1. How a balloon took down ๐บ๐ธ๐จ๐ณ ties
๐จ๐ณ's "spy balloon" hovering over US has dominated the news
-Entered US airspace on January 28 & was finally shot down on Feb 6
-Balloon hovered over sensitive ๐บ๐ธ military sites including some housing nukes
washingtonpost.com
๐จ๐ณ's "spy balloon" hovering over US has dominated the news
-Entered US airspace on January 28 & was finally shot down on Feb 6
-Balloon hovered over sensitive ๐บ๐ธ military sites including some housing nukes
washingtonpost.com
๐จ๐ณ claimed balloon's entry into ๐บ๐ธ was "unintentional" but called US shooting down the balloon "unacceptable"
Outrage expressed by senior US politicians w. ๐บ๐ธ's actions
While ๐บ๐ธ claimed balloon did not pose security threat, Secy. of State Blinken cancelled visit to ๐จ๐ณ
Outrage expressed by senior US politicians w. ๐บ๐ธ's actions
While ๐บ๐ธ claimed balloon did not pose security threat, Secy. of State Blinken cancelled visit to ๐จ๐ณ
Why This Matters to ๐ฎ๐ณ
-Cancellation of Blinken visit is major news: goal was that ๐บ๐ธ&๐จ๐ณ would find ways to๐tensions & create some stability
-Anger over brazen ๐จ๐ณ intelligence op has derailed that; competition to continue
-๐ฎ๐ณ's interest is in stable competition b/w ๐บ๐ธ&๐จ๐ณ
-Cancellation of Blinken visit is major news: goal was that ๐บ๐ธ&๐จ๐ณ would find ways to๐tensions & create some stability
-Anger over brazen ๐จ๐ณ intelligence op has derailed that; competition to continue
-๐ฎ๐ณ's interest is in stable competition b/w ๐บ๐ธ&๐จ๐ณ
2. Asia Power Index 2023
๐ฎ๐ณ ranked 4th most powerful ctry in Asia after ๐บ๐ธ,๐จ๐ณ & ๐ฏ๐ต
Ranking based on metrics like diplomatic influence, econ. strength, defence partnerships
๐ฎ๐ณ scores well on diplomatic influence, resource potential & def. pwr; does badly on econ. partnerships
๐ฎ๐ณ ranked 4th most powerful ctry in Asia after ๐บ๐ธ,๐จ๐ณ & ๐ฏ๐ต
Ranking based on metrics like diplomatic influence, econ. strength, defence partnerships
๐ฎ๐ณ scores well on diplomatic influence, resource potential & def. pwr; does badly on econ. partnerships
Despite decent headline numbers, report labels ๐ฎ๐ณ a "patchy power"
-๐ฎ๐ณ has enormous resources & potential but punches below its weight; influence largely concentrated in neighbourhood
-Lack of economic influence, small diplomatic service๐๐ฎ๐ณ's potential
-๐ฎ๐ณ has enormous resources & potential but punches below its weight; influence largely concentrated in neighbourhood
-Lack of economic influence, small diplomatic service๐๐ฎ๐ณ's potential
Why it Matters
-Shows that ๐ฎ๐ณ's economic diplomacy & networks in region remain weak w/o strong trade linkages; can't be Asian power w/o pan-Asia econ. ties
-Shows need to expand size of diplomatic service
-Shows that security diplomacy (like sale of BrahMos) is๐def. influence
-Shows that ๐ฎ๐ณ's economic diplomacy & networks in region remain weak w/o strong trade linkages; can't be Asian power w/o pan-Asia econ. ties
-Shows need to expand size of diplomatic service
-Shows that security diplomacy (like sale of BrahMos) is๐def. influence
3. Prachanda's govt in Nepal unstable
Just a month after taking office, leftist govt. of Prachanda in Nepal sees mass resignation of ministers
Key ally, Rashtriya Swatantra Party, quits govt. after Prachanda refused to give Home Ministry to RSP leader
indianexpress.com
Just a month after taking office, leftist govt. of Prachanda in Nepal sees mass resignation of ministers
Key ally, Rashtriya Swatantra Party, quits govt. after Prachanda refused to give Home Ministry to RSP leader
indianexpress.com
Why This Matters to ๐ฎ๐ณ
๐ฎ๐ณ has historically been closer to opposition Nepali Congress led by Sher Deuba
However, 2022 elections saw Prachanda form govt w. KP Sharma Oli; both leaders have complicated ties w. ๐ฎ๐ณ
Loss of key ally 1 month after govt formation bad sign for govt
๐ฎ๐ณ has historically been closer to opposition Nepali Congress led by Sher Deuba
However, 2022 elections saw Prachanda form govt w. KP Sharma Oli; both leaders have complicated ties w. ๐ฎ๐ณ
Loss of key ally 1 month after govt formation bad sign for govt
๐ฎ๐ณ will watch developments closely as there was worry abt. whether Prachanda govt would take more confrontation stance w. ๐ฎ๐ณ
Prachanda government not in immediate trouble but instability may hurt it & make it even more dependent on KP Sharma Oli
Prachanda government not in immediate trouble but instability may hurt it & make it even more dependent on KP Sharma Oli
4. Bailout relief for ๐ต๐ฐ?
๐ต๐ฐ's reeling economy may receive $1.1 billion in bailout funds from IMF in exchange for econ. reforms
๐ต๐ฐ will have to๐taxes,๐subsidies & bring more econ. transparency
PM Sharif: IMF conditions are "beyond imagination" but will have to accept
๐ต๐ฐ's reeling economy may receive $1.1 billion in bailout funds from IMF in exchange for econ. reforms
๐ต๐ฐ will have to๐taxes,๐subsidies & bring more econ. transparency
PM Sharif: IMF conditions are "beyond imagination" but will have to accept
Why It Matters to ๐ฎ๐ณ
-May prevent total collapse in ๐ต๐ฐ which spares Delhi from having to deal w. humanitarian crisis on its doorstep
-๐ต๐ฐ's forex reserves, econ. growth rate have๐while inflation & poverty๐
-๐ต๐ฐ's focus may be on internal reform & not stoking trouble w. ๐ฎ๐ณ
-May prevent total collapse in ๐ต๐ฐ which spares Delhi from having to deal w. humanitarian crisis on its doorstep
-๐ต๐ฐ's forex reserves, econ. growth rate have๐while inflation & poverty๐
-๐ต๐ฐ's focus may be on internal reform & not stoking trouble w. ๐ฎ๐ณ
5. ๐บ๐ธ๐ท๐บ nuclear treaty in crisis
๐บ๐ธ has accused ๐ท๐บ of not complying w. New Start treaty
๐บ๐ธ has accused ๐ท๐บ of not complying w. New Start treaty
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