Vidya Gonuguntla writes, the proposed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), backed by the United States, shows skewed goals that might remain unfulfilled, in light of increasing volatility and geopolitical tensions escalating in the Middle East. Positions and plans that might be better understood as a game of power politics seeking to counter Chinese domination in the region, the highly anticipated project, might remain stillborn – as increased involvement in the region would mean greater chaos for the Middle East.
Economics
The Weaponization of Economy: A Strategic Foreign Policy Tool
Srijan Sharma Writes today’s economics is weaponized and the intention of weaponization is to attain foreign policy and strategic goals in various geopolitical landscapes. Parallelly, alternatives and escaping or withstanding mechanisms are in making especially in the backdrop of the Russia Ukraine conflict.
Afghanistan: A Sea of Poppies
Anindita writes how the surging poppy cultivation and opium production has got embedded in the socio-economic structure of Afghanistan, and how it creates multiple challenges for the country . Opium economy is is not just fuelling the Taliban Insurgency but has also become the backbone of the rural economy.
THE TALE OF HORGOS: CHINA SELLS, KAZAKHSTAN BUYS
Anushka Dwivedi writes “The investment and development plans of the BRI had many pre-formulated principles the most important being balanced and sustainable development in partner countries.
NEW CHAMPION OF GLOBALISATION: CAN CHINA WALK THE TALK?
IS Panjrath writes: There are also increasing instances where the Chinese assistance initially accepted as a genuine financial bailout by smaller nations is now turning out to be a case of ‘disguised strategic equities for China’ (effects of Chinese investments on the financial health of Sri Lanka are already visible while the CPEC in Pakistan is likely to follow suit).
Redefining Pakistan
Dr Raj Kumar Sharma writes: This corridor is likely to have negative impact on Pakistan’s economy as Chinese products could flood its market and would draw out its small domestic manufacturers.