INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SEPTEMBER 2017 – JUNE 2018 Table of Contents 1. INDIA AND ITS NEIGHBOURS __________ 3 4.1. India Central Asia __________________ 56 1.1 India’s Neighbourhood Relations ______ 3 4.2. Tapi Gas Pipeline __________________ 59 1.2. India’s Water Relations with Neighbours 6 5. WEST ASIA/MIDDLE EAST ____________ 61 1.3. China ____________________________ 10 5.1. India West Asia____________________ 61 1.3.1. India China Relations _______________ 10 5.2. India-Iran ________________________ 63 1.3.2. India China Water Relations __________ 13 5.2.1. Iran Nuclear Deal __________________ 65 1.4. Pakistan _________________________ 15 5.3. Israel-Palestine ____________________ 67 1.4.1. Indus Water Treaty _________________ 15 1.4.2. Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan Order _______ 17 5.3.1. India Israel _______________________ 67 1.4.3. Track-II Diplomacy _________________ 18 5.4. India-UAE ________________________ 69 1.4.4. International Sanctions Against Pakistan on Terrorism _____________________________ 18 5.5. India-Oman _______________________ 71 1.5. Bangladesh _______________________ 20 5.6. India Jordan ______________________ 72 1.6. Sri Lanka _________________________ 22 5.7. Other Regional News _______________ 73 5.7.1. The Kurdish Independence Referendum 73 1.7. Nepal Relations ___________________ 23 5.7.2. Islamic Alliance to Fight Terrorism _____ 73 1.7.1. India-Nepal Friendship Treaty_________ 25 5.7.3. Asian Premium ____________________ 73 1.7.2. India-China-Nepal Triangle ___________ 25 6. AFRICA ___________________________ 75 1.8. Afghanistan ______________________ 27 1.8.1. Afghanistan Peace Offer _____________ 29 6.1. India-Africa _______________________ 75 2. INDIAN OCEAN REGION _____________ 31 6.2. India Africa Development Initiatives __ 78 2.1. India-Indian Ocean _________________ 31 7. EUROPE ___________________________ 79 2.2. India Maldives ____________________ 33 7.1. India-EU _________________________ 79 2.3. India-Seychelles ___________________ 35 7.2. India-France Relations ______________ 81 2.4. Indo-Pacific _______________________ 36 7.3. India Germany Relations ____________ 82 2.5. Kra Canal _________________________ 38 7.4. India-Italy ________________________ 83 3. SOUTH EAST AND EAST ASIA _________ 40 7.5. General Data Protection Guidelines (GDPR) ______________________________ 84 3.1. East Asia and ASEAN _______________ 40 7.6. India-Nordic Summit _______________ 85 3.2. India-ASEAN ______________________ 41 8. Russia ____________________________ 86 3.3. India-Japan _______________________ 44 8.1. India-Russia ______________________ 86 3.4. India-Indonesia ___________________ 45 9. USA ______________________________ 88 3.5. India-Singapore ___________________ 46 9.1. The New US Security Strategy ________ 88 3.6. India-Vietnam_____________________ 47 9.2. India-US Pacts _____________________ 88 3.7. India-Myanmar ___________________ 48 3.7.1. Rohingya Issue ____________________ 51 9.3. India USA Solar Dispute _____________ 89 3.8. India Mongolia ____________________ 52 9.4. US Import Duty Hike on Steel and 3.9. North Korea ______________________ 54 Aluminium ___________________________ 90 9.5. US Extraterritorial Sanctions _________ 90 4. CENTRAL ASIA _____________________ 56 1 DELHI | PUNE | HYDERABAD | AHMEDABAD | JAIPUR | LUCKNOW 8468022022 9.6. US Pulls Out from International Deals and 11. MISCELLANEOUS _________________ 100 Organisations_________________________ 92 11.1. Quadrilateral Meeting ____________ 100 10. IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL/REGIONAL 11.2. IBSA Declaration for South-South Co-op101 GROUPS AND SUMMITS _______________ 94 11.3. Foreign Aid to Poor ______________ 103 10.1. UNSC Reform ____________________ 94 11.4. India’s Soft Power _______________ 104 10.2. Commonwealth __________________ 95 11.5. India’s Nuclear Policy _____________ 105 10.3. Shanghai Cooperation Organization__ 97 11.6. Paradiplomacy __________________ 108 10.4. International Solar Alliance_________ 98 2 8468022022 DELHI | PUNE | HYDERABAD | AHMEDABAD | JAIPUR | LUCKNOW 1. INDIA AND ITS NEIGHBOURS 1.1 INDIA’S NEIGHBOURHOOD RELATIONS India by far is the largest country in terms of area, population, and economic and military capabilities, larger than all its neighbours put together. Each neighbour shares some significant ethnic, linguistic or cultural features with India but not so much with the others in the subcontinent. It is this asymmetry which shapes the neighbourhood’s perception of India and vice versa. But India also must recognize that the asymmetry is still not of the scale that can compel its neighbours to align their interests with its own. This is the challenge of proximity. Since its independence, when the subcontinent itself saw major