Tridivesh Singh Maini, Author at TheRise.co.in

Ukraine Conflict, ‘Spy Balloon’ and Evolving US-China Relationship

8 March 20238 March 2023 Tridivesh Singh Maini 0 Comments China, Quad, Russia-Ukraine Conflict, USA

In recent weeks, tensions between Beijing and Washington seem to have escalated after the incident of an ‘alleged’ Chinese spy balloon being spotted in US airspace. The Biden Administration may not want ties with China to deteriorate further and it may also seek to find common ground on important global issues. It is likely however to continue with its tough economic stance vis-à-vis China in the run-up to the 2024 US presidential election. The important factors which will influence the trajectory of the Washington-Beijing relationship are the course of the Russia-Ukraine war and China’s stance on the same as well as China’s approach towards Taiwan.

Politics World

Raisi’s Visit & Growing China-Iran Relations: A Bridge Or A Threat to the West?

18 February 202318 February 2023 Tridivesh Singh Maini 0 Comments China, Iran, Russia

Iran China Russia triangle is likely to grow due to the down sliding of the US-China ties and Iran’s economy facing serious challenges.

Economy Editor's Pick World

Vicious Cycle of Economic Slowdown in South Asia

5 February 20235 February 2023 Tridivesh Singh Maini 2 Comments Bangladesh, China, IMF, Pakistan, South Asia

Sri Lanka and Pakistan are dealing with serious economic crises. Apart from serious domestic issues like shortage of essential commodities, and power cuts, both countries have meagre foreign exchange reserves. The excessive dependence on China is the main reason for the increasing debt trap. Both countries also had to seek International Monetary Fund (IMF) assistance despite domestic opposition against the conditionalities imposed by the IMF. It is important for South Asian countries to work towards more robust economic linkages within the region and to shed dependence upon external assistance.

Protectionist UK Restricting Indian Students May Backfire

2 February 20232 February 2023 Tridivesh Singh Maini 0 Comments India, UK

Limiting the number of students from India or changing rules pertaining to the graduate post-study work visa will make the United Kingdom a less attractive destination for higher education for Indian students. The UK needs to understand that Indian students contribute significantly to the UK economy, not just in the form of tuition fees, but also through their talent and skills.

Odisha: A Guiding Light for Sports Tourism and Paradiplomacy

24 January 202324 January 2023 Tridivesh Singh Maini 0 Comments Diplomacy, Hockey, Sports

Hosting the FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023, Odisha is the first state in India to host the event for the second time in a row. This is an important feat and highlights the fact that Odisha — along with Punjab — has emerged as a key nursery for Indian hockey. Odisha’s focus on sports, especially hockey, also shows that every state should create its own template for economic prosperity and give a boost to tourism. Its success in hockey, where all stakeholders have worked in harmony, is important not just from the dimension of sports but also economy and para-diplomacy. Other states should seek to emulate its success!

Politics Public Policy World

India-Pakistan: Scope Of Soft Diplomacy

20 January 202321 January 2023 Tridivesh Singh Maini 0 Comments India, Pakistan, USA

Ties between India and Pakistan are complex. Dictated by geopolitical factors and domestic politics, it is tough for any third country to really bring about a dramatic change in the short run. In recent years, Gulf countries have been playing an important role in reducing tensions between India and Pakistan.

Culture India World

G20, Dharamshala Declaration and Northeast: The Trident to Boost Incredible India’s Tourism

11 January 202311 January 2023 Tridivesh Singh Maini 1 Comment G20, North-East India, Tourism

There is no doubt that India’s Presidency of the G20 is an important opportunity for India to give a strong boost to its tourism sector. This will give a much-needed fillip to the country’s hospitality industry and the economy. Showcasing cities which do not get the attention they deserve and a greater focus on the North-Eastern region, by holding meetings there, is a welcome step.

