International Relations: April 2023 UPSC Current Affairs | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

NET Zero Innovation Virtual Centre

Why in News?

In the recent India-UK Science & Innovation Council meeting, India and the United Kingdom announced the establishment of a 'NET Zero' Innovation Virtual Centre aimed at addressing climate change and environmental targets.

What is the NET Zero Innovation Virtual Centre?

• It is a joint initiative of India and the UK to enhance their cooperation on science and technology, especially on climate change and environmental issues.
• It will provide a platform to bring stakeholders from both countries together to work on some of the focus areas such as the decarbonization of manufacturing process and transport systems, and green hydrogen as a renewable source.
• It will support the goal of achieving net zero emissions balancing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted and removed from the atmosphere.
• It will also facilitate knowledge exchange, innovation, research and development, capacity building, and policy dialogue between the two countries.

What are the Key Highlights from the Meeting?

• India-UK Science and Technology Cooperation:
  • The UK has emerged as India’s 2nd largest international research and innovation partner.
  • The joint research program between India and the UK has grown from almost zero to close to £300-400 million.
• India's Economic and Technological Capabilities:
  • India is fast moving to become an economic powerhouse driven by its extraordinary technological and innovative capabilities, especially after the Covid vaccine success story.
  • Energy efficiency and renewable energy are central pillars where India has already taken the lead through various initiatives like the India Solar Alliance and Clean Energy Mission.
  • India is committed to achieving ambitious net-zero targets through consistent efforts towards developing mitigation and monitoring solutions for environmental pollution and techno-based pathways for reducing carbon emissions.
• Industry-Academia Collaboration:
  • The cooperation will provide an opportunity for Indian and UK academia and industry to develop newer products/processes together for the economic growth of both nations.

India and EFTA

Context

• Very recently, India and the four European countries that form the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) have been engaged in negotiations for a Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) that has been stalled since 2018.
• The objective is to enhance bilateral trade and economic cooperation between the two regions by slashing tariffs and non-tariff barriers, enhancing market access, and promoting investment flows.

Information about EFTA

• EFTA, established in 1960, is an intergovernmental organization. It is an alternative trade bloc for those European states that were unwilling or unable to join the European Union (EU).
• It includes Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Though, these countries are not part of the EU but have access to its single market through various agreements.
• It is India's 9th largest trading partner that accounts for about 2.5% of India's total merchandise trade in 2020-21. Textiles, chemicals, Gems, jewelry, machinery, and pharmaceuticals are India's main export items to EFTA. India imports machinery, chemicals, precious metals, and medical instruments from EFTA.

Information about TEPA

• Objective:
  • The objective of TEPA is to create opportunities for trade and investment between India and EFTA by eliminating/slashing tariffs and non-tariff barriers on a wide range of products. Furthermore, it aims to ensure fair and transparent market access conditions for service providers and investors that will enhance cooperation on intellectual property rights protection and enforcement. It aims to facilitate trade procedures and customs cooperation coupled with effective mechanisms for dispute resolution.
• Coverage:
  • It is a comprehensive agreement that includes trade in goods, trade in services, investment, intellectual property rights, competition, government procurement, trade facilitation, trade remedies, dispute settlement, and other areas of mutual interest.
• Recent Highlights:
  • Participating countries accepted challenges posed by the global economic and trade environment. They agreed to resolve the bilateral trade and economic partnership issues by adopting a constructive and pragmatic approach. Furthermore, India proposed to have a dialogue on gender equality and women empowerment in TEPA negotiations. India is determined to promote social development along with economic growth.

