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India-Africa Defence Dialogue

Why in news:

• The DefExpo 2022 event in Gandhinagar, Gujarat hosted the second edition of the India-Africa Defence Dialogue (IADD).

India-Africa Defence Dialogue 2022

Overview:

• The second edition of the India-Africa Defence Dialogue (IADD) was held during DefExpo 2022 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The theme of the dialogue was focused on developing strategies to synergize and strengthen defence and security cooperation between India and African countries.

Outcome:

• The Gandhinagar Declaration was adopted as the outcome document of IADD 2022. The declaration proposes various ways to enhance cooperation in the field of training and mutual interests, including an increase in training slots and deputation of training teams, empowerment and capability building of the African defence forces, participation in exercises, and providing humanitarian assistance during natural disasters. Additionally, a volume on India-Africa Defence cooperation was released.

India-Africa Security Fellowship Programme:

• IADD also aimed to encourage further research on security issues by offering fellowships to experts from African countries under the India-Africa Security Fellowship Programme.

India's Relations with Africa

Loan and Assistance:

• India has given concessional loans worth more than USD 12.3 billion to Africa and a grant assistance of USD 700 million.

Projects:

• India has completed 197 projects, 65 more are under execution, and 81 are at the pre-execution stage.

1. India has undertaken significant projects in Gambia, Zambia, Mauritius, Namibia, and South Sudan.

Covid - 19 Assistance:

• India has provided 150 tonnes of medical assistance to 32 African countries and supplied 'Made in India' vaccines.
• India has worked with international forums for equitable and affordable access to vaccines.

Human Resource:

• India announced 50,000 scholarships during the India–Africa Forum Summit (IAFS)-III in 2015, of which over 32,000 have been utilized.
• e-VidyaBharti and e-ArogyaBharti networks were launched in 2019 to provide virtual education and medical services.

Help & Relief Assistance:

• India provided assistance to Mozambique and Madagascar for cyclone and flood relief, and Mauritius in containing an oil spill.

Energy:

• The International Solar Alliance and 'One Sun One World One Grid' initiative promote clean energy technologies.
• India has increasingly focused on clean and green energy in its development programs in Africa.

Trade and Economics:

• India's bilateral trade with Africa reached USD 89.5 billion in 2021-22.
• India is among the top five investors in Africa, with cumulative investments of USD 73.9 billion from 1996-2021.
• The Duty-Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) Scheme extends duty-free access to 98.2% of India's total tariff lines and has benefited 33 LDC African nations.

Sapta Kosi High Dam Project

Why in news:

• India and Nepal have decided to proceed with the Sapta Kosi high dam project by conducting additional studies.
• The two countries' senior officials have reviewed their bilateral water-sector cooperation.
• The officials have also discussed the progress of the Mahakali Treaty implementation.

Sapta Kosi High Dam Project

• Multipurpose project proposed to be constructed on the Saptakoshi River of Nepal
• Aims to control floods in south-east Nepal and northern Bihar and to generate hydropower
• Project will provide irrigation, control floods and generate 3,000 MW of electricity

Mahakali Treaty

• Signed in 1996 over the integrated development of the Mahakali River
• Includes Sarada Barrage, Tanakpur Barrage and Pancheshwar project
• Mahakali River is also known as Sharda River or Kali Ganga in Uttarakhand
• Joins Ghagra river in Uttar Pradesh, which is a tributary of Ganga

Kosi River System

• The Kosi River is a trans-boundary river that flows through Tibet, Nepal, and India.
• Its three major tributaries - Sun Kosi, Arun, and Tamur - meet just upstream of a 10 km gorge in the Himalayan foothills.
• The river enters India in northern Bihar and joins the Ganges near Kursela in Katihar district.
• It is known as the "Sorrow of Bihar" due to annual floods affecting fertile agricultural lands.

Recent Developments in India Nepal Relations

Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT):

• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Government of Nepal and Sutlej Jal Vikas Nigam (SJVN) Limited for the project in 2008 for execution on a Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT) basis for a period of 30 years including five years of the construction period.