Culture Editor's Pick India Society World

North-East Festival: A Roadmap To Domestic And Global Ties

28 December 202229 December 2022 Tridivesh Singh Maini 1 Comment ASEAN, Festival, North-East India

North-East Festival is a festival that celebrates the beauty, diversity, and integrity of North-East India. The USP of this festival is the way in which we seamlessly integrate elements of social cohesion, cultural heritage, and economic welfare, making them an immersive experience for all. This also seeks to give a fillip to ties between North Eastern India and the increasingly important ASEAN region. The festival is important for a number of reasons. First, it highlights aspects of the region’s culture and economy that residents in other parts of India are not familiar with. Second, it can give a boost to tourism in the region. Third, it can open up new horizons for entrepreneurs from North Eastern India, and the rest of the country.

Politics World

Australia-China Bilateral Relationship: Penny Wong’s Visit to Beijing

24 December 202224 December 2022 Tridivesh Singh Maini 1 Comment Australia, China, Indo-Pacific

The visit of the Australian Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, to China could pave the way for reducing tensions between both countries, though it would be unrealistic to expect substantial progress in the short run. Any thaw between both countries will require a significant course correction in Xi Jinping’s foreign policy, which so far has been fundamentally different from that of his predecessors.

Economy Editor's Pick World

The Growth Story Of ASEAN Powers: Indonesia and Malaysia

16 December 202217 December 2022 Tridivesh Singh Maini 2 Comments ASEAN, Indo-Pacific

While the Malaysian economy has been adversely impacted as a result of political instability, the Indonesian economy has benefited immensely from political stability. Also, Malaysia has been lagging behind Indonesia in terms of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). But still Malaysia continues to be one of the most attractive investment destinations in ASEAN.

The New Geopolitics Of Global Education

9 December 20229 December 2022 Tridivesh Singh Maini 2 Comments education, International Politics

Geopolitical issues have affected the people-to-people links and higher education adversely. While the UK, like other developed countries in the West, is keen to attract talented professionals as well as students who could contribute positively towards its economy, it is mooting the idea of restricting the inflow of international students who get admitted into ‘low-quality degrees’, and also bring in their dependents through the student visa route. On the other hand, Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy makes a clear reference to strengthening people-to-people contact with different parts of Asia and seeks to enhance Canada’s international student program with permanent residence and job opportunities for students from the Indo-Pacific.

Politics World

China and West Cooperation: Is the Golden Era Over?

2 December 20222 December 2022 Tridivesh Singh Maini 2 Comments China, Indo-Pacific

It is important that China and the West ensure that their relations do not slide further. It is important for both sides to refrain from a zero-sum approach and that they cooperate on important global issues. At the same time, countries wary of China’s increasingly aggressive behaviour, under the leadership of Xi Jinping, need to come up with a cohesive strategic and economic vision to counter the same.

America is Back – Or is it?

23 November 202223 November 2022 Tridivesh Singh Maini 2 Comments America, ASEAN, China, G20, Indo-Pacific

It is true that the US needs to strike a balance between domestic priorities and its global commitments, but it cannot have meaningful engagement with the rest of the world, including ASEAN, if it is insular on economic issues. In other words, the US needs to realize that both ‘America First’ and globalisation – with some checks – can co-exist.

Politics World

ASEAN’s Foreign Policy: Managing The Great Power Politics

12 November 202213 November 2022 Tridivesh Singh Maini 2 Comments ASEAN

ASEAN is likely to be the driver of economic growth in the imminent future. While a number of ASEAN member states have stated that they do not subscribe to the US vision of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific, they are also aware of China’s increasingly expansionist tendencies and its aggressive stance over the South China Sea Issue. While ASEAN has numerous opportunities, it needs to ensure that differences within the bloc do not impact its functioning.

Politics World

Pakistan’s China-USA Policy: De-hyphenation or Zero Sum?

8 November 20228 November 2022 Tridivesh Singh Maini 1 Comment China, Pakistan, USA

In order to put its economy back on the rails, Pakistan needs to maintain good relations not just with China, but also put its bilateral ties with the US back on the rails. Given the deterioration in Washington-Beijing ties, it remains to be seen if Islamabad can manage the same. While Pakistan, like many other countries, has said that it does not want to be pushed into making any choices, it remains to be seen whether this will be possible in the changing geopolitical landscape.

