Author: Tanuj Samaddar, FRSA

On Sunday, opposing political factions of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina successfully impeded the Awami League’s intentions to convene a rally in Bangladesh’s capital. This gathering was perceived as an initial attempt by Hasina’s party to reestablish its presence on the public stage, following her departure from the nation in August amid widespread civil unrest.The planned rally in Dhaka aimed to honor the memory of a party activist whose demise on November 10, 1987, had incited significant protests against the then-military autocrat, H.M. Ershad. These demonstrations ultimately culminated in his removal from power, bringing an end to his nine-year tenure…

In the preceding month, Indonesia witnessed a change of guards from the outgoing president Joko Widodo to that of the former army general Prabowo Subianto, and recent media reports suggest that India might extend an invitation to the newly elected Indonesian President to grace the Republic Day Celebrations as the Chief Guest for this year opening pathways for reinforced bilateral ties between both the nations. Indonesia,a nation characterized by its secular governance and democratic framework -albeit one that has experienced a democratic regression in recent years, finds itself at the focal point of a strategic courtship by both China and…

Asia Pacific leaders have embarked on initiatives to strengthen diplomatic and strategic relations with Donald Trump who has recently been elected to the Office of the US President for a second term amidst persistent uncertainties clouding the implications of his renewed tenure on regional security dynamics. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed his anticipation to coordinate closely with the president elect, stressing on the aspiration to elevate both the Japan-US partnership and bilateral ties to unprecedented feats of cooperation and strength.In parallel,Taiwanese President William Lai Ching -te and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol conveyed through social media platforms their…

The Director General of Australia’s Office of National Intelligence, Andrew Shearer , has issued a cautionary statement , characterizing the ‘emerging axis’ of countries comprising China, Iran and North Korea united in their effort to back Russia as a deeply disconcerting strategic shift that Western powers are grappling to address effectively. Shearer stressed on Wednesday that the strategic ramifications of this rather nascent alignment, anchored by China and Russia have been greatly underestimated. The extensive provision of dual use supported by China to President Putin revolving around economic aid and diplomatic backing is effectively sustaining his military operations in Ukraine,…

India and Australia undertook an extensive review of their comprehensive strategic partnership on Tuesday, as Foreign Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar and his Australian counterpart Penny Wong explored ways to strengthen cooperation and collaboration in key domains of defence, security and trade. Jaishankar and Wong engaged in the Foreign Minister’s Framework Dialogue in Canberra , a day subsequent to India inaugurating its fourth consulate in Brisbane indicating the quick advancement of bilateral ties alongside burgeoning collaboration between both the nations within the QUAD framework. The bilateral comprehensive strategic coalition is witnessing consistent growth epitomised by fortified political ties, resilient security and…

The Philippine armed forces commenced a two week series of combat exercises on Monday, encompassing stimulated operations to secure an island within the contested waters of the South China Sea- an undertaking likely to draw disapproval from China. The maneuvers will engage over 3000 personnels all across the Army, Navy & Air Force,to which Philippine military officials reasserted that the drills do not target any specific nation. China has swiftly augmented it’s military prowess, adopting an increasingly assertive stance in pursuing territorial claims in the South China Sea – a region marked by protracted territorial frictions. The Chinese assertiveness has…

Record breaking air pollution levels in Lahore, Pakistan’s second largest metropolis have compelled authorities to enact urgent countermeasures on Sunday, including the implementation of remote work directives and temporary closure of primary schools. On Sunday, Lahore clinched the top spot as the world’s most polluted city, following its unprecedented pollution index reading of 1900 close to the Indo-Pak border on Saturday, as reported by provincial government data & the Swiss Air Quality Monitoring Group, IQAir. For days, the sprawling metropolis of 14 million inhabitants has been engulfed in a dense haze- a toxic amalgam of fog and pollutants stemming from…

Amid heightened tensions between India and the US concerning India’s alleged targeting of Sikh separatists, United States’ National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan engaged in a telephonic conversation with his Indian counterpart, Ajit Doval. During this conversation they discussed regional security developments and assessed bilateral matters including advancements in defense cooperation. The White House reported on Wednesday , Oct 31st, that the two leaders also deliberated on the necessity of intensified efforts to promote stability in the Indo Pacific and on the global stage. “They welcomed progress in bilateral partnership highlighted by the forthcoming initiative on Critical & Emerging Technology (iCET)…

Australia is set to enhance its missile defense infrastructure post China’s recent testing of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) in the South Pacific – a development that has elicited significant concerns with Canberra , as the entire Indo-Pacific is on the verge of what the experts describe as a burgeoning ‘missile age’. Addressing the media on Wednesday, Australian Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy, as cited by international news agencies affirmed that the nation intends to augment its missile defense and long range strike capabilities. Conroy further stressed that the Australia would work in coordination with key security allies -…

On Tuesday,China confirmed the detention of a South Korean national on espionage suspicions, stating that it had informed the South Korean embassy officials but refrained from sharing specific details about the individual in question or the allegations made against him. This is the inaugural example of a South Korean citizen being detained under an expanded counter espionage law that was instituted in July in the preceding year. This case bears the potential of discouraging the South Korean enterprises from investing or operating in China, who is their largest trade partner, specifically in the light of the recent exodus of the…