International Organizations

1. OECD
• The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD) is an intergovernmental
economic organization that was established in 1961
(originally to administer American and Canadian aid
under the Marshall Plan).
• The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD) is an international
organisation that works to build better policies for
better lives.
Objectives of OECD
➢Develop policy standards to promote sustainable
economic growth
➢Find solutions to common challenges
➢Develop global standards
➢Share experiences and identify best practices
Council of OECD
• The OECD Council is the organization's
overarching decision-making body.
• It is composed of ambassadors from Member
countries and the European Commission and
is chaired by the Secretary-General.
• It meets regularly to discuss key work of the
Organisation, share concerns and take
decisions by consensus.
Council of OECD
• Once a year, the OECD Council meets for the
Ministerial Council Meeting, which brings
together heads of government, economy,
trade and foreign ministers from Member
countries.
• They monitor and set priorities, discuss the
global economic and trade context, and delve
further into issues such as the budget or the
accession process.
Committees

• The OECD works through more than 300

committees, expert and working groups which
cover almost all areas of policy making.
• These committees propose solutions, assess data
and policy successes, and review policy actions
among Member countries.
• They cover the same issue areas as government
ministries, such as education, finance, trade,
environment, development, and liaise with
country-level experts.
Secretariat

• The OECD Secretariat carries out the work of

the OECD.
• It is led by the Secretary-General and
composed of directorates and divisions that
work with policy makers and shapers in each
country, providing insights and expertise to
help guide policy making based on evidence
in close coordination with committees.
Secretariat

• In addition to its Headquarters in Paris,

France, the OECD also has centres in Berlin,
Mexico, Tokyo and Washington D.C., which
are part of the OECD’s public affairs and
communications team.
2. International Organization For Migration

• The International Organization for Migration (IOM),

or as it was first known, the Provisional
Intergovernmental Committee for the Movement of
Migrants from Europe (PICMME), was born in 1951
out of the chaos and displacement of Western
Europe following the Second World War.
• Mandated to help European governments to identify
resettlement countries for the estimated 11 million
people uprooted by the war, it arranged transport for
nearly a million migrants during the 1950s.
International Organization For Migration

• While IOM's history tracks the man-made and

natural disasters of the past half-century – Hungary
1956, Czechoslovakia 1968, Chile 1973, the
Vietnamese Boat People 1975, Kuwait 1990, Kosovo
and Timor 1999, and the Asian tsunami and Pakistan
earthquake of 2004/2005 – its credo that humane and
orderly migration benefits migrants and society has
steadily gained international acceptance.
International Organization For Migration

• It has broadened its scope to become the leading

international agency working with governments
and civil society to advance the understanding of
migration issues and uphold the human dignity
and well-being of migrants.
• The broader scope of activities has been matched
by rapid expansion from a relatively small
agency into one with an annual operating budget
of an estimated USD 3 billion.
International Organization For Migration

• IOM currently has 175 Member States

(Including India) and a further 8 states
holding Observer status.
• IOM is part of the United Nations system, as
a related organization.
• IOM supports migrants across the world,
developing effective responses to the shifting
dynamics of migration and, as such, is a key
source of advice on migration policy and
practice.
IOM Definition of Migrants
• An umbrella term, not defined under international
law, reflecting the common lay understanding of a
person who moves away from his or her place of
usual residence, whether within a country or across
an international border, temporarily or
permanently, and for a variety of reasons.
Project PRAYAS
• To commemorate the International Migrants Day (18
December), MEA along with IOM launched Project
PRAYAS (Promoting Regular & Assisted Migration
for Youth and Skilled Professionals) at New Delhi
on 21 December 2023.
Project PRAYAS
• Project PRAYAS not only aligns with Government of
India's priorities for the promotion of safe and
orderly migration, but also aligns with Goal 10.7 of
the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) to facilitate orderly, safe, regular, and
responsible migration and mobility of people.
• The project also adheres to the objectives of Global
Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration
(GCM) and the Migration Governance Framework
(MiGOF).
3. UNESCO
• UNESCO is the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization.
• It seeks to build peace through international
cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture.
• UNESCO’s Constitution was adopted in London in
1945, it entered into force in 1946.
UNESCO
• After two World Wars in less than thirty years,
UNESCO was born of a clear vision: To achieve
lasting peace, economic and political agreements
among States are not enough.
• We must bring people together and strengthen the
intellectual and moral solidarity of humankind,
through mutual understanding and dialogue
between cultures.
UNESCO- Objectives
• Attaining quality education for all and lifelong
learning
• Mobilizing science knowledge and policy for
sustainable development
• Addressing emerging social and ethical challenges
• Fostering cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue
and a culture of peace
• Building inclusive knowledge societies through
information and communication
UNESCO- Objectives
• UNESCO has 195 Members and 8 Associate
Members and is governed by the General
Conference and the Executive Board.
• The Secretariat, headed by the Director-General,
implements the decisions of these two bodies.
• The Organization has more than 50 field offices
around the world and its headquarters are located in
Paris.
UNESCO- Objectives
• It is also a member of United Nations Sustainable
Development Group (UNSDG).
• 3 UNESCO member states are not UN members:
Cook Islands, Niue, and Palestine.
• 2 UN member states are not UNESCO members:
Israel and Liechtenstein.
Publications by UNESCO
Publications By UNESCO
USA rejoins UNESCO
• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) announced that the
United States rejoined it in July 2023, four years after
it left the agency (along with Israel), alleging that
UNESCO was biased against Israel.
• The move to rejoin will face a vote by UNESCO’s
member states and is expected to pass easily.
• The United States was a founding member of
UNESCO in 1945.
USA rejoins UNESCO
• The decision to return was also due to China
filling the gap left by the US in UNESCO
policy making, such as in setting standards
for artificial intelligence and technology
education around the world.
4. Eastern Economic Forum
• Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal led an Indian
delegation for the 8th Eastern Economic Forum
which will be addressed by Russian President
Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok.
• Vladivostok is the largest Russian port on the
Pacific Ocean, and it is located about 50 km from
the China- Russia Border.
• The 8th Eastern Economic Forum meeting was held
in Russia’s far eastern city from September 10-13,
2023
EEF
• The EEF was established in 2015 to encourage foreign
investments in the RFE.
• The EEF displays the economic potential, suitable
business conditions and investment opportunities in the
region.
• Agreements signed at the EEF increased from 217 in 2017
to 380 agreements in 2021, worth 3.6 trillion roubles.
• As of 2022, almost 2,729 investment projects are being
planned in the region.
• The agreements focus on infrastructure, transportation
projects, mineral excavations, construction, industry and
agriculture.
EEF
• China is the biggest investor in the region as it sees
potential in promoting the BRI and the Polar Sea
Route in the RFE.
• China’s investments in the region account for 90%
of the total investments.
• Russia has been welcoming Chinese investments
since 2015
Major Actors in The Forum
Besides China, South Korea has also been gradually increasing its investments in
the region.