Business Politics Public Policy World

The Rise of Paradiplomacy: Harnessing Odisha’s ASEAN Connect to Attract Investment

3 November 20223 November 2022 Tridivesh Singh Maini 2 Comments ASEAN, Diplomacy

There has been a paradigm shift in practices of wooing investors for boosting the economy. States have been attempting through special summits. Indonesia and Odisha have shared historical links. Every year in November, the festival of ‘Bali Yatra’ celebrated commemorates the maritime history of Odisha and Bali (Indonesia). In this regard, India’s outreach and connectivity vis-à-vis ASEAN should focus on harnessing the historical linkages and geographical advantages which states possess with respect to the ASEAN region.

Saudi Arabia and UAE: Playing the Balancing Act

23 October 202223 October 2022 Tridivesh Singh Maini 1 Comment Middle East, Saudi Arabia, UAE

Two Gulf countries – Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) – have re-oriented their external relations significantly in recent years. The improvement in ties between both these Gulf countries, especially UAE, and Israel is a strong reiteration of the same. UAE along with Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan normalised ties with Israel via the Abraham accords signed in 2020. Even at a global level, not just the Middle East, both Saudi Arabia and UAE are trying to re-position their foreign policy. One important change has been the strengthening of UAE-China and Saudi Arabia-China relations, much to the discomfort of the US.

Iran and Venezuela on Cooperation Road

14 June 202214 June 2022 Tridivesh Singh Maini 0 Comments

Iran and Venezuela recently signed a 20-year agreement that sought to strengthen cooperation in a number of areas – though the focus of the agreement is on bolstering ties in the finance and energy sectors. The agreement will be closely watched by the West since both countries have been facing US sanctions and have repeatedly lashed out at western imperialism. While Venezuela and Iran share close ties with Russia and China, the agreement sends a strong message that the countries that are part of the Russia-China camp need to have an independent foreign policy and economic vision.

Politics World

Blinken-Zardari Meet: A Tightrope for Pakistan with USA and China

21 May 202221 May 2022 Tridivesh Singh Maini 1 Comment Pakistan, USA

During the May 18 meeting, both Blinken and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari focused on strengthening not just US-Pakistan security ties but also economic linkages. The US could nudge IMF towards imposing less stringent conditionalities on Pakistan in order to prevent political instability. The US remains an important destination for Pakistani exports and this is one of the reasons why the business community in Pakistan, along with the Pakistan army as well as the political class, was not particularly comfortable with former PM Imran Khan’s rhetoric against the West, in general, and the US, in particular. There is a growing realization in Pakistan that while ties with Beijing may be important, it can not afford to allow relations with the US to deteriorate any further.

Political Turmoil and Strained Ties with the West: A Double Whammy for Pakistan’s Economy

6 April 20226 April 2022 Tridivesh Singh Maini 3 Comments Pakistan

Apart from Pakistan’s army and opposition political outfits, the business lobbies in Pakistan have been flagging the point that strained ties with the US and the EU will have an adverse impact on Pakistan’s economy. While the Pakistan Army Chief, Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, had alluded to the importance of Pakistan’s ties with the US in his address on April 2, 2022, Pakistan’s business has expressed its apprehensions with regard to the current political situation and the potential souring of ties with the West, in general, and the US, in particular. The current economic crisis in Sri Lanka also underscores the pitfalls of being excessively dependent upon China and the need for an astute foreign policy.

Politics World

Russia-Ukraine Crisis: A Big Boost for Iranian Economy?

16 March 202220 April 2022 Tridivesh Singh Maini 5 Comments Iran, Russia, Russia-Ukraine Conflict, Ukraine

While analysts focus on wrangling between great powers, the economic and geopolitical relevance of countries like Iran often gets relegated to the sidelines. The revival of the JCPOA, and closer economic ties between Tehran and the West, especially the purchase of Iranian oil by the US and other western countries, could actually result in Tehran re-orienting its foreign policy. If Iran and other signatories do manage to come up with an agreement, Iran’s sagging economy could get a big boost.