Latest news with #ViewFromIndia
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
The View From India newsletter: Trump vs BRICS
(This article is part of the View From India newsletter curated by The Hindu's foreign affairs experts. To get the newsletter in your inbox every Monday, subscribe here.) The 17th BRICS summit, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, triggered an angry response from U.S. President Donald Trump, after the grouping criticised his tariffs and condemned U.S.-Israel's attack on Iran. BRICS, which began as an economic acronym referring to Brazil, Russia, India and China (South Africa joined later), has evolved as the main institutional voice of the Global South. Last year, BRICS added five new members — Egypt, Ethiopia, the UAE, Iran and Indonesia. This year's summit had assumed greater significance because of the global faultlines. It took place just weeks after Iran, a member country, was attacked. In the summit, the member countries, often pulled into different foreign policy directions, showed unity on two issues — on Mr. Trump's tariff threats and the attack on Iran. The group's July 6 declaration raised 'serious concerns' about the tariffs, which it said were 'inconsistent with WTO rules'. The 10-member grouping also termed the strikes on Iran, which started on June 13 triggering the 12-day Israel-Iran war, 'a violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations'. Member countries also 'expressed serious concern over any attacks against peaceful nuclear installations that are carried out in violation of international law and relevant resolutions of the International Atomic Energy Agency' and pledged to 'remain seized of the matter'. Mr. Trump lashed out at BRICS as 'anti-American' and threatened to impose an additional 10% tariffs on countries aligning with the policies of the grouping. 'BRICS is not, in my opinion, a serious threat. But what they're trying to do is destroy the dollar so that another country can take over and be the standard, and we're not going to lose the standard at any time,' he said. In addition to the threatened 10%, the Trump administration has slapped 50% tariffs on Brazil for the 'witch-hunt' against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who faces charges of attempted coup. The U.S. has also imposed 30% tariffs on South Africa after accusing it of unequal trade. Besides, Republican Senators plan to bring a Bill called the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 that seeks to place 500% tariffs on imports of oil and sanctioned Russian products, which would hurt Russia, as well as India and China, its two biggest importers. This was not the first time Mr. Trump targeted BRICS. In January, immediately after he was sworn in for his second term, Mr. Trump called BRICS members 'seemingly hostile countries.' 'We are going to require a commitment from these seemingly hostile Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty U.S. Dollar or, they will face 100% Tariffs,' he wrote in a social media post. He had made a similar comment in November 2024 as well. Why is Trump attacking BRICS? Mr. Trump's irritation, writes Suhasini Haidar in this explainer, appears to stem from BRICS declarations in South Africa in 2023 and Russia in 2024, where members discussed a BRICS Cross-Border Payments Initiative that aims to facilitate trade and investment within BRICS countries using local currencies and other mechanisms. The initiative built momentum due to the problems Western sanctions on Russia have meant for trading partners in the Global South.' India has dismissed Mr. Trump's criticism that BRICS is anti-American. In March 2025, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had said that India had no plans to replace the U.S. dollar. The government's focus is now on clinching a trade agreement with the Trump administration seeking to resolve the tariff disputes. But at the same time, India remains committed to BRICS, which now represents about half the global population, around 40% of the global GDP and a quarter of global trade. 'Despite all the challenges, the Rio declaration underlined the basic cohesion and consensus within BRICS members on a range of issues,' The Hindu wrote in this editorial. 'As India prepares for its leadership of the BRICS grouping next year, it can move forward with this consensus, fulfilling the vision for the grouping's acronym that Mr. Modi recast as 'Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability'. The Top Five 1. Global South | From the margins to the centre The 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, which saw members navigating different relationships with both the U.S. and Russia as well as global conflicts, offered a striking reflection of both the promise and the challenges facing the idea of South-South cooperation in the world today, writes Srinivasan Ramani. 2. Israel has failed to solve the Persian puzzle The 12-day conflict has not destroyed Iran's nuclear capabilities; this is a war that is far from over, writes Stanly Johny. 3. Rare earths emerge as a geopolitical lynchpin in the rising China-U.S. rivalry With China dominating the global rare earth supply chain and tightening grip over exports amid escalating trade tensions, the U.S. is now actively seeking alternative sources to reduce its strategic dependence, writes Smriti S. 4. Francesca Albanese | Shooting the messenger The UN Special Rapporteur, who has been sanctioned by the U.S., says 'all eyes must remain on Gaza, where children are dying of starvation in their mothers' arms', writes Adithya Narayan. 5. Grok | Troubling ascent The Elon Musk-controlled chatbot kicked off a controversy with praise for Adolf Hitler and controversial comments on the Jewish people, writes John Xavier.
