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AUKUS
AUKUS (US, UK and Australia) unveiled details of a plan to create a new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. Announced in 2021, it is a new three-way strategic defence alliance between Australia, the UK and US. It aims to boost defence capabilities, accelerate technological integration, and expand the industrial capacity of all three nations.
The trilateral partnership, which builds on their decades- long security cooperation, has two pillars. Pillar I revolves around the acquisition and development of conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy; and
Pillar II calls for collaboration on advanced capabilities that will involve technology and information sharing.
Implications of AUKUS:
AUKUS is another prime example of the United States and its allies bolstering security cooperation in the Indo- Pacific to counterbalance China’s growing power and influence in the region. It follows other significant efforts, such as ASEAN and the Quad, establishing a foundation for achieving “integrated deterrence.”
After UK abandoned its security responsibilities East of Suez in the late 1960s, it had become marginal to Asian security all these decades. AUKUS will renew its claim for a long-term role in Indo-Pacific security.
By strengthening the defence capabilities of Australia, AUKUS aims to achieve the vision of a free, open, resilient and inclusive Indo-Pacific. This template may be used to build the defence capabilities of other nations in the region. It would go a long way to contain the Chinese expansionist policy and thereby bring stability and peace to the region.
AUKUS promotes deeper information and technology sharing, fostering deeper integration of security and defence-related science, technology, industrial bases, and supply chains.
Concerns regarding AUKUS
While America’s allies have largely taken a favourable view of the agreement, China and Russia have responded sharply. Both have raised questions about nuclear non- proliferation as Australia, a non-nuclear power, will get advanced nuclear subs. China says that AUKUS is an “illegal transfer of nuclear weapon materials”.
The International Atomic Energy Agency says it will engage in “very complex, technical negotiation” with the AUKUS countries to monitor any nuclear risks.
There is a lack of clarity about AUKUS’s strategic purpose and how the AUKUS narrative would be rolled out to allies, partners, and adversaries. All three countries say that AUKUS will stabilise the Indo-Pacific, but none of them has yet explained how it will do that.
AUKUS has also widened the divide in the trans-Atlantic relationship between the US and Europe. The secrecy surrounding the AUKUS negotiations has raised concerns about the legitimacy of US alliance systems in Europe.
Conclusion
AUKUS is progressing, but there’s a long way to go. There is a need to give clarity regarding specific objectives AUKUS partners seek to achieve across vastly different technology sectors. AUKUS’s potential to tangibly impact the Indo- Pacific geopolitical discourse can perhaps only be seen in the long term.
Disaster Diplomacy
Disaster Relief Diplomacy, also known as (humanitarian assistance and disaster relief) HADR Diplomacy, refers to a country’s efforts to provide aid and support to other countries affected by natural disasters or conflicts.
New Delhi’s “disaster diplomacy” stretc.hes back to its first post-independence decades. In that era, India’s humanitarian interventions, especially in the form of UN peacekeeping missions in the Congo and Korea, served to cement its image as a helping hand in the developing world.
While disaster relief was always a key feature of the country’s foreign policy, diplomats and officials recall that the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami marked a turning point in how India saw disaster relief.
In 2004, India’s capacity as a first responder was recognised by other major countries in the region, particularly by the US. Indian naval vessels were the first to reach the devastated Indonesian province of Aceh, which even the Indonesians found difficult to reach because it was very remote. That was when India’s profile as a first responder began to grow. The government also began to recognize the advantages that it could derive from being seen as a provider of security and assistance in the region.
The passage of the Disaster Management Act in 2005 paved the way for New Delhi to rapidly scale up its ability to respond to crises.
For New Delhi, its disaster diplomacy brings a few key dividends. First, it allows India to demonstrate its increased geopolitical reach. By responding to crises stretc.hing from Japan in the Far East to Turkey in the Middle East, New Delhi is underscoring the reality of its rise to major power status. Second, research by scholars suggests that states often use disaster aid to achieve breakthroughs in bilateral ties. India’s Operation Maitri during the Nepal earthquake of 2015 played a crucial role in India’s outreach to Kathmandu in the years afterwards. The same might be said of Turkey, with which India has been steadily pushing a rapprochement over the last two years.