Hydropower Projects:

• Nepal also invited Indian companies to invest in the West Seti hydropower project in Nepal.

Cross-border Rail Link:

• The operationalisation of the 35 kilometers cross-border rail link from Jayanagar (Bihar) to Kurtha (Nepal) will be further extended to Bijalpura (Nepal) and Bardibas (Nepal).

NSA Meet with Central Asia

Why in news:

• The National Security Advisor (NSA) of India held a special meeting with his counterparts from Central Asian countries.
• Five Central Asian countries that participated in the meeting are Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
• This is the first time such a meeting is held.
• Earlier, in January 2022, India hosted the first India-Central Asia Summit in virtual mode, which was attended by these countries.

Key Highlights of NSAs' Meetings

30th Anniversary:

• The meeting was the first time that NSAs of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan were in Delhi for a high-level security meeting.
• It coincided with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and the Central Asian countries.

Afghanistan the Centre of Talks:

• The focus was mainly on the security situation in Afghanistan and the threat of terrorism originating from the country under the Taliban.

Deliberations over Chabahar:

• The NSAs supported India's proposal to include Chabahar port within the framework of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) connecting Iran to Russia via Central Asia.

Other Deliberations:

• Deliberations were made over the need for collective and coordinated action against the misuse of new and emerging technologies, arms and drugs trafficking, abuse of cyber space to spread disinformation and unmanned aerial systems.

Institutionalisation of Mechanism:

• The leaders agreed to institutionalise the Summit mechanism by deciding to hold it biannually.
• An India-Central Asia Secretariat in New Delhi would be set up to support the new mechanism.

Historical and Diplomatic Ties between India and Central Asia

• Central Asia has been influenced by India's civilization, as it was a part of the Great Silk Road, and Buddhism also found its way into several Central Asian cities.
• Central Asian countries are considered the "heart of Asia" and are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
• Many prominent figures of Central Asian origin, such as Amir Khusrau, Dehlawi, and Al-Biruni, have made their names in India.

Like-Mindedness in Combatting Terrorism:

• India and Central Asian nations share similarities in countering terrorism and the threat of radicalization.
• The latest meeting called for the early adoption of the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.

India's Role in Afghanistan Situation:

• India and Central Asian countries have shared concerns over terrorism emanating from Afghanistan and its implications for regional security.
• India has been a strong proponent for re-establishing peace in Afghanistan.
• India hosted a regional dialogue on the situation in Afghanistan in November 2021.

India's Stand on Chabahar Port:

• India has made significant progress recently in renovating the Chabahar port and is a member of the Ashgabat Agreement.
• The port played an important role during the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan by delivering humanitarian goods to the Afghan people.
• India delivered 100,000 tonnes of wheat and medicines to Afghanistan via the port's Shahid Beheshti terminal before the fall of Kabul.

Challenges in Robust India-Central Asia Ties:

• Obstructions of physical connectivity due to Pakistan's hostility and Afghan instability.
• Central Asian countries are highly fragile politically and prone to threats like terrorism and Islamic fundamentalism, making the region unstable.
• China's involvement in the region through the Belt and Road Initiative has significantly undermined India's influence.
• Porous borders and unbridled corruption, along with proximity to regions of soaring opium production, make the region a powerhouse for drug and money trafficking.

The way forward for India-Central Asia relations

• Annual summit with a cultural and historical perspective: India should organize an annual summit with a cultural and historical perspective, unlike other countries like China, Turkey, and the Islamic world, who approach Central Asia from their own perspectives of economic, ethnic, and religious interests, respectively.
• Cultural policy to strengthen bonds: A value-driven cultural policy can strengthen the bonds between India and Central Asia.
• India as a critical stakeholder: India's growing global visibility and contributions to multilateral forums like the SCO have made it a critical stakeholder in the region.
• Central Asia as a platform for India's leading role in Eurasia: Central Asia provides India with a platform to leverage its political, economic, and cultural connections and play a leading role in Eurasia.

