The Indian budget every year has always been an eagerly awaited event. For many decades, the best minds in economics, finance, tax, business and industry throng the media house to analyze the provisions shared by the Financial Minister.
Sometimes major events completely disconnected may be data points for the plans of the different powers around the world. The challenge is to discern what purpose they serve? More critically, what are we moving towards?
When the US Ambassador threatened India's "Strategic Autonomy" policy over India's friendship with Russia - much more than meets the eye was at stake. Let us unpack how the Ukraine war has fundamentally changed the US and the world. And why are we here anyway?
President Trump has since his swearing in, distanced himself from the foreign policy approaches of his forbears. Whether disdaining NATO, or insulting other friends and allies in public, he has shown he will not be influenced by established standards or practices.
The decision to withdraw 2,000 US troops from Syria came shortly after the Congressional elections, Afghanistan may be the next. Partners in both countries will face new uncertainties. The Kurds will have reason to regret (not for the first time), their decision to ally with America. The Russians, the Iranians and of course Syria’s Assad will be glad to see the back of an adversary. What happens now is the question: could the Islamic State rise again? Could Turkey seek to enforce a new diktat in eastern Syria?
As for Afghanistan, any move to withdraw troops will send the wrong signal to the Taliban and its Pakistani backers. The trouble here is every one of Afghanistan’s neighbours want the Taliban on board. Uncle Sam targets them with missiles while breaking bread with representatives of the same group in Qatar. India will be shell-shocked but it may push a view among some strategists in Delhi to be more active in our backyard instead of relying on the Americans.
Attack by Hamas took a lot to accomplish. The sudden Chinese bonhomie with Syria and the bringing together of Arab - Sunni and Shia countries and actors by Xi Jinping's regime raises some questions .
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