India’s Relations with EFTA Countries

• India and Switzerland Relations:
  • An inter-governmental framework agreement on technical and scientific cooperation was signed that leads to the launch of the Indo-Swiss Joint Research Program. A skill training collaboration between both countries is promoted through institutes such as the Bhartiya Skill Development Campus and University, the Indo-Swiss Centre of Excellence in Pune, and the Vocational Training Center in Andhra Pradesh. Switzerland is the 12th largest investor in India, accounting for 1.07% of total FDI in India from April 2000 to September 2019.
• India and Norway Relations:
  • India-Norway Task Force on Blue Economy for Sustainable Development was inaugurated in 2020. More than 100 Norwegian companies have been established in India. The Norwegian Pension Fund Global is one of India's largest single foreign investors. There is an academic collaboration that exists between the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras and the Institute of Wind Energy in Chennai with institutions in Norway. The Norwegian company, Piql, have been involved in creating a digital archive for Indian monuments.
• India and Iceland Relations:
  • Iceland and India established diplomatic relations in 1972 and have strengthened their ties since2005 with high-level visits and exchanges. Both countries share common values of democracy, the rule of law, and multilateralism. Most importantly, Iceland supports India's candidature for a permanent seat at the UN Security Council. Iceland and India cooperate in trade, renewable energy, science and technology, education, culture, and development. Various agreements have been signed between the two countries to facilitate economic cooperation, such as a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement.
• India and Liechtenstein Relations:
  • Both countries have friendly relations based on mutual respect and cooperation. Bilateral trade between the two countries is modest, amounting to US$ 1.59 million in 2016-17. Both countries have exchanged high-level visits to strengthen their ties.
  • In addition. the two countries have signed agreements to facilitate economic cooperation, such as a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement. Liechtenstein supports India's candidature for a permanent seat at the UNSC.

Armenian Genocide

• Context
  • On this day 108 years ago, on April 24, 1915, the Ottoman Empire (now Turkey) began rounding up Armenian political and cultural leaders in Constantinople, marking the beginning of what would come to be known as the Armenian genocide.
• About Armenian Genocide
  • The Armenian Genocide was the mass murder of at least 664,000 and up to 1.2 million Armenians by the nationalist ruling party of the Ottoman Empire , the Committee of Union and Progress, between 1915 and 1916.
• What is a Genocide?
  • It is defined as an act committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.
  • The term ‘genocide’ was coined in 1944 by the Polish-Jewish lawyer Raphael Lemkinin his book Axis Rule in Occupied Europe. 
  • Genocide became a crime in itself following the adoption of the ‘Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide’ by the United Nations General Assembly on 9 December 1948.
  • The Convention came into force on 12 January 1951.
• Background
  • The Armenians were a primarily Christian ethnic group who had lived in Eastern Anatolia (modern day Eastern Turkey) for centuries.
  • At the turn of the twentieth century, approximately two million Armenians lived in the Ottoman Empire, primarily in rural areas although there were also small communities in large urban areas such as Constantinople.
  • While life was often unpredictable and unjust, under the empire’s millet system in the nineteenth century, the group did enjoy significant administrative and social autonomy, and had their own language and church.
  • As the First World War loomed, the Ottoman Empire was in a state of decline and as a result had become increasingly polarised.
  • Between 1912 and 1913, the Empire lost 83% of its European territories during the largely unsuccessful Balkan Wars.
  • This led to increase in anti-Christian sentiment and amplified the nationalist desire of the Ottoman leaders to create an ethnically homogenous community.
  • As the majority of the inhabitants of the Ottoman Empire were Muslim, the Christian Armenians were increasingly seen as outsiders and a threat to the harmony of the empire.
  • During the First World War, the Ottoman Empire joined forces with Germany and Austria-Hungary but suffered several significant defeats and quickly retreated.
  • To conceal their failure from the public, the Ottoman leaders openly blamed their defeat on Armenians in the region and stated that they had betrayed their empire by fighting for and helping the enemy forces.
  • This deliberate falsehood acted as a catalyst and justification for the genocide of the Armenian people, whereby the CUP government used the emergency wartime conditions to create a more ethnically homogenous community.
• About Armenia
  • It is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.
  • It is a part of the Caucasus region and is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north, the Lachin corridor (under a Russian peacekeeping force) and Azerbaijan to the east, and Iran and the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan to the south.
  • Yerevan is the capital, largest city and financial center.
  • Armenia is a unitary, multi-party, democratic nation-state with an ancient cultural heritage 
• About Turkey
  • Turkey is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula in Southeast Europe.
  • It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia to the northeast; Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran to the east; Iraq to the southeast; Syria and the Mediterranean Sea to the south; the Aegean Sea to the west; and Greece and Bulgaria to the northwest.
  • Most of the country's citizens are ethnic Turks, while Kurds are the largest ethnic minority.
  • Ankara is Turkey's capital and second-largest city; Istanbul is its largest city and main financial centre.

Operation Kaveri to evacuate stranded citizens from Sudan

Why in News?