Wassenaar Arrangement

Why in news:

• India will take over the chairmanship of the Wassenaar Arrangement from Ireland starting on January 1, 2023, after Ireland handed over the chairmanship to India at the 26th annual plenary held in Vienna.

Wassenaar Arrangement and Its Objectives

About Wassenaar Arrangement:

• The Wassenaar Arrangement is a voluntary export control regime established in July 1996.
• It has 42 member states who exchange information on transfers of conventional weapons and dual-use goods and technologies.
• Wassenaar Arrangement's Secretariat is in Vienna, Austria.

Members:

• The group consists mostly of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and EU states.
• Participating states are required to report their arms transfers and transfers/denials of certain dual-use goods and technologies to destinations outside the Arrangement on a six-monthly basis.
• India became a member of the Arrangement in 2017.

Objectives:

• The Wassenaar Arrangement aims to control the movement of technology, material or components to countries or entities which undermine international security and stability.
• The group works by regularly exchanging information in respect of technology, both conventional and nuclear-capable, that is sold to, or denied to countries outside the grouping.
• This is done through maintenance and updating of detailed lists of chemicals, technologies, processes and products that are considered militarily significant.

Wassenaar Arrangement Plenary:

• The Wassenaar Arrangement Plenary is the decision-making body of the arrangement.
• It is composed of representatives of all Participating States and meets once a year, usually in December.
• The position of Plenary Chair is subject to annual rotation among Participating States.
• Ireland handed over the chairmanship to India at the 26th annual plenary of the Wassenaar Arrangement in Vienna, and India will officially assume the chairmanship from 1st January, 2023.
• All Plenary decisions are taken by consensus.

Significance of India's Wassenaar Arrangement Chairmanship

Bolstering Anti-Terrorism Efforts:

• India's anti-terrorism position has increased in international bodies
• India is actively engaging global stakeholders in curbing terrorist financing
• Indian home minister is presently the chair of the No Money for Terrorism (NMFT) ministerial initiative

Preventing Arms Diversion to Terrorists:

• India can steer discussions of the group to strengthen the export controls to prevent arms diversion to terrorists or to sovereign nations supporting terrorism.

Strong Anti-Proliferation Framework:

• India can strengthen the licensing and enforcement practices under the WA to create a strong anti-proliferation framework for South Asia.
• Adoption of new export controls in areas like flight technology, interception technology, and digital investigation tools can help in this regard.

Democratization of Space and Defense Technologies:

• India can play a significant role in democratising access to technologies and processes that can serve as crucial building blocks for the newly emerging defence and space manufacturing sectors in India.
• India is slowly emerging as a low-cost producer of several items in the WA’s control lists.

Other Export Control Regimes:

• The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), for the control of nuclear-related technology.
• The Australia Group (AG) for control of chemical and biological technology that could be weaponized.
• The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) for the control of rockets and other aerial vehicles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction.

Way Forward

• Membership to these groups not only allows greater technology and material access but enhances the credibility of a nation as a responsible member of the world order.
• India requires a voice to further its claim as a rising power and become a significant player in the world.

India as Voice of Global South

Why in news:

• The External Affairs Minister of India, upon assuming the G20 Presidency, emphasized India's responsibility as a representative of the Global South, which is often inadequately represented in global platforms.

Understanding the Global North and Global South

• Defining the Global North and Global South
  • Global North comprises countries like US, Canada, Europe, Russia, Australia, and New Zealand
  • Global South includes countries in Asia, Africa, and South America
• Basis of Classification
  • Wealth, education, healthcare indicators
• Emergence of Economies
  • India and China have emerged economically in the last few decades
  • Progress made by many Asian countries challenges the idea of North being the ideal.

What were the Earlier Used Classification Systems?

(i) First, Second and Third Worlds: During the Cold War, countries were categorised into First World, Second World and Third World countries based on their alliances with the US, USSR, and non-aligned countries, respectively.

(ii) World Systems Approach: This approach divides countries into three zones of production: core, peripheral and semi-peripheral. The core zone includes countries such as the US and Japan that have cutting-edge technology and reap profits. The peripheral zone consists of countries with less sophisticated production that is more labor-intensive. The semi-peripheral zone includes countries such as India and Brazil, which are in between.