The Hindu
08-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
The View From India newsletter: The Dalai Lama's 90th birthday and succession plans
(This article is part of the View From India newsletter curated by The Hindu's foreign affairs experts. To get the newsletter in your inbox every Monday, subscribe here.) The succession plan for the next Dalai Lama, the highest spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, has always been a matter of great curiosity and interest for China, India, and the United States, for obvious strategic reasons, apart from followers of the religion. The current leader, a Nobel peace laureate, who turned 90 on Sunday (July 6, 2025), is not only regarded an influential figure with a wide following world over, and from across religions, but also a much loved, unifying icon. In a greatly anticipated statement released during a convention of the leaders of many Buddhist traditions converging to celebrate Dalai Lama's 90th Birthday, the 14th Dalai Lama in Dharamshala asserted that his successor, the highest spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, will be decided by a trust, not the Chinese government, making it clear for the first time that he believes he will be reincarnated. Born as Tenzin Gyatso, the globally respected spiritual leader said that the process by which future Dalai Lama will be recognised would now begin with consultations with leaders, members of the Tibetan Government in Exile, and other stakeholders. Read Suhasini Haidar's report on the important development. His statement that the succession would be decided by the Gaden Phodrang Trust, which would be the 'sole authority' on the issue, that has sparked a sharp response from Beijing, which believes it must be given the right to 'approve' the candidate. In 2007, Beijing passed a law mandating its authority over the issue, although this has not been accepted by the Tibetan community worldwide. India, on the other hand, in its first official statement over the Dalai Lama's succession plan announcement, has said that the government 'does not take any position' on such religious issues. As New Delhi moves to support the Tibetan spiritual leader living here in exile, and Beijing says it will enforce its approval over a successor, could India and China's new found road to normalcy turn rough? Watch Suhasini Haidar's latest episode on Worldview. While big powers try to intervene, the 14th Dalai Lama's statement has made clear that officers of the Gaden Phodrang Trust would bear the responsibility to recognise the 15th Dalai Lama — by a process he would leave written instructions about. Read Gaden Phodrang: The Trust of Dalai Lama - Suhasini's Haidar's profile of the body that will have the final say on the matter. Gaza U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday (July 6, 2025) said there was a 'good chance' a Gaza hostage release and ceasefire deal could be reached with the Palestinian militant group Hamas this week. What his statement means, after Israel's brazen violation of the last ceasefire, remains to be seen. Israeli airstrikes killed at least 38 Palestinians in Gaza, hospital officials said on Sunday (July 6, 2025), as Israel was sending a ceasefire negotiating team to Qatar ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's White House visit for talks toward a deal. President Trump, who will meet with Mr. Netanyahu on Monday (July 7, 2025), has floated a plan for an initial 60-day ceasefire that would include a partial release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for an increase in humanitarian supplies allowed into Gaza. The proposed truce calls for talks on ending the 21-month war altogether. Top 5 stories this week: 1. Kailash Manasarovar Yatra - Pilgrims' progress: With India-China ties improving, the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra has resumed after a nearly six-year hiatus. Suhasini Haidar and Rahul Karmakar report on what it takes to make the arduous trek to a site considered sacred by followers of many religions 2. Ageing population, labour crunch prompt Germany to open doors for skilled migration, writes Stanly Johny ece 3. G. Sampath writes on Rafael Grossi, the nuclear policeman 4. Common goals: The Hindu editorial on India and the PM's a five-nation tour 5. Former diplomat and China expert Ashok K. Kantha writes on 'The new battle challenge of China-Pakistan collusion'
The Hindu
23-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
The view from India newsletter Backing the aggressor: Trump the warmonger