Indian Diaspora
Indian diaspora refers to people whose origins can be traced to India or are Indian citizens living abroad. This includes Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Persons of Indian Origin (PIO), and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI).
India has the largest diaspora population in the world with 18 million people from the country living outside their homeland in 2020, according to a report by the United Nations, which says the UAE, the US and Saudi Arabia host the largest number of migrants from India.
The composition of the Indian diaspora is diverse, consisting of labourers/workers, traders, political leaders, professionals as well as students and spread across the world with major concentration in U.S, Canada, UK, Australia, Gulf, EU, South & West Africa and Girmitiya countries.
Girmitiya countries are the countries where Indians were taken as indentured labourers during British India to work on plantations in British colonies. Girmitiya countries includes countries like- Fiji, Mauritius, Jamaica, South Africa, Guyana, Suriname etc..
Remittances
Remittances, according to the World Bank, are a vital source of household income for low- and middle-income countries like India. The latest World Bank Migration and Development Brief, released in November 2022, said, “For the first time a single country, India, is on track to receive more than $100 billion in yearly remittances.”
Involvement in politics
The vocal political positions taken by a section of the Indian diaspora, particularly in the US and the UK, is a fairly recent phenomenon. For instance, the Hindu American Foundation, a Hindu advocacy group based in the US, was set up in 2003, the same year the Pravasi Bharatiya Convention was launched. At the launch, then PM Vajpayee had said overseas Indians can “project the truth about India to the world in a credible and effective manner” and counter “propaganda”.
PM Modi echoed similar sentiments, urging Pravasi Bharatiya to amplify India’s “development story”. He also makes it a point to address large gatherings of the diaspora community when visiting foreign countries. Many prominent overseas Indians play an active role in organising such meetings.
Challenges faced by the Indian Diaspora
West Asia specific challenges:
Low oil prices owing to Shale gas boom, slower global growth and fierce competition from skilled labour from the Philippines resulting in job cuts for Indians.
Rising conflicts and instability due to the Shia-Sunni conflicts and the radical Islamism affecting security of Indians.
Exploitative Kafala labour system (a sponsorship system that binds workers through contract to a kafeel (sponsor), who controls their immigration status).
Nitaqat Law which aims to replace a large section of overseas workers with locals in Saudi Arabia.
Challenges faced in US, Canada & UK
Discriminative practices, Protectionism and Stricter H-1B visa norms in US
Revision of visa norms in UK post-Brexit.
Demands for Dual Citizenship
Economic Issues: violation of contractual terms, adverse working conditions, wage related issues, medical & insurance related problems etc..
Recently, a Parliamentary committee released a comprehensive report on Indian Diaspora.
The committee has made the following recommendations on the Welfare of Indian Diaspora:
• Policy for diaspora: The Ministry of External Affairs engages with the diaspora through various programmes and schemes. The Committee observed that no clear policy on diaspora is in place, despite their socio-economic contributions to the development of the country. The Committee recommended that the Ministry draft a clear policy document on the diaspora which would serve as a guiding principle for engagement with the community.
• Database on Indian diaspora: The Committee observed that the Ministry of External Affairs does not have updated data on Indian diaspora, as registration with Indian Embassies is voluntary. In the absence of such a database, welfare schemes may not be implemented properly. The Committee recommended that Indian Embassies encourage the diaspora to register themselves, which would allow the Ministry to effectively implement welfare schemes.
• Emigration Management Bill: The Committee observed that the Emigration Management Bill, 2022 has been under consultation and vetting for a long time. It seeks to establish an emigration framework, liberalise clearances, and strengthen welfare for overseas migrants. The Committee recommended that the Ministry introduce the Bill at the earliest.
• Multiple portals for grievance redressal: Several platforms, including e-Migrate and the Centralised Public Grievance Redressal and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS), are available to address the grievances of Indian nationals abroad. The Committee observed that having multiple portals could potentially delay grievance resolution and recommended that the Ministry ensure this does not result in redundant processes. In many cases, resolving grievances requires local-level engagement. The Committee also noted that while CPGRAMS is the fastest way to connect with state governments or district police, it is not widely used internationally. To improve its effectiveness, the Committee suggested that the Ministry promote the portal to increase its usage for resolving grievances.