South Korea has invested in shipbuilding projects, manufacturing of electrical

equipment, gas-liquefying plants, agricultural production & fisheries.

In 2017, the Export-Import Bank of Korea and the Far East Development Fund
announced their intention to inject $2 billion in the RFE in a span of three years.
Role of Japan in EEF
• Japan is another key trading partner in the Far East.
• In 2017, Japanese investments through 21 projects
amounted to $16 billion.
• Under Shinzo Abe’s leadership, Japan identified eight
areas of economic cooperation.
• Japan seeks to depend on Russian oil and gas.
Role of Japan in EEF
• Japan also sees a market for its ago-technologies
which have the potential to flourish in the RFE, given
similar climatic conditions.
• However, the momentum of trade that existed with
Shinzo Abe was lost with the leadership of Fumio
Kishida
India’s Role in EEF

India is eager to deepen its

cooperation in
•Energy
•Pharmaceuticals
•Maritime connectivity
•Healthcare
•Tourism
•Diamond industry
•Arctic
India’s Role in EEF
• In 2019, India also offered a $1 billion line of credit to
develop infrastructure in the region.
• Through the EEF, India aims to establish a strong
inter-state interaction with Russia.
• Business representatives of Gujarat and the Republic
of Sakhalin have launched agreements in the
diamond and pharmaceuticals industry.
What Does EEF Aim For?

The primary objective of the EEF is to increase the Foreign Direct

Investments in the RFE.

The region encompasses 1/3rd of Russia’s territory and is rich with natural
resources such as fish, oil, natural gas, wood, diamonds and other minerals.

The sparse population living in the region is another factor for encouraging
people to move and work in the Far East.

The region’s riches and resources contribute to 5% of Russia’s GDP

5. UNRWA
• UN officials on Sunday (January 28, 2024) urged
countries to reconsider their decision to suspend the
funding for the United Nations agency for Palestinian
refugees (UNRWA), assuring that it would take strict
action against any staff member found to be involved
in Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel.
UNRWA
• The agency also highlighted that two million
Palestinians in Gaza are dependent on UNRWA
services that would be scaled back as soon as
February if the funding is not restored.
• The US and eight other Western countries, which
together provided more than half of UNRWA’s 2022
budget, cut the money after Israel accused some of
the agency’s staff members of involvement in the
October 7 attack.
UNRWA
• UNRWA stands for UN Relief and Works Agency
for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East.
• It was founded in 1949 to provide aid to about
700,000 Palestinians who were forced to leave their
homes in what is now Israel during the 1948 Arab-
Israeli war.
UNRWA
• The UN agency operates in Gaza and the Israeli-
occupied West Bank, as well as Lebanon, Syria, and
Jordan — countries where the refugees took shelter
after their expulsion.
• According to UNRWA’s website, it runs education,
health, relief and social services, microfinance and
emergency assistance programmes inside and
outside refugee camps based in the aforementioned
areas.
UNRWA
• UNRWA is funded almost entirely by
voluntary contributions by donor states like
the US.
• It also gets a limited subsidy from the UN,
which is used only for administrative costs.
UNRWA
• Israel has alleged that 12 staff members of
UNRWA were involved in the October 7
attack.
• It has also claimed that Hamas siphons off
funds given to UNRWA and fights from in
and around the agency’s facilities.
• Israel has alleged that “Hamas tunnels (are)
running next to or under UNRWA facilities
and accuses the agency of teaching hatred of
Israel in its schools
UNRWA
• UNRWA is crucial for the survival of people
living in Gaza, which has plunged into a
humanitarian crisis after the outbreak of the
conflict.
• The agency has been the main supplier of
food, water and shelter to civilians of the
enclave.
• UNRWA, however, would run out of money
needed for its aid work within weeks if the
funding isn’t restored
UNRWA
• After careful consideration and in close
consultation with legal counsel, UNRWA USA
National Committee (UNRWA USA) is
pleased to announce the resumption of its
financial support.
• European Union (EU), Canada, Austria,
Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Germany,
France, and Japan, all of which have resumed
their own funding for UNRWA.
6. CSTO
• On 23 February 2024, Armenian Prime
Minister Nicol Pashinyan announced
Armenia’s suspension of its membership in
the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO) due to the organization's inability to
fulfil its security mandate of safeguarding
Armenia in the event of an armed conflict.
• This step was taken following Azerbaijan’s
attack on the Kapan municipality’s Nerkin
Hand and Srashen villages in the Syunik
district of Armenia.
Context
• These events and inability of CSTO to defend
Armenia have strained ties between Armenia
and the regional organisation and to that
effect, has put the country at odds with
Russia, the most prominent CSTO member.
• The worsening ties could reduce
organisational influence and its relevance as a
security provider in the Caucasus.
About CSTO
• The CSTO, established in 2002, comprised of
Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
• Its role was defined as that of a security
provider and in maintaining regional
stability and territorial integrity of these
countries.
About CSTO
• These objectives were highlighted mainly
because the region was already suffering from
historical turmoil amongst the states,
including border disputes between
Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan and the Armenia
and Azerbaijan conflict.
What is Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)