(This article is part of the View From India newsletter curated by The Hindu's foreign affairs experts. To get the newsletter in your inbox every Monday, subscribe here.) Israel's war on Iran began on June 13, 2025. A week later, it is as much the Unites States's war. President Donald Trump, who rose to power six months ago promising peace, is hardly a peacemaker. 'He has become a warmonger and a globalist aggressor,' as The Hindu's editorial today notes, in the wake of American B2 bombers dropping bunker-busting bombs at Fordow, Iran's most heavily fortified nuclear facility, while U.S. submarines fired Tomahawk missiles at the Natanz and Isfahan nuclear plants, even as Israel struggled to intercept Iranian ballistic missiles. While the U.S.'s actions against Iran are not surprising, given its long-persisting hostilities with Iran and its much-criticised, yet unwavering support to Israel in the bombardment of Gaza, Mr. Trump's own reckless leadership adds yet another, dangerous layer of volatility to the world that is seeing enormous turbulence and destruction. What is Israel's endgame in Iran? Our International Affairs Editor Stanly Johny addressed this question in our newsletter last week. Do read it for context. Also watch this, where he breaks down Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's objectives—from regime change and diplomatic pressure, to dragging the U.S. into direct conflict. The latter has now been achieved, and West Asia is in for more, deadly turbulence. Also Watch | U.S. strikes Iran's key nuclear sites: What next? Stanly Johny answers key questions. United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has warned against yet 'another cycle of destruction' and retaliation following the U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, which he said marked a 'perilous turn' in the region. 'The people of the region cannot endure another cycle of destruction. And yet, we now risk descending into a rathole of retaliation after retaliation,' he added. The consequences of Israel's provocation will be far-reaching, impacting not just the region but the entire world. Iran's Parliament, the Majlis, has reportedly approved the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response to the attacks by the U.S. on Iranian nuclear facilities, the country's state-owned media PressTV reported on Sunday (June 22, 2025), citing Esmaeil Kowsari, a member of the Majlis. According to the report, the final decision on the closure of the Strait of Hormuz lies with Iran's Supreme National Security Council. The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, and is one of the world's most important oil trade routes, T.C.A. Sharad Raghavan reports. Impact on India In this comprehensive explainer, our Diplomatic Affairs Editor Suhasini Haidar explains India's stand on the escalation in West Asia, the impact of the war on Indian workers in Israel and Iran, efforts on the evacuation front and more. As the conflict escalated, the MEA and its embassies in Tehran and Tel Aviv put evacuation efforts, as part of what was named 'Operation Sindhu', on priority. Unlike the rest of West Asia, where nearly 10 million Indians reside, relatively fewer numbers live in Iran and Israel. There are about 10,000 students and professionals in Iran and about 25,000 workers, students and researchers in Israel, many of whom only moved recently to fill in for construction and caregiver jobs after Israel dismissed thousands of Palestinian workers in the wake of the October 7 terror attacks in 2023, she writes. In a special gesture, Iran opened its embattled airspace to allow flights carrying 1,000 Indians home. Our colleague Kallol Bhattacherjee tracked updates from the Ministry of External Affairs on the evacuation of Indians. Hours after the U.S. struck three prominent nuclear sites in Iran, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with the President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday, and called for 'immediate de-escalation'. However, should India play a more proactive role? Suhasini Haidar tells us at what's at stake and what India's responses mean. Watch the latest episode of Worldview. Gaza out of focus Nearly 56,000 Palestinians have been confirmed killed between October 7, 2023 and June 22, 2025, an Al Jazeera graphic reminded us, as Israel's war on Iran displaces every other headline in the world. Although people's resistance to Israel's persisting killings in and bombardment of Gaza is growing significantly, especially in