INDEX

IDSA – NOVEMBER 2018

1. Bhutan National Assembly Elections 2018 ............................................ 3

2. Expectations on India-Bhutan Relations ............................................... 5

3. Strategic Petroleum Reserves ................................................................. 7

4. Sri Lanka’s Political Crisis.......................................................................8

5. India’s Mission on New Variants of Terrors ......................................... 10

6. Significance of Kartarpur Corridor ....................................................... 12

7. India’s North-South Connectivity Platform ......................................... 13

8. India’s Non-Alignment in Multipolar World ........................................ 15

9. Azov Sea Dispute ................................................................................... 16

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 IDSA – NOVEMBER 2018

1. BHUTAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY What are the insights on political

ELECTIONS 2018 developments in Bhutan?

Why in news? • The system of multi-party democracy

has functioned very smoothly with the
• Bhutan completed its third National
parties sticking to their constitutional
Assembly elections to the lower house
obligations, and new political parties
of the Parliament.
entering the electoral scenario and
What are the highlights of Bhutan
operating without any hindrance.
elections?
• From two registered political parties in
• The DrukNyamrupTshogpa (DNT) 2008, Bhutan had five registered
party won in the run-off election of the political parties by June 2013.
two phase system. • Bhutan has been holding elections on
• LotayTshering, the president of DNT regular basis without any political
will be the new Prime Minister of violence and the electoral campaigns
Bhutan. have been conducted in a fairly
• The DNT, which was formed in 2013 disciplined manner.
and had secured third position in that • Voters have shown their political
year’s National Assembly elections, maturity by changing governments
has now secured a comfortable every five years, which is an indicator
majority with 30 out of 47-seats in the of growing political awareness about
2018 elections. their rights and their role in holding
• The DrukPhuensumTshogpa (DPT), governments to account.
loosely translated as Bhutan Peace • Media has acted fairly responsibly and
and Prosperity Party, has bagged 17 made good use of the freedom
seats and will assume the role of the guaranteed to it under the new
main opposition party for the second constitution.
consecutive term. • Issues like rural development,
• The voter turnout was over 71. 61 agriculture, economic development
percent in the election which is about and incentives to civil servants
5.5 percent above the turnout in the dominated all the manifestos.
2013 elections. • These manifestos were mostly
designed to attract the attention and

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 confidence of three important sections disasters and sources of budget
of the population, i.e., farmers, civil funding.
servants and private sector • Despite being one of the fastest
employees. growing economies in the region,

What are the challenges before the new Bhutan struggles to complete major

government? hydro projects and other

infrastructure projects like internal
• The DNT’s election manifesto was a
road connectivity, public
mix of populist and ambitious
transportation system, airports,
developmental promises, it has
schools and hospitals.
pledged to implement at least 25 of its
• Although India contributes 68 percent
promises in the first 120 days.
of the total external assistance, it
• The new government could face
would be a testing time for the new
challenges in implementing its
government to generate funds from
popular programs as promised in the
other sources, given the smaller
party manifesto due to shortage of
market and its strong, almost non-
resources and lack of experienced
negotiable policy on environmental
Parliamentarians.
protection.
• Most importantly, the DNT has
What are Bhutan’s expectations from
promised to “narrow the gap” between
India?
rich and poor in the next five years,
which is a herculean task. • Since the DNT is a new political party
• This policy of the DNT could force it in and it did not have much focus on
a developmental direction which can Bhutan’s foreign policy in its
indirectly challenge the GNH (Gross manifesto, there was speculation in
National Happiness). the media that the new government
• Another challenge could be to win the could follow a Nepal-like rebalancing
trust of both China and India to policy between India and China.
resolve its long-standing border • While the new government has
disputes with China. articulated its policy towards India
• Besides, the new government could and the latter has welcomed the

face problems in tackling growing electoral results, India now needs to

regionalism over language and wait and watch the new government’s

developmental issues, natural approach towards it.

