only in the last 24 hours, the Israeli forces have killed at least 35 Palestinians across the besieged Gaza Strip, according to medical sources. These fatalities are part of a staggering toll, which has seen more than 40,000 people killed and more than 92,000 wounded since October, when the conflict intensified. Beset with carnage, Hamas launched a scathing accusation against the United States, saying that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s latest diplomatic effort is just a front to “buy time for…
The recent 2+2 dialogues that China held with South Korea and Indonesia reflect a strategic readjustment in its diplomatic approach toward the Indo-Pacific. Featuring ministerial-level talks between senior officials at the foreign and defense ministries, such talks present a more comprehensive diplomatic strategy as Beijing seeks to offset the challenge brought about by the rising influence of the Quad alliance. More than anything else, this exemplifies China’s bid to interlace defense and foreign policy much more intimately into its regional engagements in a heightened game of polemic politics in Asia. The 2+2 Format: A Strategic Evolution The format of the…
India’s decision to go for assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir from September 18 is, therefore, a defining moment in the tortuous political history of that troubled region. This is going to be the first Assembly election in a decade and the first since the Narendra Damodaran Modi government abrogated the special status of the region in 2019, reducing its autonomy and reconstituting it as a Union Territory. As the elections come closer, the political scene is rife with tension, uncertainty, and hopes for democratic restoration. The last assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir was held in the year 2014.…
Kolkata was thrust into turmoil late Thursday night as protests over brutal rape and murder of 31-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College spiraled into violence. What began as a peaceful demonstration morphed into an all-out assault on the hospital. A group of nearly 40 unidentified miscreants infiltrated premises vandalizing property and clashing with police. The mob, masquerading as protestors, wreaked havoc. This led police to use tear gas to disperse the crowd. Several police officers were injured. Vehicles were damaged as the situation rapidly escalated out of control. The protest, fueled by the ‘Reclaim the Night’ movement—a campaign…
In a high-stakes maneuver, U.S. President Joe Biden hinted that Iran might yet stand down from its expected retaliation against Israel if a cease-fire between the Jewish state and Hamas is brokered in the next few days. As diplomatic initiatives reach a fever pitch to end the 10-month Gaza conflict, which has seen tens of thousands killed and almost the entire enclave displaced, the region stands on the brink of wider war. Tensions are running high following the successive assassinations of senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut, reportedly by Israeli forces. Enraged,…
The USD/JPY currency pair opened the week with modest gains, trading around the 146.75-146.80 range; it could hardly hold on to its momentum amid lingering geopolitical concerns and divergent monetary stances of the Bank of Japan and the Federal Reserve. With a close above 147.00 continuing to elude the pair, a raft of macro and geopolitical issues keeps sentiment at bay and bulls in check. Geopolitical Tensions as a Key Driver The Japanese Yen (JYP) has been favored by investors as a haven asset due to rising geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East. Reports are rife that Iran might…
Barcelona — Political tensions in Spain continue to evolve after Carles Puigdemont, a member of Catalonia’s separatist party, returned and then fled the country within a week. Unfortunately, his flight—and the way it occurred—further strains the Spanish government, which has spent the past few years contending with the ongoing debate surrounding Catalonia independence. Puigdemont, the former regional president of Catalonia, reappeared in Barcelona last Wednesday, escaping another chance to arrest him. Puigdemont’s brief return to Spain Former Catalan president and key figure in the new independence bid, Carles Puigdemont, returned to Spain on Thursday after seven years in exile. A…
In a shocking wave of unrest, anti-immigrant riots have engulfed over 15 towns and cities across England and Northern Ireland this past week. Violence has left businesses looted. Police officers are injured. Mosques attacked. Hotels housing asylum seekers are targeted. Such upheaval has sparked national debate on immigration policies and political accountability. Origins of the Anti-Immigrant Riots The violence was ignited by false claims that asylum seekers had killed three children in Southport, England. This misinformation propagated by online influencers led to calls for protests against alleged threats. These gatherings quickly descended into violence. A heavy police presence, however, prevented…