Europe, governments are still reluctant to call out Israel on what many rights groups have unambiguously deemed a genocide. Last week, India had abstained in a UN resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza. Every other member of BRICS, SCO and SAARC and even all G-7 members minus the U.S. had voted in favour of the resolution critical of actions. In a break from older positions, New Delhi has made it clear that India will not criticise Israel. When both, Israel's motivations as well as the mass killings and destruction in Gaza are amply evident, many prominent governments across the world are simply watching, privileging their myopic, strategic calculations over basic humanity. Morality does not inform realpolitik, but overlooking a catastrophe of this magnitude cannot serve even self-interest in the long term. Top 5 stories this week: 1. It is still not too late for India's voice to be heard: New Delhi's silence on the devastation in Gaza and the hostilities against Iran is a disturbing departure from its moral and diplomatic traditions, contends Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party 2. NPT | For the sake of peace, at the cost of war: While Iran has long proclaimed adherence to the NPT's basic tenets and benefited from them vis-à-vis civilian nuclear technology, its covert activities in violation of the treaty's safeguards have progressively undermined trust and led to an international crisis that is still unfolding, writes Vasudevan Mukunth 3. Blaise Metreweli | Licensed to spy: Ramya Kannan profiles the first woman chief of the MI6, said to be well-versed in technology, a prerequisite for espionage operations in an increasingly 'post-truth' world 4. Resetting the India-U.S. partnership in uncertain times: While the structural logic of the partnership remains robust, what is needed is a reset that is marked by clarity and mutual commitment, writes Amitabh Mattoo, Professor and Dean, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. 5. Lessons from Operation Sindoor's global outreach: The intensive period of public diplomacy affirmed that India, when united, can project its voice with clarity and conviction on international platforms, writes Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.
The Hindu
18-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
What is Israel's endgame in Iran?
(This article is part of the View From India newsletter curated by The Hindu's foreign affairs experts. To get the newsletter in your inbox every Monday, subscribe here.) When Israel launched an all-out air war against Iran on June 13, it said the attack was aimed at destroying Iran's nuclear programme. On day one, Israel bombed Iran's Natanz nuclear facility and several ballistic missile sites, besides assassinating the country's top Generals, including the chief of the armed forces. In the subsequent days, Israel bombed the nuclear facility in Isfahan. Iran's command centres, missile launchers, civilian locations and even the headquarters of the state TV. Israel has established air superiority over Iran. In retaliation, Iran launched close to 400 missiles, hitting several targets in Israel, including an oil refinery in Haifa and a top research institute near Tel Aviv. While the air war is escalating, there are questions about Israel's endgame. The IAEA, the UN's nuclear watchdog, said on June 16 that Israel's attack 'severely damaged if not entirely destroyed' the centrifuges at the Natanz facility. The Israeli strike had 'completely destroyed' the above-ground facility at Natanz, according to IAEA chief Rafael Grossi. The underground hall housing the centrifuges that enrich uranium was not directly hit. 'However, the loss of power to the cascade hall may have damaged the centrifuges there,' he said. Mr. Grossi also said four buildings were destroyed at the Esfahan Nuclear Technology Centre – a chemical lab, a uranium conversion plant, a fuel manufacturing plant, and a facility to convert uranium hexafluoride to uranium metal. But there was no major damage to the Fordow enrichment plant, which is Iran's most fortified facility that has been built deep under a mountain. Israel's main objective is the total destruction of Iran's nuclear programme. As Israel has aerial superiority, it can continue to bomb Iran. So Israel is unlikely to accept any call for an immediate ceasefire until it meets its objective. But there is a problem. Israel doesn't have the kind of bunker buster bombs or the strategic bombers that can carry such bombs to destroy heavily fortified