1. The CSTO is a Russia-dominated security alliance & Russia

contributes 50% of its budget.
2. Post the fall of USSR, some members of the Commonwealth of
Independent States (CIS) signed a mutual Defence treaty named
Collective Security Treaty.
3. Meant as a replacement for the Warsaw Pact, the Treaty came into
force in 1994.
4. The CSTO has 5 members today: Russia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan,
Belarus, and Kazakhstan.
5. In 2002, CSTO came into existence.
Warsaw Pact

➢Formally known as the Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation and

Mutual Assistance, the Warsaw Pact was created on 14 May 1955
➢It was created immediately after the accession of West Germany to
the Western Alliance
➢It was established by the Soviet Union and 7 other Soviet satellite
states in Central and Eastern Europe.
➢Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland
and Romania were it’s members.
➢The Warsaw Pact embodied what was referred to as the Eastern
bloc
➢The break-up of the Warsaw Pact (February 1991) was shortly
followed by the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991.
What do we Know About CSTO?

1. CSTO is based on the principle of collective security or the idea of

“one for all and all for one”.
2. An aggressor against any one state in the organisation is
considered to be an aggressor against all other states.
3. All the members would act together to repel the aggressor.
4. Collective Security is also the principle on which NATO, the UN
and earlier the League of Nations were founded.
About CSTO
• Articles 2 and 4 of its charter underline its
primary obligations to the member states.
• According to Article 2, if a member's security,
stability, territorial integrity and sovereignty
are undermined, then the other members
must come to its aid.
• Article 4 emphasises that aggression faced by
any member state would be equivalent to an
attack on the organisation.
About CSTO
• The Eurasian region has been affected by protests
within their territory and also cross-border
conflicts between the various nations.
• There have been specific conflicts in which the
CSTO has been asked to intervene, including in
Kyrgyzstan (2010) and in Armenia (2020, 2023).
• However, the CSTO, despite having defined
objectives, has refused to intervene in most
disputes, with the protests in Kazakhstan (2022)
being an exception.
About CSTO
• It was the first known involvement of the
organisation at the request of a member state.
• Although the non-interventionist nature of
CSTO had not affected its relationship
between the member countries, that changed
after the Second Nagorno Karabakh War in
2020.
About CSTO
• The Caucasus has long been fraught with
instability due to the Nagorno-Karabakh War,
with the Armenians claiming victory in the
first Karabakh war in 1994 and the Azeris
claiming victory in the Second Karabakh War
in 2020.
About CSTO
• While the CSTO was not established when the
first war broke out, its reluctance to effectively
intervene in the next phase of the war has
soured ties between Armenia and Russia, the
latter considered the organization's most
influential voice.
About CSTO
• In 2021, the initial divisions within the CSTO
became visible after its refused to invoke
Article 2, even as Azerbaijan launched attacks
deep into 45 sq km of Armenian territory
India’s Neighbourhood
8. Kalapani Dispute

• In June 2020, Nepal had unveiled a new map of its territories.

• This move drew sharp criticism from India which said the
map includes parts of Indian territory.
• The bone of contention is the Kalapani-Limpiadhura-
Lipulekh trijunction between Nepal-India and China
(Tibet).
• Located on the banks of the river Kali at an altitude of 3600m,
the Kalapani territory lies at the eastern border of
Uttarakhand in India
Additional Information

• Kalapani is a region located in the easternmost

corner of Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district.
• It shares a border on the north with the Tibet
Autonomous Region of China and Nepal in the east
and south.
• The area is in India’s control but Nepal claims the
region because of historical and cartographic
reasons.
Additional Information

• Nepal’s claims to the region is based on Kali river as

it became the marker of the boundary of the kingdom
of Nepal following the Treaty of Sugauli.
• This was signed between the Gurkha rulers of
Kathmandu and the EIC after the Anglo-Nepal War
(1814-16).
• According to Article 5, the King of Nepal gave up his
claims over the region west of the river Kali which
originates in the High Himalayas and flows into the
great plains of the Indian subcontinent
Additional Information

