Sri Lanka: Debt-trapped
China has replaced India as Sri Lanka’s biggest economic partner. It is gaining control of Sri Lanka’s ports, which can give it leverage over India’s external trade
China has replaced India as Sri Lanka’s biggest economic partner. It is gaining control of Sri Lanka’s ports, which can give it leverage over India’s external trade
Indian President Ram Nath Kovind leaves for Africa on his first foreign visit as president on October 3. His first port of call will be Djibouti, which occupies a strategic location in the Horn of Africa. The country has assumed significance for hosting multiple foreign military bases on its territory, the latest entrant being China. This infographic illustrates Djibouti’s ‘military base’ diplomacy.
Since mid-June, India and China have been locked in an intense stand-off in the Doklam plateau, at the tri-junction of Bhutan, India, and China. Gateway House chronicles previous border incursions and transgressions by China into India’s territory and mentions relevant treaties and agreements
In the aftermath of the terrorist attack on the Indian Army brigade headquarters in the town of Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, Gateway House has compiled potential policy options for India.
Over the course of 2015, India conducted eight ballistic missile tests. The range of these missiles varies from as low as 250 kms of Dhanush to as high as 8000 kms of Agni V. Most of these missiles were tested from the integrated test range at Odisha's former Wheeler Island, which was renamed Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island in honour of India’s ‘Missile Man’.
This year, India's defence diplomacy has ramped up. In 2015 alone there have been 18 military exercises- naval, army and air force- with 13 countries, among the largest engagements the country has had. Most significant is Japan joining the Malabar exercises in the Bay of Bengal and the first-ever maritime exercise with Australia. This is increasing India's presence from the Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal. As these exercises intensify India will be better positioned to handle regional security challenges.
The map – Asia’s Strategic Corridors to India – has emerged from Gateway House’s study of India’s strategic links with other parts of Asia. It highlights the progress India has made in forging multiple links with six strategic regions – Central Asia, West Asia, East Africa, South-East Asia, East Asia, and our immediate neighbourhood