(iii) Eastern and Western Countries: Countries were classified as either Eastern or Western, with Western countries generally having higher levels of economic development and prosperity among their people, and Eastern countries being in the process of transitioning.

Emergence of Global North and South

Non-Feasibility of Earlier Classification:

• The First World/Third World classification was no longer feasible post-Cold War.
• The East/West binary was also seen as perpetuating stereotypical thinking.
• Categorizing diverse countries into a monolith was felt to be simplistic.

Commonalities in Global South Countries:

• Most share a history of colonization and under-representation in international forums.
• Exclusion from the permanent membership of the UNSC slows growth of global south.

Initiatives for South-South Cooperation

• Global:
  • Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) Forum.
  • India, Brazil, and South Africa (IBSA) Forum.
• International Day for South-South Cooperation:
  • Originally observed on December 19, the date was moved to September 12 in 2011.
  • Commemorates the UN's adoption of a plan of action in 1978 to promote technical cooperation among developing countries.
• Indian:
  • Proposal on TRIPS Waiver: In 2020, India and South Africa proposed a temporary global easing of intellectual property rights (IPRs) on COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.
  • Vaccine Maitri Campaign: India's "Vaccine Maitri" initiative began in 2021 and is in accordance with the 'Neighbourhood First' Policy.

Roadblocks to Development in Global South

Green Energy Fund Issue:

• Global North countries are neglecting to pay for funding green energy, leaving the lesser developed countries to suffer the most despite contributing less to global emissions.

Impact of Russia-Ukraine War:

• The war between Russia and Ukraine severely affected the least developed countries (LDCs), worsening concerns related to food, energy, and finance, and threatening their development prospects.

China’s Interference:

• China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for developing infrastructure in the Global South is raising questions about whether it will be a win-win situation for both parties or if it will only focus on China’s profit.

US Hegemony:

• Despite the world being considered multipolar, the US still dominates international affairs, affecting the development of Global South countries.

Inadequate Access to Resources:

• Historically, major gaps in access to resources required for crucial developmental outcomes have characterized the Global North-South divergences, skewing industrialization in favor of advanced economies.

Impact of Covid-19:

• The Covid-19 pandemic has further exacerbated existing divides, with the global South facing worse social and macroeconomic implications due to vulnerabilities in domestic economies.

India's Role as a Voice of Global South

Tailored Indian Policy for Developing World:

• To become a voice of the Global South, India needs to engage actively in the regional politics of the developing world and adopt a tailored policy approach towards different regions and groups within the South.
• India needs to acknowledge that the Global South is not a coherent group and has varying needs, capabilities, wealth, and power.

Bridging Gap between North and South:

• India aims to bridge the gap between the North and the South and focus on practical outcomes instead of returning to old ideological battles.
• By translating this ambition into effective policy, India can pursue both universal and particular goals without any contradiction.

Indian at the United Nation Security Council

Introduction:

• India took over the presidency of the United Nations Security Council on December 1, 2022.
• This is a significant achievement for India as it will provide it with more visibility on the global stage.
• India had been a non-permanent member of the Security Council for around two years before assuming the presidency.
• India's membership came at a time of increased great power rivalry and anti-multilateral sentiments, and the country aimed to help the UNSC reinvigorate multilateralism.
• India's voting response and its presidency in August 2021 showed that it contributed to expanding the UNSC agenda.

United Nations Security Council (UNSC):

• The United Nations Security Council is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and is responsible for ensuring international peace and security.
• It recommends the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly and approves changes to the UN Charter.
• Its powers include establishing peacekeeping operations, enacting international sanctions, and authorizing military action.
• The UNSC is the only UN body with the authority to issue binding resolutions on member states.