• According to Nepal’s experts, the east of the Kali river should

begin at the source of the river.
• The source according to them is in the mountains near
Limpiyadhura, which is higher in altitude than the rest of the
river’s flow.
• Nepal claims that a land mass, high in the mountains that falls
to the east of the entire stretch starting from Limpiyadhura
downwards, is theirs.
• Strategically the Lipulekh Pass serves as an important
vantage point for India to keep an Eye on China’s
Movements.
9. Free Movement Regime
• In the wake of persisting ethnic conflict in Manipur,
the Union government announced on 2 January
2024 that it will end the Free Movement Regime
(FMR)
Historical Background
• Post-Independence, the Government of India realised
that areas across the India-Myanmar international
border comprise a single socio-economic space for the
tribes, and the location of the border amidst it had
created hurdles for the tribes, who habitually travel
between the two countries to carry on with their
traditional way of life and livelihood.
• This realisation propelled the Indian government to
allow the hill tribes to cross the India-Myanmar
international border without any travel documents.
Historical Background
• Accordingly, on 26 September 1950, the Ministry of
Home Affairs (MHA) published the Notification no.
4/15/50-F.I amending the Passport (Entry into India)
Rules of 1950 whereby the ‘hill tribes, who is either a
citizen of India or the Union of Burma and who is
ordinarily a resident in any area within 40 km (25 miles)
on either side of the India-Burma frontier were
exempted from the carrying passport or visa while
entering into India.
Historical Background
• In fact, this decision of India was based on the Burmese
decision to allow tribespeople of neighbouring
countries to enter its territory.
• The Burma Passport rules of 1948 stipulated that the
indigenous nationals (hill tribes) of those countries who
share a common land border with Burma are exempted
from passports or permits to enter into Burma,
provided they reside within twenty-five miles from the
land border.
Historical Background
• In addition, the tribespeople were allowed to carry
items equivalent to a headload.
• The Government of India also provisioned that citizens
of Myanmar could stay for 72 hours in India, while the
Myanmar government allowed only a 24 hours stay for
Indians in Myanmar.
• This unique arrangement is called the Free Movement
Regime.
Changing Provisions of FMR
• The existence of FMR coupled with a poorly guarded
border enabled the insurgents to intensify their
activities thereby jeopardizing the security of the
region.
• Alarmed by the raging Naga, Meitei and Mizo
insurgencies, the Government of India decided to
reconsider the provisions of the FMR and restrict the
unhindered movement of hill tribes across the border.
Changing Provisions of FMR
• Since no formal agreement on the free movement of
hill tribes across their shared border existed between
India and Myanmar at that time, the Indian
government prepared a draft Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) on the matter to be negotiated
with the Myanmar government.
• Finally, on 11 May 2018, India and Myanmar signed
the Agreement on Land Border Crossing, which
formalised the hitherto informal nature of FMR
between the two countries
Free Movement Regime
• The Free Movement Regime (FMR) was instituted
in 2018 under India's Act East policy, facilitating
visa-free cross-border movement within a 16 km
radius.
• Residents at the border require an annual pass for
stays up to two weeks in the adjacent country,
aiming to bolster local trade, enhance educational
and healthcare access for border inhabitants, and
fortify diplomatic relations.
Ethnic Groups In Myanmar
Issues Concerning the Free Movement Regime

oIssues such as drug trafficking and arms

smuggling are exacerbated by the porous
border, posing internal security threats and
contributing to criminal activities.
oIn 2022, Manipur reported 500 cases and 625
arrests under the Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act,
underscoring the severity of the problem.
Issues Concerning the Free Movement Regime

oSocio-economic and regional concerns center on

the potential erosion of cultural identity in border
areas due to heightened migration.
oEnvironmental degradation, attributed to
unregulated cross-border movement, manifests in
deforestation and illegal resource extraction.
oThe geopolitical dimension is further complicated
by China's increasing influence in Myanmar, raising
apprehensions about its impact on border security.
10. Coco Islands
• There is evidence that Signals Intelligence (SIGINT)
capabilities are being strengthened on Myanmar’s Coco
Islands.
• Cocos Island is 55 kilometres north of India’s tri-
service base located at the Andaman and Nicobar
(A&C) Islands.
• India has raised the concerns that as a part of this