• India has launched “Operation Kaveri” to evacuate its citizens from war-torn Sudan.

What is Operation Kaveri?

• It is the recent series of evacuations held by India over the last few years to rescue its nationals in crisis-hit countries. India rescued its nationals last year from war-hit Ukraine and Afghanistan.
• The operation was launched in response to the conflict and breakdown of essential services in Sudan that had brought the country to a standstill.
• India has positioned two transport aircraft of the IAF in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah and a naval ship at a key port in Sudan as part of its contingency plans to evacuate its stranded nationals.

Behind the name ‘Kaveri’

• The choice of naming this operation as ‘Operation Kaveri’ has a lot of significance.
• Kaveri is one of the major Indian rivers flowing through the southern states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
• The river is sacred to the people of the region and is worshipped as the Goddess Kaveriamma (mother Kaveri).
• Rivers reach their destination irrespective of barriers. It’s like a mother who will ensure she will bring her children back to safety.
• About SudanSudan is a country located in North Africa, bordered by Egypt to the north, Libya to the northwest, Chad to the west, the Central African Republic to the southwest, South Sudan to the south, Ethiopia to the southeast, and Eritrea to the east.
• It is the third-largest country in Africa and has a diverse population of around 43 million people.
• According to the World Bank, around 46% of the population lives below the poverty line, and many Sudanese people struggle to access basic services such as healthcare, education, and clean water.

What is the crisis all about?

Sudan is facing a crisis due to fighting between two rival military factions.

The conflict involves the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The fighting began in April 2022 after tensions rose following the coup that saw the two factions topple a civilian government in October 2021.

The conflict began when an internationally-backed plan to launch a new transition with civilian parties was floated.

Under the plan, both the army and the RSF had to cede power, but two issues were contentious: the formal placing of the army under civilian oversight and the timetable for the RSF to be integrated into the regular armed forces.

Global Implications of the Conflict

• The volatile region, which borders the Red Sea, the Sahel, and the Horn of Africa, could be destabilized if the fighting continues.
• The conflict in Sudan has the potential to cause a refugee crisis, with people fleeing the country to escape the violence and instability.

Conflict between Israel and Syria

Why in News?

Recently, Israel has fired retaliatory rockets after three rockets had been launched towards Israel from Syria.

What is the Background of Recent Conflict between the Two?

• The situation in Israel and its neighboring countries has been tense for several months now, with an ultra-nationalist government coming to power in Israel, raising concerns among its neighbors.
• The recent raid on the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem by Israel sparked a wave of rocket attacks from Lebanon, Gaza Strip, and Syria.
• Israel fears that arch-rival Iran is using the long-running war in Syria to station its fighters and weapons close to Israel's borders.
• Israel has been conducting strikes in Syria in recent weeks, targeting both Iranian-linked figures and infrastructure, including the airports of Damascus and Aleppo.
• The situation in the region is complex and volatile, with multiple actors involved and competing interests in the play.
• The ongoing conflicts have resulted in the displacement of millions of people and the loss of countless lives.
• The international community has called for calm and a peaceful resolution to the conflicts, but the situation remains tense and uncertain.

What is the Timeline of the Conflict between Israel and Syria?

• Six-Day War in 1967:
  • The conflict between Israel and Syria goes back to the Six-Day War in 1967, in which Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria, which it has occupied since then.
  • The fertile plateau of the Golan Heights overlooks both Israel and Syria, offering a commanding military vantage.
  • In 1973, Syrian forces made an unsuccessful bid to recapture the area during the Yom Kippur War. Although a ceasefire agreement was reached in 1974, most of the Golan Heights remains under Israeli control.
  • Yom Kippur War, also called the October War was fourth of the Arab-Israeli wars, which was initiated by Egypt and Syria on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur.
  • The war eventually drew both the US and the erstwhile USSR into indirect confrontation in defense of their respective allies.
• Israel's Golan Heights Law:
  • In 1981, Israel passed the Golan Heights Law, extending its "laws, jurisdiction and administration" to the area and effectively annexing it.
  • A United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution was passed declaring Israel's imposition of law in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights "null and void and without international legal effect".
  • However, it has not changed the situation on the ground, but the frontier has not seen major hostilities for more than 40 years.
  • In 2000, Israel and Syria attempted to negotiate a settlement but failed.
• Syrian Civil War:
  • Israel and Syria's long-standing conflict escalated after the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011.
  • Iran, which denies Israel's right to exist, emerged as a key player in the conflict and has been providing weapons, money, and fighters to support the Syrian President's regime.
  • As a result, rockets sometimes land in Israel as "errant fire" during the fighting in Syria.
• Targeted Strikes in Syria:
  • Israel has been accused of carrying out targeted strikes in Syria in recent years, although it does not acknowledge them.
  • The recent wave of attacks, however, has raised concerns of an escalation in the conflict, further destabilizing the already volatile region.

