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

Admiral Jonathan Greenert inspects Indian navy guard of honour ( Image credits- Flickr / United States Navy) Source- The National Interest Author- Peter Harris Many analysts believe that the international system is sliding towards multipolarity, a world in which no single great power is in a position to dominate its peers. But among those who subscribe to this view, there is some debate over just how the coming multipolar order will operate. Will great powers work together to uphold order? Will they instead descend into military and economic competition with one another? Or can planet Earth support multiple world orders, co-existent yet separate, each under the sway of a particular great power? There are no iron-clad answers to these questions. Yet current geopolitics does, perhaps, allow for a glimpse into the future. In particular, the international politics of the Indian Ocean can be considered something of a microcosm of multipolarity in the twenty-first century.

Indian PM Narendra Modi in Moscow with President Putin ( Image credits- Flickr / MEA Official image gallery) Source- The Diplomat Author- Sumit Kumar In late December, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first state visit to Russia to take part in the 16th annual bilateral summit. Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin used the summit to review bilateral ties across a number of areas, including security, trade, commerce, science and technology, defense, and energy. Talking about the relationship, Modi described Russia as “a strong and reliable friend,” while Putin expressed his happiness about “developing the privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia.” This rhetoric, along with the signing of sixteen agreements, is being seen as very significant in sustaining and expanding India-Russia ties. One major step taken is a deepening of India’s defense partnership with Russia. On the eve of Modi’s visit to Russia, the Indian government announced t

Image credits- Wikimedia Commons Source- The National Interest Author- Michael Peck As Americans fret about the rise of China and a perceived decline in U.S. power, consider this: How does the future look to a second-tier nation that isn't America or China, but faces many of the same challenges? Britain's Ministry of Defense has released a new forecast of what the world will look like in 2035, and it doesn't seem a friendly place for the UK, let alone the U.S. The report, titled "Future Operating Environment 2035," is also interesting as a look at the world through the eyes of a former imperial superpower managing the decline of its power. The study sees America and China as the leading global powers. But unfortunately for a middleweight nation like Britain, more middleweights are entering the ring. "Other rising powers, such as Brazil and India, will take a strategic interest beyond their own regions in pursuit of resources," Brit

Chinese carrier Liaoning ( Image credits- Wikimedia Commons / Simon Yang) Source- The Diplomat Author- Shinnon Tiazzi A Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson confirmed on Thursday that China is currently building an aircraft carrier in Dalian, a port city in northeastern China. The carrier will be China’s second, but the first to be indigenously-built. China’s current aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, was Russian-made and purchased from Ukraine. The Liaoning was totally refitted by Beijing and commissioned in 2012.   This isn’t the first we’ve heard of China’s second aircraft carrier, but it’s the first time the Defense Ministry has official confirmed the project. Defense Ministry spokesperson Yang Yujun told the press that “relevant authority started the research and development of China’s second aircraft carrier, which is currently under independent design and construction.” He emphasized that the new carrier is home-grown — “designed independently by China.” Earl