infrastructure expansion on the Coco Islands Myanmar
is permitting deployment of foreign troops, specifically
China.
• Myanmar has denied that it is assisting the Chinese.
What is Signal Intelligence?
• Signals intelligence operational platforms are employed
by nations to collect signals intelligence, which is
intelligence-gathering by interception of signals,
whether between people (i.e., COMINT or
communications intelligence) or between machines (i.e.,
ELINT or electronic intelligence), or mixtures of the two.
• As sensitive information is often encrypted, signals
intelligence often involves the use of cryptanalysis.
• However, traffic analysis—the study of who is signalling
whom and in what quantity—can often produce valuable
information, even when the messages themselves
cannot be decrypted.
What is Signal Intelligence?
• India is known to operate a strategic signals intelligence
platform developed as part of "Programme Divya
Drishti“ by the Defence Electronics Research Laboratory
of DRDO.
• The system is operated by the Indian Army.
• The primary platform for tactical signals intelligence in
the Indian Army is based on the Samyukta Electronic
Warfare System developed by the Defence Electronics
Research Laboratory of DRDO.
• Himashakti, a signals intelligence platform for operations
in mountainous terrain to support constrained logistics
and mobility challenges
What is The Development?
○ The latest satellite imagery released by Maxar shows
that the military regime is expanding the size of the
Coco Islands base by extending the length of the
runway and establishing a stronger SIGINT
architecture.
○ The Coco Islands is a base controlled by Myanmar.
It is being built with assistance from the People’s
Republic of China (PRC).
○ The Chinese military personnel, especially technical
personnel from the People’s Liberation Army
Strategic Support Force (PLASSF), have access to the
Coco Islands.
What is The Development?
• With the improved SIGINT the Chinese are
likely to acquire will help them track
communications from the A&N, Indian military
surveillance flights, and the Indian Navy’s (IN)
deployment patterns.
Additional Facts on Cocos Islands
• The control of Coco islands in the Andaman
archipelago was taken over by the English East
India company in the 18th century.
• Its control was transferred from EIC to the British
government of India in the 19th century.
• Britishers established a penal colony (prison to keep
political dissenters) in the Andaman and the Coco
islands were are a source of food for them (mainly
coconut).
Additional Facts on Cocos Islands
• Due to the remoteness of the Coco islands, it was
difficult for Britishers to govern them.
• In 1882, the Britishers transferred the control of
Coco islands to the British government of Burma.
• After separation of Burma from India in 1937, these
islands became part of Burmese territory.
• Japan during World War 2 occupied these islands,
along with the Andaman islands.
• After Japanese vacated these islands, the control of
Coco islands were retained by independent Burma
in 1948 (Burma got its independence from Britishers
in 1948).
Additional Facts on Cocos Islands
• After the 1962 military coup in Myanmar, a penal
colony was established by its military in these
islands.
• Later on, Myanmar Navy developed a naval base
there.
• In 1994, China got these islands on lease from the
Myanmar military.
• However, both countries deny any such agreement
at all.
Strategic Importance of Cocos Islands
• The islands have an immense strategic advantage in
the region, considering their proximity to the strait of
Malacca which is a crucial point for the global supply
routes of oil from the Gulf.
• Around 40% of global trade passes through Malacca
strait. Considering China’s military build-up in the
South China Sea, it is evident that China wants to
control its major trade routes.
Strategic Importance of Cocos Islands
• They also want to deploy enough military
around the strategic Strait of Malacca to
protect its interest in any eventuality.
• Coco islands give them direct access to the
region of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian
Ocean.
• It also a part of their String of Pearls to
contain India’s presence in the region.
11. Colombo Security Conclave
• Established in 2011 as a trilateral grouping consisting of India, Sri
Lanka and Maldives for collaborating on collective maritime
security issues.
• The CSC is moving towards expansion and greater
institutionalization.
• This has been evident from the most recent iteration of the
grouping where Mauritius was welcomed as the fourth member.
• CSC is further projected to expand with the inclusion of Seychelles
and Bangladesh in its future iterations.
• The trilateral meeting was restarted in 2020 after a hiatus from 2014
to 2019.
• The decision to launch the Colombo Security Conclave was made
during this gathering in 2020. (CSC).
CSC Rejuvenated in 2020

