For at least a decade, developing countries across Asia and Africa have worried about growing dependent on China. They’re concerned about debt traps, coercive policies,...
Speaking in New Delhi last week, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau warned that “we will not make the same mistakes with India that we did with China 20 years ago.”
Why should the US care? Because in the end, as its wrangle with Britain this week should have reminded them, America still needs bases, friendly ports, & overfly rights.
The US has turned to the Kurds whenever it has needed allies on ground— in Iraq, in Syria, & now perhaps in Iran. Rarely has it worked out well, either for them or the region.
While the 1970s and 2022 shocks supercharged US inflation, a sustained conflict with Iran would primarily hit the American economy through slower growth.
Exports to the UAE, Gulf remittances and shipping are at risk as the Strait of Hormuz is closed. A weaker rupee, and soaring gold liabilities could stoke inflation.
The Middle East isn’t about to trigger an oil shock. It may be a wobble, perhaps a tremor, it may even get nasty, but the economy isn’t heading into recession.
The US and Israel’s assassinations of Iranian leadership ended up bestowing martyrdom on those killed. Shias saw the deaths as a continuity of martyrdom from the Battle of Karbala.
India’s fast-growing data centre sector may strain state electricity networks; Central Electricity Authority has urged Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu to boost capacity.
Theaterisation, which aims to divide the forces into three theatres with specific areas of responsibility, will become the single most far-reaching reform that the Indian military has witnessed since independence.
China patiently invested capital, skill and technology in coal gasification. Unlike it, we won’t move from words to action. As crude prices decline, we lose interest.
1. It’s not a PM’s job to address civic issues of a city – but yes if Modi wants to solve Delhi’s problems he has to rescind elections in Delhi and make Delhi a de facto Central ruled city as it was pre 1990 – this will ensure no populism is rewarded.
2. Any elected party will lose elections – probably lose their deposits, if they try to fix Delh’s air quality because that will require curbing private vehicles and making fuel prices prohibitively high. Blaming other reasons such as firecrackers, stubble burning, etc. are mere lip service and shifting of blame game.
Therefore, as long as Delhi remains an electoral urban agglomeration it’ll continue to reel under hazardous air.
1. It’s not a PM’s job to address civic issues of a city – but yes if Modi wants to solve Delhi’s problems he has to rescind elections in Delhi and make Delhi a de facto Central ruled city as it was pre 1990 – this will ensure no populism is rewarded.
2. Any elected party will lose elections – probably lose their deposits, if they try to fix Delh’s air quality because that will require curbing private vehicles and making fuel prices prohibitively high. Blaming other reasons such as firecrackers, stubble burning, etc. are mere lip service and shifting of blame game.
Therefore, as long as Delhi remains an electoral urban agglomeration it’ll continue to reel under hazardous air.
In spite of the state, not because of it. The nub of the issue.