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 • Ever since the diplomatic relationship
was established in 1968 between
Bhutan and India, it has emerged as
one of the most celebrated success
stories of India’s neighbourhood policy
in South Asia, characterized
mutual trust and understanding.
• India will need to establish linkages
with all political forces in Bhutan to
bring development and prosperity to
the people in the Himalayan country
and cement ties between the two
countries further.
2. EXPECTATIONS ON INDIA-
BHUTAN RELATIONS
broader sovereignty and not require
Bhutan to obtain India’s permission
over arms imports.
• The treaty also provides for perpetual
peace and friendship, free trade and
by commerce, and equal justice to each
other’s citizens.
Why Bhutan is significant to India?
• Bhutan in a buffer state between
India and china, and the nation
shares 470 km long border with
China.
• The Chumbi Valley is situated at the
trijunction of Bhutan, India and
China and is 500 km away from the

What is the issue? “Chicken’s neck” in North Bengal,

which connects the northeast with
• The recent regime change in Bhutan
rest of the country.
as created expectations on deepening
• Bhutan has in the past cooperated
Indo-Bhutan ties.
with India and helped to flush out
What is the status of India-Bhutan
militant groups like United Liberation
relations?
Front of Asom (ULFA) and National
• In 1949 Bhutan and India signed the Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB)
Treaty of Friendship, calling for peace from the Himalayan nation.
between the two nations and non- • Bhutan is strategically important for
interference in each other’s internal both India and China as Chinese
affairs. territorial claims in western Bhutan
• India re-negotiated the 1949 treaty are close to the Siliguri Corridor.
with Bhutan and signed a new treaty • Hydro-electric power generated by
of friendship in 2007. Bhutan’s run-of-the river dams is the
• The new treaty replaced the provision economic bedrock of the India-Bhutan
requiring Bhutan to take India’s relationship.
guidance on foreign policy with

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 due to the difficult terrain and poor

What are India’s infrastructure and connectivity.

economic plan on Bhutan? • A scheme titled “Comprehensive

Scheme for Establishment of Hydro-
• India and Bhutan have signed an
meteorological and Flood Forecasting
Agreement on Trade, Commerce and
Network on rivers Common to India
Transit in 2016, which provides for a
and Bhutan” is in operation.
free trade regime between the two
• The network consists of 32 Hydro-
countries aimed at boosting the
meteorological/ meteorological
bilateral trade for mutual benefit.
stations located in Bhutan and being
• The Agreement also aims at
maintained by Bhutan with funding
facilitating Bhutan’s trade with
from India.
countries through an improved
• The data received from these stations
procedure for containerized cargo,
are utilized in India for formulating
striving towards use of electronic
flood forecasts.
means to facilitate the movement of
transit cargo, additional entry/exit What are India’s expectations from
points in India, etc. Bhutan?

• India is planning to build a mini dry • Bhutan could consider leaving the tri-
port in the border town of junction (Doklam) unresolved while
Phuntsholing to promote exports that settling the remaining border issues
are plagued by logistical difficulties

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 and proceeding towards diplomatic would be used collectively in the event
relations with China. of a supply disruption.
• This could trigger heightened Sino- • Oil could also be released under
India economic and diplomatic exchange arrangements with private
competition in Bhutan without firms, which, in turn, could be repaid
eroding the substance of India- in kind within a certain date with
Bhutan relations. additional premium barrels.

What is India’s plan on SPR?

3. STRATEGIC PETROLEUM
• India’s 2004 decision to construct a
RESERVES
strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) in
Why in news? the wake of increasing demand,
• India has announced its plan on stagnating domestic production, rising
expansion of its existing Strategic international oil prices and
Petroleum Reserves along establishing dependence on the unstable West
new ones. Asian region for imports.

What are Strategic Petroleum Reserves? • At that time, the decision was to
create reserves for 15 days partly
• SPRs were introduced by the
because it was reckoned that any
International Energy Agency (IEA) in
supply disruption would not last
the aftermath of the 1973 oil shock
longer and partly due to the huge
when Arab countries cut production
costs it entailed.
by around five million barrels a day
• In 2018, the government announced
(mbd) from 20.8 mbd to about 15.8
that it would increase the size of the
mbd, and OPEC raised prices by some
SPR to 87 days’ worth of the country’s
400 per cent.
net crude oil imports by 2020.
• Subsequently, to ensure that OECD
• This includes 12 days’ worth of
countries, which were the largest oil
consumers at that time, would not be imports plus 67 days’ worth of

caught flatfooted in the event of any commercial stocks held by refineries

supply disruptions, the IEA was (apart from the armed forces stocks).

formed in 1974 and tasked to • There is also a plan to construct two

coordinate policies and advise additional reserves at Bikaner and

member countries on protecting their Rajkot, taking the tally to 91 days’

energy interests. worth of net imports, akin to those

• A core condition for the 30 member held by developed countries which are

countries is for each to maintain 90 members of the International Energy

days’ worth of net oil imports, which Agency (IEA).