History of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

• The Security Council was created after World War II to address the failings of the League of Nations in maintaining world peace.
• It held its first session on January 17, 1946, but was largely paralyzed during the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union and their allies.
• Nevertheless, it authorized military interventions in the Korean War and the Congo Crisis and peacekeeping missions in Cyprus, West New Guinea, and the Sinai Peninsula.
• With the collapse of the Soviet Union, UN peacekeeping efforts increased dramatically in scale, with the Security Council authorizing major military and peacekeeping missions in various countries, including Kuwait, Namibia, Cambodia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Composition of the UN Security Council

• The UN Security Council is composed of 15 members
• 5 permanent members: China, France, Russian Federation, the United States, and the United Kingdom
• 10 non-permanent members elected by the UNGA
• Each non-permanent member gets the opportunity to work as UNSC president
• 10 non-permanent seats are elected every year for a two-year term
• The 10 non-permanent seats are distributed among regions of the world
• The Africa and Asia Pacific group take turns every two years to put up an Arab candidate
• Minimum of 129 votes to win a seat if all 193 UN member states are present and voting

Rotation of UNSC Presidency:

• Each non-permanent member gets the opportunity to operate as president of the UN Security Council during the two years it is part of the grouping
• The presidency of UNSC changes hands every month between its members in the English alphabetical order of the member states' names
• India assumed the presidency of the UNSC on 1st December 2022
• Ireland is slated to take over the presidency from India in September 2023

India's membership and role in the UNSC:

• India joined the UNSC for its eighth term as a non-permanent member in January 2021
• India secured 184 votes in the 193-member General Assembly
• India's membership came at a time of intensifying great power rivalry and increased anti-multilateral sentiments
• India contributed to expanding the UNSC agenda during its presidency in August 2021
• India assumed the presidency of the UNSC on 1st December 2022, leading to significant visibility for India on the global stage
• India had previous stints as a non-permanent member of the UNSC in 1950-51, 1967-68, 1972-73, 1977-78, 1984-85, 1991-92, and 2011-12.

Powers and Responsibilities of the UNSC President:

• Calls meetings of the UN Security Council
• Presides over UNSC meetings and decides policy questions
• Approves provisional agenda proposed by the secretary-general
• Acts as the 'face' and spokesperson of the UNSC
• Appeals to parties in conflict to "exercise restraint"
• Reads statements of the UN Security Council to the press

Roles of the UNSC:

• Maintains international peace in accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations
• Determines the existence of a threat to peace or act of aggression and recommends appropriate action
• Meets regularly to assess the global security scenario
• Takes measures against nuclear proliferation, gender-based crimes, human rights violations, and civilian killings during war

Sanctions and Peacekeeping Missions:

• Uses sanctions to change the behavior of a country or regime involved in the above-mentioned cases
• Deploys peacekeeping forces to confront forces that disrupt a country by inflicting violence

The Issue with the Veto Power:

• Veto power is enjoyed by the five permanent members of the UNSC
• Often leads to the protection of their interests over the larger global cause
• Raises questions about the effectiveness of the UNSC in maintaining global peace and security.

Veto Power of UNSC Member States

Definition of Veto Power:

• The United Nations defines 'veto' as a unique voting power that allows any one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to reject a resolution or decision. The veto power is a powerful tool that can prevent the adoption of a resolution or decision, even if it has the support of the majority of the council.

Restrictions on Veto Power:

• Only the five permanent member states of the UNSC - the United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom - possess the veto power. Non-permanent members of the UNSC do not enjoy this privilege.

Voting Requirements:

• According to Article 27 of the UN Charter, each member of the UNSC has one vote. Decisions on procedural matters require a simple majority of nine out of the 15 members. However, decisions on substantive matters require the affirmative vote of at least nine members, as well as the concurring votes of all the permanent members of the UNSC. This means that any one of the five permanent members can veto a substantive decision, even if it has the support of the majority of the council.