• Rehabilitation of workers: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many workers, including Gulf returnees, lost their jobs. As the pandemic subsided, only a few workers have been able to return to their previous places of employment abroad. The Committee highlighted the need for a rehabilitation scheme to ensure livelihood security for workers who lost their jobs or were unable to return to their work. It recommended that the Ministry collaborate with relevant Ministries, Departments, state governments, and stakeholders to develop a comprehensive rehabilitation plan.
• Skilling of potential migrant workers: The Committee observed that the international labour market has shifted from being supply-driven to demand-driven. With emerging labour markets in East Asian countries like Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, the challenge of skilling potential migrant workers has intensified. The Committee emphasized that aligning skills with the specific requirements of destination countries is crucial, especially in the post-COVID era. To address this, it recommended enhancing the quality of domestic skilling programs and standardizing curricula nationwide to ensure migrant workers can secure better-paying jobs abroad.
• Students in Ukraine and China: Several Indian medical students studying in Ukraine and China were unable to resume their courses physically or complete their internships in India due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Committee recommended that the Ministry ensure that Indian private medical institutions enrol returnee students from Ukraine by granting a one-time exemption. With respect to Indian students enrolled in medical colleges in China, the Committee recommended allowing them to complete the remaining part of their internship in India.Steps taken by the government to Improve Relationship with Overseas Indians:
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD)
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention, held annually from January 7th-9th since 2003, aims to connect India with its vast overseas diaspora. It serves as a platform to bring together their knowledge, expertise, and skills.
Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards (PBSA)
The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards, presented by the President during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention, recognize outstanding achievements of non-resident Indians (NRIs), persons of Indian origin (PIOs), or organizations established and run by NRIs or PIOs. These awards acknowledge their significant contributions both in India and abroad.
Know India Programme (KIP)
The Know India Programme seeks to engage young members of the Indian diaspora, aged 18-26, by familiarizing them with India's development and achievements. The program provides a unique opportunity for students and young professionals of Indian origin to visit India, exchange ideas, and strengthen their connection to the land of their ancestors.
Study India Programme (SIP)
The Study India Programme offers overseas Indian youth the chance to take short-term courses at Indian universities. This initiative aims to familiarize participants with India’s rich history, heritage, art, culture, and socio-political and economic developments. The program emphasizes academic orientation and research.
Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC)
A scheme called ‘Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC)’ was launched in the academic year 2006-07. Under the scheme, 100 scholarships upto US$ 4000 per annum are granted to PIO and NRI students for undergraduate courses in Engineering/Technology, Humanities/ Liberal Arts, Commerce, Management, Journalism, Hotel Management, Agriculture/Animal Husbandry etc..
Tracing the Roots
This scheme has been running since 2008 to facilitate PIOs in tracing their roots in India.
Scheme for Legal/Financial Assistance to Indian Women Deserted / Divorced by their NRI Husbands:
Issues related with desertion of Indian women by their overseas spouses are complex and sensitive. They also fall within the purview of private international law. The approach of the Ministry in addressing these issues is to create awareness amongst prospective brides and their families regarding their rights and responsibilities and the safeguards to be adopted while entering into matrimonial alliances with grooms residing overseas. The objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to needy women in distress due to being deserted/divorced by their overseas spouses, for getting access to counselling and legal services.
Paris Club
The Paris Club, an informal group of creditor nations, will provide financial assurances to the International Monetary Fund on Sri Lanka’s debt.
The Paris Club is a group of mostly Western creditor countries that grew from a 1956 meeting in which Argentina agreed to meet its public creditors in Paris. Their objective is to find sustainable debt-relief solutions for countries that are unable to repay their bilateral loans.
It describes itself as a forum where official creditors meet to solve payment difficulties faced by debtor countries.
It operates on the principles of consensus and solidarity. Any agreement reached with the debtor country will apply equally to all its Paris Club creditors.
It consists of 22 members, which include: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Norway, Russian Federation, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America.
• India and China are not members.
All 22 are members of the group called Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).The Paris Group countries dominated bilateral lending in the last century, but their importance has receded over the last two decades or so with the emergence of China as the world’s biggest bilateral lender.
75 years of peacekeeping: India’s contribution to UN’s peace missions:
The UN Peacekeeping, governed by the Department of Peace Operations, assists countries tormented by conflict in their journey towards sustained peace.