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What are the concerns with India’s plan? • Moreover, by maintaining adequate

• India’s decision to increase the size of strategic stocks, India could use its

the Indian SPR came at a time when SPR as an arm of energy diplomacy by

the US has been debating whether its providing joint stockpiling

strategic stockpile should be cut to opportunities to friendly countries,

half the current size of 727 million both producers as well as net

barrels, driven by the shale revolution importers.

and the country’s dramatic • Alternatively, countries which cannot

resurgence as a net oil exporter. afford to maintain SPRs could

• Moreover, globally, there are no purchase crude from India in the

perceived shortages envisaged in oil event of a disruption, which, in turn,

supplies, at least in the foreseeable could strengthen bilateral relations.

future. • With India now an associate member

• Given that the global oil market is of the IEA, it could coordinate with

currently oversupplied with oil, India the Agency in times of supply

decision to undertake huge capital shortages as well as manage demand.

investment of Rs.4098.35 is • Thus for India an SPR may not suffice

considered to be unwise. in the event of a long-term supply

Why SPRs are actually significant for
India?
• Despite the government’s
intention to reduce dependence on oil
imports, oil will remain in demand for
the next few decades.
• Under these circumstances, having an
disruption, it could provide some relief
from price spikes, albeit for a limited
period, and allow the market time to
stated
adjust to price spikes and attain some
balance.
4. SRI LANKA’S POLITICAL CRISIS
Why in news?

expanded SPR would provide some • Sri Lankan President dissolved the Sri
relief from price hikes. Lankan Parliament and called a snap
• This is certainly more practical than general election.
the earlier plan to construct an SPR What is the ongoing political crisis in Sri
that would cater for only 15 to 45 Lanka?
days of imports.
• Sri Lanka has been facing a political
• Having a SPR option would offer India
crisis for a fortnight now, with
the leverage to be a serious player in
President Mr. Sirisena abruptly
the international oil market, as it will
sacking his Prime Minister
have the option to release supplies
RanilWickremesinghe and replacing
when prices spike and recharge the
SPR when prices are low.

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 him with Mr. Rajapaksa, a former installed Prime Minister Mahinda
President. Rajapaksa through the legislature.
• The political flux over the past two What are the concerns with the actions
weeks was the culmination of a bitter of the President?
power struggle between Mr. Sirisena
• Under the Constitution, the Prime
and Mr. Wickremesinghe within the
Minister’s office does not fall vacant
ruling coalition.
unless in circumstances of his death,
• The two leaders, from traditionally
voluntary resignation or loss of
rival parties and with incompatible
majority in a crucial vote in
ideologies, had joined hands to form
Parliament.
the government in 2015, ousting Mr.
• Since none of these is true in the
Rajapaksa.
current situation, a new appointment
• The president’s action has apparently
by the President is constitutionally
defied the Constitution or more
ruled out.
specifically, its 19th Amendment a
• Some lawyers point to a discrepancy
2015 legislation that clipped the
between the English and Sinhala texts
powers of the President significantly.
of the Constitution and claim the
• Resisting Mr. Sirisena’s move, Mr.
President, as per the Sinhala version,
Wickremesinghe maintained that he
still has the power to remove a Prime
was the legitimate Prime Minister and
Minister.
challenged Mr. Rajapaksa to a vote in
• Other constitutional lawyers have
Parliament to test their claims to
argued that while there is a
majority.
discrepancy in language and framing,
What is the reason behind president’s the import and essence of the Sinhala
move? text is consistent with that in English,
• Mr. Sirisena had earlier suspended especially when read along with the
Parliament until November 16, rest of the Constitution in Sinhala.
possibly to muster strength for his • On the dissolution of Parliament, the
front, but summoned the House for President does not have the powers to
November 14, amid growing pressure. dissolve Parliament within four-and-a-
• The announcement for general half years of its convening, unless
election came within hours of his requested by two-thirds of its
party spokesman publicly admitting to members, as per the 19th
lacking a majority in Parliament. Amendment.
• Mr. Sirisena’s front was aiming for a • The President’s side has invoked
majority to push its controversially Article 33(2) C that lists the powers to
summon, prorogue and dissolve