India's role as a Non-Permanent Member of UNSC in 2021-22

India served as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2021-22 term. India's primary goal was to implement a new orientation for a reformed multilateral system. The following are India's goals and priorities during this term:

Goals:

• Implement a new orientation for a reformed multilateral system

Priorities:

• Seeking responsible and inclusive solutions
• Result-oriented measures to counter international terrorism
• Reformed multilateralism to reflect contemporary realities
• Streamlining peacekeeping
• Technology with a human touch

In January 2021, India was elected to various positions in the UNSC, including the Chair of the Taliban Sanctions Committee, the Chair of the Libya Sanctions Committee, and the Vice-Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC). It was also elected as one of the Vice-Chairs of the Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Committee and the working group to monitor the implementation of UNSC sanctions on Al Qaida and the Taliban.

In January 2022, India became the Chair of the CTC. India demonstrated its ability to pursue its priorities in the UNSC, as evidenced by its proposal of an eight-point action plan for countering terrorism in a ministerial-level meeting. During India's term, it abstained from voting on UNSC resolutions five times. One of the most significant events during India's term was its presidency in August 2021, during which it organized three signature events, adopted five resolutions and four unanimous presidential statements.

Key Events:

• Open debates on maritime security, peacekeeping operations, and terrorism
• Adoption of resolutions related to peacekeeping operations, Mali, Lebanon, the extension of United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), and Afghanistan
• Presidential statements on Sudan and South Sudan, maritime security, peace and consolidation in West Africa, and peacekeeping operations
• UNSC meeting chaired by PM Narendra Modi on maritime security
• UNSC adopting a statement recognizing the importance of technology in peacekeeping
• UNSC Resolution 2589 initiated and negotiated by India on accountability for crimes committed against UN peacekeepers
• Open debate on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist attacks

India played a crucial role during the crises in Afghanistan and Ukraine, with India's UNSC presidency coinciding with the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021. India called for an inclusive dispensation representing all sections of Afghan society and reiterated that the territory of Afghanistan should not be used by terrorist groups to threaten or attack any other country.

Reforming the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

Issues to be addressed:

• Categories of membership
• The veto power of the five permanent members
• Regional representation
• The size of the Council and its working methods
• The Security Council-General Assembly relationship

The Need for Reform:

• Current composition of the Security Council is outdated and not representative of the world today
• Asia's inadequate representation poses a serious threat to the UN's legitimacy
• India has emphasized UNSC reform for greater representation of developing countries and a rebalanced world

Proposed Reforms:

• Expansion of permanent and non-permanent bodies, including India
• Adding at least four Asian seats, including a permanent seat for India and a shared seat for Japan and South Korea
• Rotating seat for ASEAN countries and other Asian countries

Issues with Current System:

• Permanent members have misused their veto power to protect their own interests and those of their allies
• Personal biases of UNSC representatives have been prioritized over humanitarian crises, such as the US protecting Israel with its veto power.

India's Priorities as the Council President

• India's Two Major Themes
• Urgency to Reform the Multilateralism
• Building a More Equitable Representation of the Global Order
• India's Inclusion in the Reformed and Expanded UN Security Council
• Addressing the Kashmir Issue
• Open Debate on the "New Orientation for Reformed Multilateralism" and Briefing on "Global Counter-terrorism Approach"

India, as the current Council President, has set two major themes to focus on. The first theme is to build a new orientation towards reformed multilateralism, while the second theme is to approach global counter-terrorism. The paralysis of the Council has brought a sense of urgency to the reform process. The Council is the highest decision-making body that is responsible for taking action to end conflicts and ensure international peace, but it has remained blocked, unable to fully carry out its mandate. India's agenda during its presidency is to focus on UN reforms for a more equitable representation of the new global order. India has been advocating for expanding the P5 for some time now, and other countries have also been pushing for India's inclusion in a reformed, expanded UN Security Council.

India was not in the room when the Kashmir issue was raised behind closed doors in the UN Security Council. However, with India now part of the discussion, it is likely that Pakistan will try similar moves through its ally China, a P5 member state. Hence, India's inclusion in the reform process is crucial to addressing such issues.

During India's presidency, there will be an open debate on the "maintenance of international peace and security" through "new orientation for reformed multilateralism." Also, there will be a briefing on "threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts" involving discussions on principles and way forward through a "global counter-terrorism approach."