• The three countries decided to broaden their base collaboration

during the NSA level conference in November 2020.
• It was decided to broaden the coverage to
➢Terrorism,
➢Radicalization
➢Illegal narcotics, weapons, and people trafficking
➢Money laundering.
➢Cyber security
➢Impact of climate change on the maritime environment.
5 Pillars of CSC

➢Maritime security
➢Counter-terrorism
➢Combating transnational Crime
➢Cyber security
➢Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR)
Intelligence Sharing

• In 2020, it was agreed that a biennial Deputy NSA level working

group meeting is necessary to ensure efficient implementation of
decisions
• The three countries had participated in the 5th Deputy National
Security Advisors (NSA) – level meeting of Colombo Security
Conclave on 04 August 2021.
• In this summit the three countries agreed to expand the scope of
intelligence sharing
• Deputy NSA-level meeting this week identified “four pillars” of
cooperation.
• The initiative, grounded in military and security collaboration,
assumes significance in the region.
• This is in the wake of the current geostrategic dynamic that India
shares with Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
• In March 2021, a secretariat was established in Colombo.
Intelligence Sharing

• Deputy NSA-level meeting this week identified “four

pillars” of cooperation.
• The initiative, grounded in military and security
collaboration, assumes significance in the region.
• This is in the wake of the current geostrategic
dynamic that India shares with Sri Lanka and the
Maldives.
• In March 2021, a secretariat was established in
Colombo.
12. India China Border Agreements
• Signed in September 1993 during Prime Minister
Narasimha Rao’s visit to China, what’s now known as the
Border Peace and Tranquility Agreement (BPTA) — or to
give it its full name, the “Agreement on the Maintenance
of Peace and Tranquility along the Line of Actual Control
(LAC) in the India-China Border Areas”
India China Border Agreements
• The very first article of the BPTA saw a commitment that
“neither side shall use or threaten to use force against the
other by any means” and that “pending an ultimate
solution to the boundary question between the two
countries, the two sides shall strictly respect and observe
the line of actual control (LAC) between the two sides”
India China Border Agreements
• Associated with this was the notion that the two sides
would progressively reduce their military deployments
along the LAC to a “minimum level”, based on the
principle of “mutual and equal security”.
• This far-reaching agreement was aimed at not only
calming the LAC but building a peaceful trajectory to
Sino-Indian relations.
India China Border Agreements
• The follow-on second CBM was the 1996 agreement on
“Confidence Building Measures in the Military Field
Along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China
Border Areas”.
• This agreement spelt out some measures to clarify the
LAC and to work out limits of their respective militaries
and various armaments such as tanks, infantry combat
vehicles, howitzers, SAMs and SSMs on the LAC. Combat
aircraft and helicopters were barred from flying within 10
km of the LAC.
India China Border Agreements
• A decade later came the third big military CBM, which
was the 2005 “Protocol on Modalities for the
Implementation of Confidence Building Measures in
the Military Field Along the Line of Actual Control in
the India-China Border Areas”, which was essentially
built on the 1996 agreement.
• The agreement spelt out the standard operating
procedures on what would happen when patrols met
each other on the territory that both countries claimed.
India China Border Agreements
• They would display a first banner emblazoned, “This is
Indian/Chinese territory”.
• They would then flash the second banner, on which
would be written, “Turn around and go back to your
side”.
• Instances when these banners had to be shown were later
termed “face-offs”.
India China Border Agreements
• Since 2008, alarmed at the Indian actions in strengthening
their border defences, China began proposing that the two
sides sign a Border Defence Cooperation Agreement
(BDCA).
• Beijing somewhat ingenuously wanted India to freeze
border construction, arguing that it was not necessary in
the light of the other CBMs.
India China Border Agreements
• In January 2012, the two sides signed a fourth CBM on the
establishment of a working mechanism for consultation
and coordination on India-China border affairs.
• This was seen as a move to replace the old joint working
group process that linked the two foreign ministries.
• But this was not enough to prevent the Depsang face-off
in March 2013.
India China Border Agreements
• Following the event, the fifth agreement, BDCA was
finally signed on 13 October 2013.
• Significantly, while all the other CBMs and MoUs were
signed by civilian officials, the signatories of the BDCA
were India’s Defence Secretary and Admiral Sun Jianguo,
Deputy Chief of General Staff of the PLA.
India China Border Agreements
• This agreement reiterated the previous agreements and
enhanced the interactions of the military operations
departments and the defence ministries.
• The two countries agreed that even while observing the
provisions of the past agreements, they would not tail the
patrols of the other side in areas where there was no
common understanding of the LAC.
Act East
13. ASEAN
• The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a
regional organization which was established to
promote political and social stability amid rising
tensions among the Asia-Pacific’s post-colonial states.
• The motto of ASEAN is “One Vision, One Identity,
One Community”.
• ASEAN Secretariat – Indonesia, Jakarta.
ASEAN
• Established in 1967 with the signing of the ASEAN
Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by its founding
fathers.
• Founding Fathers of ASEAN are Indonesia, Malaysia,
Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
• Ten Members: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos,
Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand, and Vietnam.
India & ASEAN
• India’s sectoral dialogue partnership started
with ASEAN in 1992.
• This was soon after India announced its Look
East Policy (LEP).
• The LEP was a consequence of India’s
Economic Liberalization and an economic
construct.
India & ASEAN
• In 1996, India’s partnership was raised to a
Dialogue Partnership.
• In 2002, it was enhanced to the summit level.
• In 2005, ASEAN was instrumental in bringing
India into the East Asia Summit, a major
ASEAN-centric institution.
India & ASEAN
• India and ASEAN marked their 20th anniversary
with a Strategic Partnership in 2012.
• The 25th anniversary summit was held in January
2018.
• That year, the 10 ASEAN leaders were chief guests at
the Republic Day celebrations.
India & ASEAN
• The ASEAN–India Free Trade Area (AIFTA) is a free
trade area among the ten member states of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and
India.
• The Initial framework agreement was signed on 8
October 2003 in Bali, Indonesia.
India & ASEAN
• The Final agreement was on 13 August 2009.
• The FTA came into effect on 1 January 2010.
• ASEAN Member States and India have agreed to
open their respective markets by progressively
reducing and eliminating duties on 75% of goods
India & ASEAN
• ASEAN-India Trade in Services Agreement was
signed in November 2014.
• It contains provisions on transparency, domestic
regulations, recognition, market access, national
treatment and dispute settlement.
India & ASEAN
• The ASEAN-India Investment Agreement was also
signed in November 2014.
• The Investment Agreement stipulates protection of
investment to ensure fair and equitable treatment
for investors, non-discriminatory treatment
ASEAN FTA With

• 1. India
• 2. China
• 3. Japan
• 4. South Korea
• 5. Australia
• 6. New Zealand
ASEAN
Please Turn Over Left In Cambodia to
Meet the MBBS
P- T-
V- Vietnam L- Laos
Philippines Thailand