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 Parliament, in addition to his existing itself, given the emergence of new
powers. variants of terror.
• All the same, critics have noted that What was the terror approach in 26/11?
while the Article is a general
• The 26/11 attack in Taj Mahal place
enumeration of his powers, it is the
was carried out ill-trained terrorist
19th Amendment’s specific provision
group, but also backed by the
that must prevail in such a situation.
resources of a state, viz. Pakistan.
What is the way forward? • The Mumbai terror attack went on for
• The conduct of elections will depend nearly four days, from the evening of
on the Election Commission’s position November 26 to the morning of
on the development and possible legal November 29.
hurdles, since Mr. Wickremesinghe’s • Seldom has any terrorist group used
United National Party (UNP) has such highly sophisticated, state-of-
vowed to move the Supreme Court on the-art communications, including
the “illegal” dissolution of Parliament. Voice over Internet Protocol.
• From the time the 19th Amendment • A more unusual feature of the
capped the Presidency at two terms, Mumbai attacks was the involvement
Mr. Rajapaksa has been eager to of two U.S./Canadian nationals of
return as Prime Minister. But he is Pakistani origin.
now with Mr. Sirisena, who brings • They are David Headley (who at the
with him at least part of his time was a LeT operative) and
unpopular coalition government’s Tahawwur Hussain Rana.
incumbency. • Thus Planning for the attack involved
• Mr. Wickremesinghe, on the other the use of a third country address.
hand, is faced with a dual challenge • The choice of the sea route aimed at
some within his party have been deception and avoiding detection was
demanding a new leader for some again dictated by official agencies.
time, while those backing him are What was Pakistan’s contribution to the
aware of his falling political stock attack?
amid a growing economic crisis.
• The attack is seen as a case of ‘war by
5. INDIA’S MISSION ON NEW other means’, in which the authorities
VARIANTS OF TERRORS in Pakistan, the Inter-Services
What is the issue? Intelligence Directorate, the Pakistani
armed forces, were involved.
• Indian security establishment after
• Handlers in Pakistan were given
the 26/11 incident has upgraded
unfettered freedom to provide

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 instructions to the terrorists during • A specialized agency to deal with
the entire four-day siege. terrorist offences, the National
• The training regimen dictated by the Investigation Agency, was set up and
Pakistani Special Forces involved has been functioning from 2009.
• Psychological indoctrination by • The National Intelligence Grid
highlighting atrocities on Muslims in (NATGRID) has been constituted to
India and other parts of the globe create an appropriate database of
• Basic and advanced combat training security related information.
• Commando training, training in • Four new operational hubs for the
weapons and explosives, swimming NSG (National Security Guard) have
and sailing. been created to ensure rapid response

What were the concerns with India’s to terror attacks.

response then? • The Multi Agency Centre, which

functions under the Intelligence
• From an Indian standpoint, it was
Bureau, was further strengthened and
perhaps for the first time that an
its activities expanded.
operation of this nature involved
• The Navy constituted a Joint
• Rapid Action Force personnel
Operations Centre to keep vigil over
• Marine Commandos (MARCOS)
India’s extended coastline.
• the National Security Guard (NSG)
What lies ahead?
• The Mumbai Police.
• But Indian security establishment had • Newer methodologies, newer daringly-
failed to anticipate an attack of this executed concepts, and deeply laid
nature and was not adequately plans of terrorist groups are a ground
prepared to deal with the situation. reality.
• Secrecy was the very essence of this • So terrorism continues to be a major
operation as plans were limited to a threat with modern refinements and
mere handful of persons. terrorism mutating into a global
• Indian intelligence also had failed to franchise.
exploit all the information from U.S. • One new variant is the concept of
intelligence. ‘enabled terror’ or ‘remote controlled
terror’, viz. violence conceived and
What measures were taken by India in
guided by a controller thousands of
this regard?
miles away.
• Coastal security was given high
• Internet-enabled terrorism and resort
priority, and it is with the Navy/Coast
to remote plotting is thus the new
Guard/marine police.
threat.

