This week, the world fixated its eyes on the meeting of the representatives of the two different worlds.
The state visit of the Prime Minister of India to the US resulted in multi-dimensional opportunities for both the nations to engage further. India and the US have elevated their bilateral relationship to strategic partnership in past couple of years. Also, being the voice of the global south, India has started democratizing various institutional platforms including the mighty G-20; and the western bloc countries including the US are accepting this effort of India. The US has also realised the significance of collaboration it seems and hence the first ‘state visit’ of the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, to the US marked historic developments bilaterally as well as multilaterally. While both the nations are keen to grow their partnership to the next level, Russia and Ukraine remained busy in taking the war to the next level. Ukraine has now started attacking Russian supply lines in the southern area to dislocate Russian troops in this particular area. Ukraine also claimed to recapture eight villages from Russian forces, but the Russian defence still seems to be powerful. China, the powerful ally of Russia, is claiming to work as a mediator between the two fighting nations, but so far, no results could be seen. China must focus on resolving its own national and international issues first. Antony Blinken’s trip to China has generated an opportunity for both China and the US to look for the solutions for the irritants between their relations.
India-US Partnership: A Privileged Alliance for Global Progress
There is a solution for any issue. The growing partnership between India and the US is a classic example to quote here. Despite being a natural partner of Russia for many years, the US now acknowledges India as its most trusted partner. This can be seen in its gestures towards India. The Prime Minister of India, Shri Modi visited the US six times since 2014. But his latest trip became his first ‘state visit’, the highest ranked visit according to the diplomatic protocol of the US. This can be considered as a privilege given by the US only to its very close and strategic allies. The world observed the power of Indian culture when PM Modi celebrated International Yoga Day at the UN headquarters in New York. This visit also marked Modi attending the prestigious state dinner at the White House and his significant bilateral talk with the President Biden. In their joint press address, both the leaders urged on the importance of the democratic values that both the nations follow wholeheartedly while working towards the goals of promoting sustainable development, women empowerment, war against terrorism and more. Apart from the critical bilateral deals and pacts in the areas of trade, technology, defence and education, India and the US also seem to be on the path of comprehensive development by involving more likeminded nations in the process.
Ukraine and Russia engage in strategic warfare over crimea
The world needs to understand that this era belongs to development. However, both Russia and Ukraine are busy in taking the war between them to new scale. Ukrainian forces used missiles to attack an important bridge linking the Crimea Peninsula with the Ukrainian mainland this week. Ukraine is trying hard to take back Crimea under its control, but Russian forces know the significance of Crimea and hence they do not leave any stone unturned in holding it strongly. Now Ukraine is trying to cut the main supply routes for Russian forces in Southern Ukraine so that the Russian forces can be weakened in Crimea. On the other hand, Russia is also not leaving the ground. Where will it take both the nations now remains a question.
Blinken’s visit to China sparks hope for easing US-China tensions, but flares again
Basically, Ukraine knows entire West, led by the US, supports it. On the other hand, Russia knows it has trusted friends like China. Both the nations know the rivalry between the US and China. But Antony Blinken’s visit to China recently generated a hope in the hearts of those who like to see peace in the world. It is true that the relations between the US and China have worsened, but the talks between Blinken and Xi provide an opportunity to both the nations to decrease the tensions between them. As Blinken stated that he travelled to China to, “strengthen high-level challenges of communication, to make clear our positions and intentions in areas of disagreement, and to explore areas where we might work together when our interests align on shared transnational challenges. And we did all of that.” Now Xi and Biden will meet in New Delhi in September for the next G20 summit. Biden is also inviting Xi to the US in November for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. It would be interesting to see how Xi responses specially after been called a ‘dictator’ by Biden.
This week is ending on a positive note, at least for the Indians and the Americans. Hope that the engagement among other nations also increases so that they can collaborate and grow.