I- C- M-
B- Brunei
Indonesia Cambodia Malaysia

S-
B- Burma
Singapore
East Timor
• The accession of East Timor to the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations is a process that started
following the independence of the country in 2002
when its leaders stated that it had made a "strategic
decision" to become a member state of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in
the future.
• The country officially applied for membership in 2011
East Timor
• East Timor would have by far the smallest GDP in the
ASEAN, less than 15% of the smallest current ASEAN
member state Laos.
• In 2022, the country was admitted "in principle" as
the organization's 11th member, with full
membership pending.
East Timor- Road Ahead
• Timor-Leste needed to conduct an assessment
of the country’s readiness to join ASEAN to
allow for the identification of any
shortcomings.
• Second, it needs to build a nation-wide
consensus where society at all levels can buy
into the importance of ASEAN membership.
East Timor- Road Ahead
• Third, it needs to appoint officials who can
engage with other ASEAN state members at
all levels.
• This includes improving proficiency in
English, the working language of ASEAN
14. IPEF
• In May 2022, the United States launched the Indo-Pacific
Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) with
Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji India, Indonesia, Japan,
the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand,
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam
IPEF
• This framework will advance resilience, sustainability,
inclusiveness, economic growth, fairness, and
competitiveness for 14 economies.
• Through this initiative, the IPEF partners aim to
contribute to cooperation, stability, prosperity,
development, and peace within the region.
• The 14 IPEF partners represent 40% of global GDP and
28% of global goods and services trade.
IPEF
• The launch began discussions of future negotiations on
the following pillars: (1) Trade; (2) Supply Chains; (3)
Clean Energy, Decarbonization, and Infrastructure; and
(4) Tax and Anti-Corruption.
• The IPEF is designed to be flexible, meaning that IPEF
partners are not required to join all four pillars.
• The IPEF represents a new age economic framework
which promises to allow each participating member to
pick and choose the pillars of negotiations based on its
own domestic political sensitivities.
IPEF
• India is the only country which has so far not joined the
trade pillar of IPEF negotiations.
• IPEF Negotiations are is likely to focus on digital trade
standards, labour laws and environmental financing
issues
India & World
15. North Sea Summit
• The second North Sea Summit on 24 April, in Ostend,
Belgium, brought together nine north-west European
countries and the European Commission with a clear
target in mind.
• Turning the North Sea into a major green energy
powerhouse that will boost European decarbonisation,
energy security and industrial competitiveness.
North Sea Summit
• North Sea Summit aims at making the North Sea
the largest powerhouse of Europe by 2050 by
taking its offshore wind capacity to 120 GW by
2030 and 300 GW by 2050.
• The EU today has 200 GW of installed wind
capacity and – more specifically – only 15 GW of
installed offshore wind capacity is contained
within this 200 GW.
North Sea Summit
• North Sea renewable energy vision discussed at
the Ostend Summit deserved special treatment.
• It represents a testcase of how Europe could
achieve its three energy policy objectives –
security, price competitiveness and sustainability –
at the same time.
North Sea Summit
• North Sea initiative illustrates the value of
international collaboration when it comes to the
energy transition, not only within the EU, but also
with external partners such as Norway and the
United Kingdom.
North Sea Summit
• 7 European Union (EU) countries
(Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany,
Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands), and 2
Non-EU countries Norway and United
Kingdom participated.
16. Black Sea Grain Initiative
• The deal provides for a safe humanitarian corridor for the
export of Ukrainian grains through the Black Sea, to
tackle rising food prices due to the geopolitical conflict
grappling the ‘breadbasket’
• Ukraine is among the largest exporters of wheat, maize,
rapeseed, sunflower seeds and sunflower oil, globally.
• Its access to the deep-sea ports in the Black Sea enables it
to directly approach Russia and Europe along with grain
importers from the Middle East and North Africa
What is the Black Sea Grain deal?
● Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, exports of grain from
Ukraine, as well as food and fertilisers from Russia, have been
significantly hit.
● The disruption in supplies pushed soaring prices even higher
and contributed to a global food crisis.
● The Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by the United Nations
and Turkey, was set up to reintroduce vital food and fertiliser
exports from Ukraine to the rest of the world.
What is the Black Sea Grain deal?
● The deal allowed exports from Ukraine, to resume through a
safe maritime humanitarian corridor from three key Ukrainian
ports: Chornomorsk, Odessa, and Yuzhny/Pivdennyi, to the
rest of the world.
● The exports from Ukraine include grain, other foodstuffs, and
fertiliser, including ammonia.
● Ukraine, one of the world’s largest grain exporters.
● The grain deal has to be renewed every 120 days by agreement
of Kyiv and Moscow.
What is the Black Sea Grain deal?
● Ukrainian pilots will be responsible for guiding commercial
vessels carrying grain and other cereals and foodstuffs from the
ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Yuzhne out of Ukrainian
waters, which will remain mined to deter Russian amphibious
operations.
● Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) was established in Istanbul,
comprising senior representatives from the Russian Federation,
Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Nations.
17. China’s Panda Diplomacy

• China may be renewing its panda diplomacy project as the

country is planning to loan the San Diego Zoo a pair of
giant pandas.
• The China Wildlife Conservation Authority has signed
cooperation agreements with San Diego and Madrid, Spain
for the same, and is also in talks with zoos in Washington
D.C. and Vienna, Austria.
What is Panda Diplomacy?

• Giant pandas are native to central China, particularly the

Yangtze River basin.
• The Chinese government gifts or loans these endemic
pandas to other countries as a symbol of friendship or soft
diplomacy, hence leading to the phrase “panda diplomacy”.
How did Panda Diplomacy Become Popular?

• While panda diplomacy gained prominence in the mid-to-

late 20th century, some experts suggest its roots trace back
to the Tang Dynasty (7th-10th century).
• Historical records indicate that pandas were presented to
the Japanese court during Empress Wu Zetian's reign.
How did Panda Diplomacy Become Popular?

• Modern panda diplomacy is often associated with the year

1972, during Mao Zedong's rule, when Chinese Premier
Zhou Enlai gifted two giant pandas to the United States
following President Richard Nixon's state visit.
• The pandas, Ling-Ling (female) and Hsing-Hsing (male),
arrived at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington
D.C. on April 16, 1972.
How did Panda Diplomacy Become Popular?

• China transitioned from gifting pandas to loaning them in

the early 1980s, with a fee of approximately $1 million per
year.
• Loan agreements may include conditions such as building
facilities for panda care and returning offspring to China.
More than Just Soft Diplomacy and What Next

• In a 2013 study by the University of Oxford, it was

suggested that panda diplomacy deals could have long-
term environmental implications beyond mere soft
diplomacy.
More Than Just Soft Diplomacy and What Next

• The study highlighted the case of Edinburgh Zoo in

Scotland, which received its first pair of pandas in
December 2011.
• This deal, overseen by China's deputy premier, coincided
with negotiations for contracts worth £2.6 billion in various
sectors, including petrochemicals, renewable energy
technology, salmon meat, and Land Rovers.
More than Just Soft Diplomacy and What Next

• Additionally, panda deals with Canada, France, and Australia

were noted to coincide with these countries' uranium deals and
contracts with China, indicating potential broader economic
and geopolitical implications.
• Following a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping
and U.S. President Joe Biden in November 2023, President Xi
hinted at the possibility of resuming panda exchanges with the
United States.
More than Just Soft Diplomacy and What Next

