Manoj Ambat's Blog dealing with Defence, Foreign Affairs, Strategic Affairs and Politics

G-4 Summit ( Image source- Flickr / Credits- MEA Official gallery) Source- The Diplomat Author- Ankit Panda What do Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan have in common? Though geographically disparate, each of these states seeks permanent membership on the United Nations Security Council and has the economic and political heft to make its bid not entirely unrealistic. Additionally, each member of this so-called G4 group of states supports each other’s bid for a permanent seat on the Security Council. This week, on the sidelines of the 70th United Nations General Assembly, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will convene the group for the first time in more than ten years at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff will be in attendance. Security Council reform has been a tricky topic for the United Nations. Though most member states agree that the UNSC is anachr

China- Kazakhstan border ( Image source- Wikimedia Commons / Author- Yaohua 2000) Source- The Diplomat Author- Moritz Rudolf The Silk Road Initiative is the major project for Chinese President Xi Jinping. On every state visit and within every diplomatic forum, he has promoted his idea of “One Belt, One Road” (OBOR). Beijing wants to create China-centered infrastructure networks in order to expand its own economic and political influence in Eurasia. But the time when the country was able to make economically unprofitable investments on the basis of political motives is long gone. Beijing had intended to invest more than $900 billion in infrastructure expansion in Eurasia. However, the money is now needed to stabilize its stagnating economy and nervous financial markets. China‘s currency reserves decreased drastically in August. Due to financing difficulties a number of infrastructure projects have come to a standstill. For example, the gas pipeline known as “Power

Image credits- Wikimedia Commons / Author- United States Navy Source- National Interest Author- Allen R. Carlson If we are sliding into a new era of great power conflict between China and the United States, then the front lines of such a struggle will clearly be located in maritime Asia.  It is here where Beijing appears to be intent on more actively asserting its claims to contested territory in the East and South China Seas. Not surprisingly, China’s neighbors, particularly Japan, Vietnam, and the Philippines, have strenuously objected to these moves.  So far Washington has avoided being directly dragged into such confrontations.  However, should shots be fired over Asia’s troubled waters America will be find it difficult not to get involved. There is a great deal at stake in both the East and South China Seas, not only for those competing over these spaces, but also for the United States. It is crucial to understand why the situation there has become so fraught

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