COMMENTARIES
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The R4+S Approach for Afghanistan
Rajat Ahlawat · 27 Nov, 2017 · #5398 · Commentary
The new US strategy for Afghanistan has switched from a 'time-bound', 'troop numbers-based' approach to a 'conditions-based' approach. A conditions-based approach would give the US administration more flexibility in terms of determining troop nu...
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Maritime Matters
Microbeads and Microfibre: A Big Challenge for Blue Economy
Vijay Sakhuja · 27 Nov, 2017 · #5397 · Commentary · Column
A recent BBC documentary titled Blue Planet II that has an agonising three-minute clip of a dead pilot whale moving along with her dead calf, apparently poisoned due to chemical pollution, left many audiences in shock. Wildlife expert Sir David...
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In Memoriam
Ambassador Howard B Schaffer
Rachael Strogoff · 22 Nov, 2017 · #5396 · Commentary
The passing of Howard Schaffer will be deeply regretted by his many friends and associates. He was a top-flight diplomat of the US State Department who spent many years serving his country and rose high in the diplomatic service. Quite early in ...
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Why are Nuclear Disarmament Initiatives Bound to Fail?
Shivani Singh · 21 Nov, 2017 · #5395 · Commentary
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) was recently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for being a strong and active force in campaigning for disarmament and pushing for the adoption of the nuclear weapons ban treaty, 2017.
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The Pangsangh Alliance and the Future of Myanmar’s Peace Process
Angshuman Choudhury · 21 Nov, 2017 · #5394 · Commentary
Between 11-12 November 2017, senior officials from Myanmar’s union government and the Tatmadaw met with the country’s largest Ethnic Armed Organisation (EAO), United Wa State Army (UWSA), and its less powerful ally, National Democrat...
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Special Commentary
Unpacking the Unprecedented Churning in Saudi Arabia
Ranjit Gupta · 15 Nov, 2017 · #5393 · Commentary
Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (King Salman) has presided over unprecedented churning on both the domestic political and foreign policy fronts during his short reign of less than three years. Norms that have been the foun...
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EU: Prospects of Reform Post the 2017 German Election
John Schabedoth · 15 Nov, 2017 · #5392 · Commentary
The European Union (EU) and its institutions are at a crossroads. The Euro and refugee crises have revealed that its countries have different views on intra-community solidarity and the future of the EU as a whole. With Brexit, for the first tim...
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Dateline Colombo
The Geopolitics of Floating Bases and the New World Order
Asanga Abeyagoonasekera · 14 Nov, 2017 · #5391 · Commentary · Column
US naval officer and strategist Alfred Thayer Mahan’s advice in 1890 for the US to push outwards to rule the oceans is still heeded by US maritime forces in the present day. The USS Nimitz aircraft carrier, standing 23 stories high and 333...
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Strategic Space
‘Gas Chamber’ Cities and Dangers Nuclear
Manpreet Sethi · 14 Nov, 2017 · #5390 · Commentary · Column
Come November and the entire Indo-Gangetic plain running across the northern regions of Pakistan and India comes under a dirty grey haze. Major cities in these areas begin gasping for breath. A mix of a natural phenomenon and mindless human acti...
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East Asia Compass
Trump's Visit to East Asia
Dr Sandip Kumar Mishra · 07 Nov, 2017 · #5389 · Commentary · Column
US President Donald Trump’s 12-day visit to five of the East Asian countries is quite ‘unprecedented’. But so are his style, posturing, statements and policies. Trump will meet not only the leaders of Japan, South Korea, China,...