What is India's Position in the Conflict?

• India maintains a balanced position in the Syrian Israeli conflict and has urged all parties to exercise restraint and resolve their differences peacefully through negotiations.
  • India has consistently supported the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria and called for an end to external interference in its internal affairs.
• Implications of Conflict for India:
• The conflict between Syria and Israel could have implications for India, primarily in terms of energy security.
• India is heavily dependent on oil imports from the Middle East, including Syria, and any disruption in the oil supply chain could have a significant impact on the Indian economy.
• The conflict could also have security implications for India, as extremist groups in the region could exploit the situation to further their agenda.
• India has a significant Muslim population, and any escalation of the conflict could lead to sectarian tensions within the country.

Way Forward

• From an international perspective, the Syrian conflict is seen as a proxy war between major powers such as the US, Russia, and Iran, each supporting different sides in the conflict. The situation in Syria remains complex and unresolved, with no clear path to peace.
• It requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the root causes of the conflict and takes into account the concerns and interests of all parties involved.
• One possible way forward could be through diplomatic efforts aimed at finding a peaceful and just solution to the conflict.
• This could involve engaging with all the parties involved, including Israel, Syria, Iran, Hezbollah, and other regional and international actors.
• Another approach could be through regional cooperation and dialogue, which could help build trust and confidence among the parties and reduce tensions in the region.
• The recent Abraham Accords signed between Israel and several Arab states could provide a positive example of such cooperation and dialogue.

Shift in Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Policy

Why in News?

• Saudi Arabia, a nation with a foreign policy which has always centred around Iran, is now reaching out to old rivals.
• It is also holding talks with new enemies and seeking to balance between great powers.

Is Saudi Arabia Moving Away From USA?

• For Saudi Arabia, the U.S. remains its largest defence supplier. The Kingdom is also trying to develop advanced missile and drone capabilities to counter Iran’s edge in these areas with help from the U.S. and others.
• But at the same time, the Saudis realise that the U.S.’s deprioritisation of West Asia is altering the post­-War order of the region.
• What Saudi Arabia is trying to do is to use the vacuum created by the U.S. policy changes to autonomise its foreign policy.
• De-­Americanisation of West Asia is not a Saudi goal. Rather it is trying to exploit America’s weakness in the region.
• The kingdom is trying to establish its own autonomy by building better ties with Russia and China and mending relations with regional powers without completely losing the U.S.
• The early signs of this autonomisation was visible in Saudi Arabia’s recent decisions.

Shift in Saudi’s Foreign Policy

Saudi Arabia- Russia Angle

• Saudi Arabia refused to join anti­-Russia sanctions.
• Despite protests from Washington, Saudi Arabia joined hands with Russia to effect oil production cuts twice since the Ukraine war began.
• The move was aimed at keeping the prices high which would help both Moscow and Riyadh.

Balancing U.S. - China

• It has also built stronger trade and defence ties with China, and the Iran reconciliation deal, under China’s mediation, announced Beijing’s arrival as a power broker in West Asia.
• At the same time, Saudi Arabia has placed orders for Boeing aircraft worth $35 billion and entered into conditional talks with the U.S. on normalising ties with Israel.

How the Change in Saudi’s Foreign Policy?

• For years, the main driver of Saudi foreign policy was the kingdom’s hostility towards Iran.
• This has resulted in proxy conflicts across the region.
• Last month, Saudi Arabia announced a deal, after China­mediated talks, to normalise diplomatic ties with Iran.
• Soon after, there were reports that Russia was mediating talks between Saudi Arabia and Syria, which could lead to the latter re-­entering the Arab League.
• Earlier this week, a Saudi­-Omani delegation travelled to Yemen to hold talks with the Houthi rebels for a permanent ceasefire.
• All these moves mark a decisive shift from the policy adopted by Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman after he rose to the top echelons of the Kingdom in 2017.
• Aggressiveness makes way for diplomacy and loyal alliances make room for pragmatic realignments.
• This is happening at a time when Saudi Arabia is also trying to balance between the U.S., its largest arms supplier, Russia, its OPEC­Plus partner, and China, the new superpower in the region.