It follows three fundamental principles:
Consent of the parties,
Impartiality, and
Refraining from the use of force, except in self-defence. Since its inception in 1948, when military observers were deployed to oversee Israeli-Arab armistice agreements, peacekeepers from various countries have dutifully served, frequently risking their lives in zones of conflict.
UN Peacekeeping primarily relies on troops and experts from poor, middle-income, and developing nations. Indian personnel have made significant contributions, with 6,097 currently in service, ranking third after Bangladesh (7,237) and Nepal (6,264). India also holds the unfortunate record of having the highest fatalities due to malicious acts, during UN peacekeeping missions.
India’s contribution to UN peacekeeping:
Over 200,000 Indians have served in 49 UN Peacekeeping missions since 1948. Currently, 5,581 Indians are part of various UN Peacekeeping missions.
In 2007, India became the first country to deploy an all- women contingent to a UN Peacekeeping mission. The Formed Police Unit in Liberia provided 24-hour guard duty and conducted night patrols in the capital Monrovia and helped to build the capacity of the Liberian police.
India was the first country to contribute to the Trust Fund on sexual exploitation and abuse, which was set up in 2016.
India’s participation in UN peacekeeping missions has been motivated by its commitment to maintaining international peace and security, and also as a way to project its soft power.
Despite its presence in several countries as part of the Peacekeeping missions, India has routinely expressed its displeasure at a similar mission headquartered in Srinagar and Islamabad. The United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) was established on January 24, 1949 to supervise the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. UNMOGIP has remained in the region to observe hostilities between the neighbouring countries and report ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC).
India has reiterated that the mission has “outlived its relevance” after the Simla Agreement was signed by India and Pakistan in July 1972 and the establishment of the LoC.
Significance of UN peacekeeping
• Ensuring global peace and security: Peacekeeping is effective at resolving civil wars, reducing violence during
wars, preventing wars from recurring, and rebuilding state institutions. It succeeds at protecting civilian lives and reducing sexual and gender-based violence.
• Promoting multilateral burden sharing: The UN has no standing army and therefore depends on Member States to voluntarily contribute troops and police to its peacekeeping operations. A range of countries including India, Rwanda, Tanzania, Jordan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Nepal provide peacekeeping forces.
• Cost Less than Other Forms of Military Intervention: The UN peacekeeping missions are cost-effective when compared to other forms of military intervention.
• Protect human rights: UN peacekeeping works to secure human rights by observing and notifying about violations, helping to prevent them, and demanding accountability for past violations.
Challenges with respect to UN peacekeeping
• Leadership issues: The failure of leadership, combined with poor management, discipline, and widespread inefficiency, weakness, and insignificance of some traditional peacekeeping operations approaches, indicate the need to reform and improve the structure of UN Peacekeeping.
• Legislation: The troop and police-contributing countries’ non-consensus understanding of Peacekeeping operations Status of Forces Agreements (SOFA), mandates, and Rules of Engagement, combined with inconsistencies between decision-makers, raises issues about the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations.
• Global order: The geopolitical and strategic interests of some of the world’s most powerful nations, as well as competition for international standing, have affected decision-making at strategic levels of the United Nations, creating conflicts of interest. Since 1988, western countries have drastically reduced their troop numbers of United Nations missions and stepped up their NATO military missions to pursue national interests. In the absence of big powers’ influence to maintain international peace and stability, China has strengthened its position in the UN Security Council by influencing the decision-making processes.
• Methods of operation: Today, illegal activities of state and non-state actors often emerge within a nation or region in the form of internal riots, falls of legal institutions, crises, and armed conflicts. This shows that monitoring ceasefire agreements and protecting civilians, which are the major forms of traditional peacekeeping operations are not always effective.
• Multilateral cooperation: It remains a challenge to find a comprehensive and effective leadership system that can support the integration of organs of the United Nations and non-United Nations in areas of operation.
Conclusion
The United Nations is the most important independent global organization for maintaining peace and security in the international arena. The successes and achievements of this organization of multinational powers are invaluable. Future approaches to, and development of, UN Peacekeeping depend not only on the multilateral policies but also on member states’ commitment