Shashank Mattoo
Shashank Mattoo

@MattooShashank

13 Tweets Mar 04, 2023
5 global stories that shaped ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ foreign policy this week
- How a balloon took down ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ties
- ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ ranked 4th most powerful country in Asia
- Crisis with ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ-๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ nuclear treaty threatens stability
๐Ÿงตon the 5 global stories you need to know about (1/13)๐Ÿ‘‡
(2/13)
1. How a balloon took down ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ties 's
-๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ"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 ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ military sites including some holding nukes
washingtonpost.com
(3/13)
๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ claimed balloon's entry into was "unintentional" but called US shooting down the balloon "unacceptable"
Outrage expressed by senior US politicians w.๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ's actions
While ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ claimed balloon did not pose security threat, Secy. of State Blinken cancelled visit to ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ
(4/13)
Why This Matters to ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ
-Cancellation of Blinken visit is major news: goal was that & would find ways to ๐Ÿ“‰tensions & create some stability
-Anger over brazen ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณintelligence op has derailed that; competition to continue
-๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ's interest is in stable competition b/w &
(5/13)
2. Asia Power Index 2023
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ ranked 4th most powerful ctry in Asia after ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ,๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ& ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต
Ranking based on metrics like diplomatic influence, econ. strength, defence
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ scores well on diplomatic influence, resource potential & def. pwr; does badly on econ. partnerships
(6/13)
Why it Matters
-Shows that ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ's econ diplomacy & networks in region remain weak w/o strong trade linkages; can't be Asian power w/o pan-Asia econ. ties
-Shows need to๐Ÿ“ˆsize of diplomatic service
-Shows that security diplomacy (like sale of BrahMos) is๐Ÿ“ˆdef. influence
(7/13)
3. Prachanda's govt in Nepal unstable
1 month after taking office, leftist govt. of Prachanda in Nepal sees mass resignation
Key ally, Rashtriya Swatantra Party, quits govt. after Prachanda refused to give Home Ministry to RSP leader
indianexpress.com
(8/13)
Why This Matters to ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ has historically been closer to opposition Nepali Congress led by Sher Deuba
However, '22 elections saw Prachanda form govt w. KP Sharma Oli; both leaders have complicated ties w.๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ
Loss of key ally 1 month after govt formation bad sign
(9/13)
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ will watch developments closely as there was worry abt. whether Prachanda govt would take more confrontational stance w. ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ
Prachanda government not in immediate trouble but instability may hurt it & make it even more dependent on KP Sharma Oli
(10/13)
4. Bailout relief for๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ?
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ's economy may receive $1.1 billion in bailout funds from IMF in exchange for econ. reforms
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ will have to๐Ÿ“ˆtaxes,๐Ÿ“‰subsidies & bring more econ. transparency
PM Sharif: IMF conditions are "beyond imagination" but will have to accept
(11/13)
Why It Matters
May prevent total collapse in ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ which spares Delhi from having to deal w. humanitarian crisis on its doorstep
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ's forex reserves, econ. growth rate have๐Ÿ“‰while ๐Ÿ“ˆinflation & poverty
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ's focus may be on internal reform & not stoking trouble w.
(12/13)
5. ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ nuclear treaty in crisis
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ has accused ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ of not complying w. New Start treaty
Treaty signed in 2011 to cap no. of nuclear warheads & how they can be deployed; Last major nuclear treaty b/w ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ&๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ says ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ not allowing inspection of nuclear facilities
(13/13)
Why It Matters to ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ&๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ control 90% of nuclear warheads in the world; New Start was seen as major force for ensuring stability b/w nuclear superpowers
Treaty now under pressure b'cuz of tensions caused by ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ war
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ & the world have interest in contd coop on nukes

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