Challenges before Saudi Arabia

• As the Saudis are trying to build cross ­gulf stability, another part of West Asia remains tumultuous.
• It was evident in the Israeli raid at Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa, Islam’s third holiest place of worship, last week.
• This triggered rocket attacks from Lebanon and Gaza and in return Israeli bombing of both territories.
• Israel also keeps bombing Syria with immunity.
• The impact of escalation of tensions between Israel and Iran on cross-gulf stability remains to be seen.
• Another challenge before Saudi Arabia is to retain the course of autonomy without irking the U.S. beyond a point.

Implications of This Shift on the Region

• Saudi Arabia’s normalisation talks with Syria or its talks with the Houthis cannot be seen separately from the bigger picture of the Saudi­-Iran rapprochement.
• If Syria rejoins the Arab League, it would be an official declaration of victory by Mr. Assad in the civil war.
• It would help improve the overall relationship between Damascus and other Arab capitals.
• Likewise, if the Saudis end the Yemen war through a settlement with the Houthis, Riyadh would get a calmer border while Tehran could retain its existing influence in the Saudi backyard.
• Such agreements may not radically alter the security dynamics of the region but could infuse some stability across the Gulf.

Key Takeaways

• In post-­War West Asia, the U.S. had been part of almost all major realignments.
• S. has been either through force or talks, from the Suez war to the Abraham Accords.
• But now, when China and Russia are mediating talks between rivals successfully and Saudi Arabia, a trusted ally, is busy building its own autonomy,
• The U.S., despite its huge military presence in the region, is reduced to being a spectator.

China, Japan Set Up Military Hotline

Why in News?

• Recently, China and Japan set up military hotlines (a direct phone line set up for a specific purpose) to manage maritime, air incidents over disputed islands (Senkaku Island).
• China and Japan have a long-festering dispute over uninhabited East China Sea islands controlled by Japan but claimed by China.

Why was the Hotline Established?

• This move was made to strengthen their capability of managing and controlling incidents arising due to their aggressive patrolling of the disputed waters.
• The hotline will enrich the communication channels between the defence departments of China and Japan, strengthen the capabilities of the two sides to manage and control maritime and air crises, and help maintain regional peace and stability.
• This move will further maintain regional peace and stability.

What is the Senkaku Island Dispute?

• About:
  • The Senkaku Island dispute concerns a territorial dispute over a group of uninhabited islands known as:
  • Senkaku Islands in Japan,
  • Diaoyu Islands in China, and
  • Tiaoyutai Islands in Taiwan.
  • Both Japan and China claim ownership of these islands.
• Location:
  • Eight uninhabited islands lie in the East China Sea. They have a total area of about 7 sq km and lie northeast of Taiwan.
• Strategic Importance:
  • Islands are close to strategically important shipping lanes, offer rich fishing grounds and are thought to contain oil deposits.
• Japan's Claim:
  • After World War II, Japan renounced claims to a number of territories and islands including Taiwan in the 1951 Treaty of San Francisco.
  • But under the treaty, the Nansei Shoto islands came under USA trusteeship and were then returned to Japan in 1971.
  • Japan says that Senkaku islands are part of the Nansei Shoto islands and hence they also belong to Japan.
  • Besides, China raised no objections to the San Francisco deal.
  • Only since 1970s, when the issue of oil resources in the area emerged, Chinese and Taiwanese authorities began pressing their claims.
• China's Claim:
  • These Islands have been part of its territory since ancient times, serving as important fishing grounds administered by the province of Taiwan.
  • When Taiwan was returned in the Treaty of San Francisco, China said the islands as part of it – should also have been returned.
• Taiwan Claims:
  • Taiwan claims the islands but has forged agreements with Japan to avoid any conflict as Japan maintains close defence ties with Taipei.
  • Despite the ongoing dispute, Japan maintains close defence ties with Taiwan.