• Megan Owen, a member of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife

Alliance and vice president of Wildlife Conservation
Science, expressed optimism about the prospect, stating
that there is considerable enthusiasm on both sides to restart
panda cooperation, beginning with the San Diego Zoo.
18. IMEC & Red Sea Crisis

• As the Red Sea crisis enters its fourth month, global supply
chains are increasingly grappling with inflated freights,
delayed vessel schedules, and product shortages.
• It has once again brought to the fore the vulnerabilities of
global supply chains, highlighting the need to revisit
alternate routes for global trade.
Significance of the Red Sea route

• More than 80 percent of international trade by volume is

transported by sea, and as the current situation in the Red
Sea illustrates, disruptions to shipping routes can have
wide-reaching effects.
• The Suez Canal serves as a vital passage for ships traveling
between the Indian Ocean and Europe, necessitating transit
through the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Red Sea.
Significance of the Red Sea route

• As the shortest sea route connecting Asia and Europe, the

Suez Canal holds significant importance in the
transportation of oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Significance of the Red Sea route

• In the first half of 2023, approximately nine million barrels of

oil per day traversed the Suez Canal, as reported by freight
analytics firm Vortex.
• S&P Global Market Intelligence analysts noted that nearly
15% of goods imported into Europe, the Middle East, and
North Africa originated from Asia and the Gulf via sea
routes.
• This included 21.5% of refined oil and over 13% of crude
oil.
Significance of the Red Sea route

• Beyond oil, container ships ferry a diverse range of

consumer goods, including electronics, clothing, footwear,
and sports equipment, reflecting the canal's broader impact
on global trade.
How has it affected India?

• India's trade with European and North African nations

exclusively utilizes the Red Sea route, accounting for
approximately 24% of its exports and 14% of its imports.
• In the fiscal year 2022-23, India's bilateral trade with
Europe and North Africa reached $189 billion and $15
billion, respectively.
How has it affected India?

• Concerns among traders regarding potential disruptions

have led to a decline in Indian shipments.
• The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO)
reports that escalating threats have prompted Indian
exporters to withhold approximately 25% of their cargo
ships passing through the Red Sea.
How has it affected India?

• Amidst challenges faced by global supply chains such as

delayed shipments and increased costs, China is actively
promoting China-Europe freight trains as an alternative
route.
• These trains are part of China's Belt and Road Initiative
(BRI).
India Middle East Europe Corridor

• The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC),

introduced during the G-20 summit in 2023, presents an
alternative route that has not garnered significant attention.
• The network will support the seamless movement of goods
under a digital and single trade document and will be far
cheaper operationally than the Suez Canal route.
India Middle East Europe Corridor

• Despite the signing of Memorandums of Understanding

(MoUs), there has been a lack of investment or operational
progress concerning the corridor, limiting its development.
• The normalization of Arab-Israel relations, a crucial aspect
of the multi-nation initiative, has been hindered by the
ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, further impeding progress.
India Middle East Europe Corridor

• A significant challenge to the IMEC is the vulnerability of

the Strait of Hormuz, through which all trade within the
corridor flows.
• Iran's proximity and control over the strait pose a high
risk of disruptions.
• Some experts suggest mitigating the Strait of Hormuz issue
by involving Oman in the IMEC and redirecting the supply
chain away from Iran's influence.
How can the IMEC be made viable?

• An empirical study to assess the economic benefits of the

corridor is imperative.
• The corridor is projected to reduce journey time from
India to Europe by 40% and decrease transit costs by 30%.
• However, concerns regarding increased carriage and
compliance costs due to multiple cargo handling and multi-
nation transit need to be addressed.
• Therefore, quantifying the economic advantages of the
corridor is crucial to attract more stakeholders.
How can the IMEC be made viable?

• Establishing a robust financial framework is essential.

• With no binding financial commitments from corridor
signatories, investments must be sought from governments,
international organizations, and private sector entities to
support the corridor's development.
Members of IMEC
Fiig juis
19. Blood Diamonds

• In recent years, Sierra Leone has witnessed considerable

economic growth, notwithstanding lingering
repercussions from the devastating civil conflict.
• The nation, endowed with rich diamond and mineral
resources, grappled with the trade in illicit gems,
colloquially termed "blood diamonds," contributing to
the perpetuation of the civil war.
• Governmental efforts have been directed towards
curbing this trade.
Blood Diamonds
• Blood diamonds, also known as conflict diamonds, are diamonds
that are mined in war zones and sold to finance armed conflicts
against legitimate governments.
• These diamonds are often mined using forced labor, including
children, and are traded illegally to illegally to fund violent
conflicts and human rights abuses
• This very specific definition was formed by the UN in the 1990s as
brutal civil wars were waged in parts of western and central Africa
by rebel groups in diamond-rich areas.
Blood Diamonds
• The name ‘blood diamond’ references the dark and tragic reality of
an industry that, when left unchecked, can cause harm to
individuals, communities, and entire nations.
• According to the United Nations, blood diamonds and conflict
diamonds both imply gems that were mined within war-torn areas
and sold with the intent of financing rebel movements which can
destroy domestic life for citizens.
Blood Diamond
Conflict Zones
Kimberley Process
• The Kimberley Process (KP) is a multilateral
trade regime established in 2003 with the goal of
preventing the flow of conflict diamonds.
• The core of this regime is the Kimberley Process
Certification Scheme (KPCS) under which States
implement safeguards on shipments of rough
diamonds and certify them as “conflict free".