- 04 June, 2023
Geopolitics & National Security
Cdr Sandeep Dhawan (Retd)
A veteran of the Indian Navy, Cdr Dhawan served in the Navy from 1988 to 2009. He was a Maritime Reconnaissance Pilot and a Flying Instructor. He is a geopolitical analyst and writes for various online websites and organizations.
Articles Lists
China’s 2024 Threat To Indian Democracy
The Indian state of Karnataka went to elections on May 2023. It was surprising to note how the Chinese media gave coverage to a state election in India, a phenomenon that was not seen before. The South China Morning Post (SCMP) published articles with heading like “What Congress’ Win over Modi
Squabbling Between Various Establishments in Pakistan
What happened on 09 May 2023 will undoubtedly be remembered in Pakistan for how military establishments, including Jinnah House in Lahore, the residence of the Corps Commander in Lahore and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, were stormed by infuriated followers of ex-PM Imran Khan on his
Conceptualizing A Conventional Missile Force
Nuclear Deterrent Dynamics “The sole purpose of India’s nuclear deterrence is to deter adversaries use or threat of use of nuclear weapons” Dr Manpreet Sethi Indian nuclear deterrence that took shape post the Pokhran blasts in 1998 has matu
The PLA Soldier: The Man Behind The Machine
When the South China Morning Post wrote a rather surprising piece on the new selection criteria for PLA recruits, one particular condition – “Any applicant – even for non-combat positions – who cannot stand the sight of blood would be rejected”[1] was particularly of interest. When did the
India’s Loitering Munitions: Building ‘Atmanirbharta’ For Lethal Battlefield Engagements!
In a cornerstone advancement towards indigenization of battlefield capability, the Indian Air Force (IAF) received its first consignment of ALS-50 indigenous Loitering Munitions (LM) from Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) earlier this month. The ALS-50 was first showcased at DefExpo-2022, amongst
Defence Attaches And Intelligence Agencies: Enabling Defence Exports
In a much-needed policy initiative, the Government of India decided to redeploy military attaches to countries where they can help increase domestic defence exports. This will reduce the number of military officers stationed in countries where the country traditionally imports military equipment. Of
Semiconductors For Self-Reliance In Aerospace Manufacturing
The initiative on Self-reliance and Atmanirbhar Bharat has propelled the Indian defence industry towards higher pursuits and undertaking ambitious projects. The Indian defence industry, specifically the aerospace industry, has paved its way ahead in the last few years by investing in producing aircr
G20 In Srinagar : Threats And Opportunities
With two days left for the G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting in Srinagar on May 22-24, 2023, national and international focus on this unusual event is becoming rife. There are more than 200 meetings undertaken with the G20 banner all over India, since India is the Chairman of G20 for 2023. Why then
Emerging Bhutanese Intransigence
The recent statements of Bhutanese Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji indicating substantial progress in their boundary talks with China is a serious cause of concern for India. The minister indicated the conclusion of 24 rounds of boundary talks and deliberations by the expert group. Such inputs have bee
Peaceful Pakistan: A Utopian Vision?
Pakistan's recurring political crises can be traced back to its inability to fortify democratic institutions and build a robust state-society relationship since its independence. The present political conundrum is the latest outburst of this crisis that commenced in 2022. The opposition parties band
Pakistan – Withering State
Introduction. Pakistan is witnessing probably the most dangerous implosion of institutions triggered by Imran Khan and his followers. Citadels and symbols of Army supremacy, residences of Corps Commanders, HQs, and even Mianwali airbase were plundered by crowds. Social media (SM) posts of mobs m
Financial Sanctions – Hastening The US Economic Decline?
With the pivotal role played by the US military-industrial complex in WW II, the US displaced Britain as the dominant global economy and since then the US dollar has been the world’s dominant currency. This is consistent with the dollar’s wide international use as the most favoured reserve curre