rearrangements, India frequently has had to compete with other suitors for its neighbours’ affections. This leads to either excessive and often misdirected generosity and accommodation, or harsh overreaction. However, during the past decade there has been a visible change in India’s approach to its neighbourhood and to SAARC. This is the result of a growing recognition that economic integration in South Asia is indispensable for the Indian economy as it globalizes. Since 2014, when India’s neighbourhood policy was first enunciated by inviting leaders of all South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries to swearing-in ceremony, of new government, India’s neighbourhood policy now seems adrift. Background Important points related to India’s foreign policy towards its neighbours are- • India was termed as Reluctant Power throughout the period of cold war which meant it was seen to have the resources, but it did not act or manage to act. • Initially India signed Panchsheel Gujral Doctrine agreement with China and proceeded ahead with NAM principle. In recent past The five principles of the doctrine are: India has carried forward its relations with • With neighbors like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal its neighbours with Look East Policy (now and Sri Lanka, India does not ask for reciprocity, but gives and accommodates what it can in good faith and Act East) and through regional forums trust. such as SAARC, BIMSTEC etc. • No South Asian country should allow its territory to be • India has followed “Policy of Non- used against the interest of another country of the Reciprocity” as part of Gujral Doctrine, region. 1998 which states that India’s relations • No country should interfere in the internal affairs of with its neighbours should be based on another. India’s regional position and not on • All South Asian countries must respect each other’s principle of reciprocity. territorial integrity and sovereignty. • India also launched New Neighborhood • They should settle all their disputes through peaceful Policy, 2005 to address the need of bilateral negotiations. regional integration in South Asia in the age of globalization. It focused on development of border areas, improved connectivity in the region and encouraging cultural and people to people contacts. • In 2014 India enunciated ‘Neighbourhood first’ policy by inviting leaders of all South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries to swearing-in South Asia Association for Regional ceremony, of new government. The policy signified: Cooperation (SAARC) o India is willing to give political and diplomatic priority to • It is a regional organisation which was its immediate neighbours and the Indian Ocean Island established in 1985. states. • The main objective of setting up of o It will provide support to neighbours with support in SAARC was to promote the welfare of the form of resources, equipment and training. the people of South Asia, improve the o Greater connectivity and integration to improve free quality of life and accelerate economic flow of goods, people, energy, capital and information growth, social progress and cultural o Promoting a model of India led regionalism with which development in the region. neighbours are comfortable. • Member countries – India, Pakistan. o To connect with neighbours through cultural heritage. Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Afghanistan and Bhutan. 3 DELHI | PUNE | HYDERABAD | AHMEDABAD | JAIPUR | LUCKNOW 8468022022 Reasons for Disconnect with neighbours • Unfavorable Structural Challenges: India has historical legacies of border conflict, ethnic and social tensions and India’s are the dominant structural handicaps working against success of India’s policy in South Asia. For example, the issues related to Madhesis in Nepal, Tamils in Sri Lanka, border and river water disputes with Bangladesh are accorded to various structural handicaps of India. • Lack of Consensus on Core issues of Security and Development: South Asia is one of the only regions without any regional security architecture nor there is an effort to evolve any such architecture due to lack of consensus. India’s big brotherly stature has been seen as more of a threat by other countries of the region rather than an enabling factor to cooperate for security and Other Related News development of the region. China-South Asia Cooperation Forum • Impact of China: • Recently ‘First China-South Asia Cooperation Forum’ (CSACF)’ o China has made foray into India’s was launched in Yunnan Province with an outcome document neighborhood of alternative ‘Fuxian Lake Initiative’. • CSACF Secretariat will be established in Yunnan where its trade and connectivity options summit also will be held annually. after the 2015 India-Nepal border • Officials from SAARC countries