facilities such as Fordow. So Israel's offensive is not going to be concluded soon. And Iran, on the other side, despite the heavy losses it suffered, continues to hit Israel back with ballistic missiles. On June 17 morning, Iran launched more than 20 ballistic missiles, some of which hit central Israel. This leaves Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with three options. One, continue the relentless bombing of Iran, pushing the country towards state collapse or regime change. On June 15, while speaking to Fox News, Mr. Netanyahu said Israel's attack could lead to regime change in Iran. The next day, he refused to rule out assassinating Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, as he said such an outcome would end the conflict. This explains why Israel is focused on decapitating the Iranian government. It is going after all the top commanders of the military and the IRGC. While it's not clear what would come if the regime collapses, Israel would prefer a weak, balkanised Iran, like Iraq, Lebanon or today's Syria, than a unitary civilisational and ideological state. Two, let Donald Trump use the military pressure on Iran as a negotiation stick and extract a deal from Tehran. On June 16, there were reports that Iran had sent feelers to America through Gulf Arab countries that it was ready to return to talks if Israel stops bombing. The deal Mr. Trump wants is one which would require Iran to completely abandon its nuclear programme. Until now, Iran has maintained that it has, as a signatory to the NPT, legitimate rights to enrich uranium for civilian purposes. Mr. Trump said even after Israel started the war that he was open for a deal. But the question is whether Iran would go for talks with the U.S. when the country is under attack. So far Iran has said no. It demands Israel stop the bombing. But will Mr. Netanyahu, after having started the war and established air superiority, stop the strikes? Unlikely. The third option is to drag the U.S. in. Mr. Trump has so far maintained that America was not involved in the war. But he admitted that he was aware of Israel's attack plans even when he publicly voiced opposition to them. Israeli officials say they went ahead after getting 'a clear green light' from America. Mr. Trump has warned Iran not to target American bases or soldiers. And Iran has been careful not to escalate the war beyond Israel. But Israeli officials, according to Axios, are pressing the U.S. to join the war. If the U.S. joins, Israel can pursue its goals with greater force — total destruction of Iran's nuclear facilities either through direct strikes or through regime change. Mr. Trump's position, as of now, is to let Israel continue the bombing. He said on June 17 that he was not pressing for a ceasefire. He said what he wants is a 'real end' to Iran's nuclear programme. The Top Five 1. Rogue nation: On Israel's Iran strikes If the Iran-Israel war spills over into the Gulf waters and kingdoms, it would be catastrophic for the global economy, especially for India whose millions of citizens work and live in the region. There must be an immediate, coordinated international effort to rein in the Jewish state and reboot diplomacy to restore stability in West Asia, write The Hindu in this editorial. 2. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | The last 'revolutionary' of Iran The head of Iran's theocratic regime faces the greatest test since the 1979 revolution with the country's regional influence waning and Israel freely carrying out attacks at its nuclear and missile facilities and assassinating its top commanders, writes Stanly Johny. 3. India starts relocating citizens from Tehran to other parts of Iran As conflict escalates, EAM Jaishankar speaks to counterparts in Armenia and UAE; Indian embassy in Tehran working with local Iranian authorities to shift Indian citizens in the capital and other places to safer locations; in Israel, where the airspace is closed completely, Indian embassy officials in Tel Aviv are guiding citizens who can move out towards the land borders with Jordan and Egypt, report Kallol Bhattacherjee and Suhasini Haidar. 4. More 'mind space' for India in the American imagination India needs to ensure that it captures intellectual space in the American imagination, and is understood on its own terms, writes Nirupama Rao. 5. The war on Gaza, exposing Israel's hidden ambition Israel's war is about 'finishing the job' — one that began in 1948, writes Ambassador Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh.
