France’s move to widen its nuclear umbrella to cover other countries signals Europe’s strategic coming of age. However, it carries grave risks. Expanding arsenals, even for deterrence, can reignite arms races and deepen mistrust. Without parallel investment in diplomacy and arms control, Europe risks hardening insecurity rather than preventing it.
Congress criticising Modi’s Iran stand is ironic. UPA govt had also voted against Tehran
Congress criticism of the US-Israel action against Iran and accusing PM Modi of genuflection is laden with irony. Just two decades ago, UPA voted against Iran at IAEA and referred it to UNSC; the BJP called it a sellout. Opposition politics plays rhetorical games. Policies tend to be more pragmatic.
Marco Rubio’s ‘war of choice’ on Iran remark brings clarity—transparency was needed
Marco Rubio’s remarks on the Iran strikes bring clarity. He has called it a war of choice. US and Israel are allies, and this disclosure and transparency were needed. It will also communicate to the MAGA base that not joining the attacks would have precipitated higher casualties on American forces.
Modi-Carney must pledge to erase the shadow of Nijjar’s death with due process
Even as Modi and Carney pledged to reset ties, the shadow of Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s death continues to be an irritant. In the absence of publicly shared hard evidence, the issue must shift from insinuation and media leaks to credible investigation, due process, and transparent judicial scrutiny to restore trust.
USA is leaving Europe with few good choices. France is reminding Russia that the implacable foe it has made of Europe after the invasion of Ukraine has two nuclear weapon states. Which will be spending twice as much on defence as they were doing earlier, when Article V was an article of faith for 75 years. It is for Russia to size up Europe ( including UK ), its much larger GDP and consider whether it would be better to reset the relationship.
That was an elegantly worded column by Smt Sonia Gandhi in the Indian Express today. If geopolitics stood in the way of some statements, a sincere message of condolences should have been offered on the heartbreaking occasion of public funerals of 168 Iranian schoolgirls today.