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USA a declining power – Part 1
- August 4, 2020
- Posted by: Lt Gen PR Kumar (Retd)
- Categories: Strategic Affairs, USA
No CommentsGeneral. Ironically, the 64 zillion dollar question answers itself (incidentally A zillion is a huge butnonspecific number), being a truism in today’s context that amongst many verticals, economic strength is the pivotalingredient of comprehensive national power (CNP). Especially after COVID 19, a large number of papers/articles/media discussions have emerged regarding the future status of USA.
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India must prepare for a multi-domain war
- July 3, 2020
- Posted by: Lt Gen PR Kumar (Retd)
- Categories: ASEAN & ARF, Military, Strategic Affairs
China’s confrontation with India is not all about the boundary issue, but a political act to offset its present challenges, and demonstrate its rising comprehensive national power (CNP). The Communist Party of China (CPC) leadership that increasingly relies on nationalism for its legitimacy will not find it easy to make the compromises necessary for a boundary settlement.
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India-China standoff : Need to be prepared for two-and-half front war (Part III of three-part series)
- June 26, 2020
- Posted by: Lt Gen PR Kumar (Retd)
- Categories: ASEAN & ARF, China, Foreign Affairs, Military, Strategic Affairs
“The art of war is of vital importance to the State. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected,” Sun Tzu, The Art of War.
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India-China border clash : Is there a way forward ? (Part II of three-part series)
- June 23, 2020
- Posted by: Lt Gen PR Kumar (Retd)
- Categories: ASEAN & ARF, China, Foreign Affairs, Military, Strategic Affairs
In the first part of this three series article, I discussed the strong civilizational connect (recorded formal interaction dates to 2nd Century BC) between India and China which prevented any sort of confrontation let alone conflict, and India’s official position of the boundary between the two countries. The history, geography, geopolitics and strategy, economy, technology, military potential, comprehensive national power and most importantly individual personalities (leaders) have a direct bearing on the way forward.
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India-China dynamics in turbulent times : Civilisational ties and border dispute (Part I of three-part series)
- June 16, 2020
- Posted by: Lt Gen PR Kumar (Retd)
- Categories: ASEAN & ARF, China, Foreign Affairs, Military, Strategic Affairs
What does a big, unpopular, ‘different’ boy with very few friends do if he is suddenly picked on by most of the class? Admittedly he did something horrific bringing unimaginable misery to himself and the entire class, but ironically the other big boys had also done innumerable equally nasty things without being castigated.
Read more at: https://southasiamonitor.org/spotlight/india-china-dynamics-turbulent-times-civilisational-ties-and-border-dispute-part-i-three#.XukYJzMlkV8.whatsapp
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Is Indian Deterrence Effective Against Potential Aggressors
- July 5, 2019
- Posted by: Lt Gen PR Kumar (Retd)
- Categories: ASEAN & ARF, Foreign Affairs, Military, Strategic Affairs
The concept of deterrence is undergoing transformation in the emerging multi polar and multi nuclear world. The democratic world order and international institutions are being challenged, leading to a dynamic international security environment, where strategic balancing by even the global powers has become the norm. This has resulted in 24 X 7 Multi Domain Operations (MDO), where the military dimension is but one of the verticals albeit a decisive one. Applied effectively, deterrence discourages an adversary from pursuing an undesirable action. It works by changing the adversary’s calculation of costs, benefits and risks.