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 • There are no ready-made answers to Protocol on Visits to Religious
new forms terrorism, vigilance is Shrines.
important, but being ahead of these • It includes a list of shrines in Pakistan
new age terror is even more vital. and India open for visitors from the
other country, and for which visas are
6. SIGNIFICANCE OF KARTARPUR required.

CORRIDOR • The Kartarpur Corridor, which will

provide visa-free access from India to
Why in news?
the shrine inside Pakistan, may need
• Foundation stone had been laid for a separate treaty.
Kartarpur Sahib Corridor to enable
• Officials from India and Pakistan are
Sikh pilgrims to visit Pakistan.
yet to discuss the logistics of the
What is the Kartarpur corridor? corridor and point of border crossing.

• Kartarpur Sahib is revered as Guru • The Kartarpur corridor will be

Nanak’s final resting place, the implemented as an integrated
gurdwara stands on the bank of River development project with Government
Ravi, about 120 km northeast of of India funding, to provide smooth
Lahore. and easy passage, with all the modern

• It was here that Guru Nanak amenities.

assembled a Sikh community and • Government of India will put in place

lived for 18 years until his death in suitable facilities for smooth passage
1539. of pilgrims.

• It will be developed from Dera Baba • Government of Pakistan will be urged

Nanak village in Gurdaspur, Punjab to to recognize the sentiments of the
Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur. Sikh community and to develop a

• The length of the corridor is about 4 corridor with suitable facilities in their

km, 2 km on either side of the territory as well.

International Border. What are the complexities involved?

• The corridor is seen to be a big leap • The “corridor” would bring Pak
forward for people-to-people relations. infrastructure right up to the Indian
• It will facilitate easier access and border. Over the past year, Gurdwaras
smooth passage of Indian pilgrims in Pakistan have been used for a pro-
throughout the year. Khalistan campaign.
How the corridor works? • Earlier this year, a Gurdwara

• Pilgrimages between India and displayed posters and distributed

Pakistan are governed by the 1974 pamphlets for the so-called “Sikh
Referendum 2020”, and Pakistan

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 denied permission to the Indian envoy • The current INSTC project was
and diplomats to visit it. initiated by Russia, India and Iran in
• Pakistan’s intent also remains 2000
suspect, and Indian officials are wary • INSTC will link Indian Ocean and
of the corridor being misused by both Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea via
state and non-state actors in that Iran, and then onwards to northern
country. Europe via St. Petersburg in Russia.
7. INDIA’S NORTH-SOUTH • The objective of the corridor is to
CONNECTIVITY PLATFORM increase trade connectivity between
major cities such as Mumbai,
Why in news?
Moscow, Tehran, Baku, Bandar
• Trilateral meeting of the Coordination
Abbas, Astrakhan, Bandar Anzali and
Council of the Chabahar
etc.
Agreement held recently.
• The current members are India, Iran,
What is INSTC? Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan,
• The International North–South Armenia, Belarus, Tajikistan,
Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a multi- Kyrgyzstan, Oman, Syria, Turkey,
modal connectivity project establish Ukraine, and Bulgaria (observer).
transport networks (ship, rail, and • Turkmenistan currently is not a
road route) for moving freight between formal member but is likely to have
India, Russia, Iran, Europe and road connectivity to the corridor.
Central Asia.

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What is the role of Chabahar in INSTC?
• Whereas, Chabahar has high capacity
• Mumbai is at the southern hub of the
with plans to expand it from its
route and the route extends to Bandar
current capacity of 2.5 million to 12.5
Abbas in Iran via sea which occupies
million tons annually.
a strategic position on the narrow
• Unlike Bandar Abbas, Chabahar has
Strait of Hormuz.
the ability to handle cargo ships
• India and Iran have a long-standing
bigger than 100,000 tons.
agreement, signed in 2002, to develop
• Industry Analysts have highlighted
Chabahar into full deep sea port.
there are long term plans to integrate
• Bandar Abbas port handles 85% of
Chabahar with the NSTC.
Iran’s seaborne trade and is highly
congested.

Agreement for international transit

What is the significance of the recent and transport through Chabahar Port.

meeting? • All sides shared the view that full

operationalization of trilateral
• This the first trilateral meeting of
Chabahar initiative will promote
the Coordination Council of the
connectivity and economic
Chabahar Agreement between India,
development of Afghanistan and the
Iran and Afghanistan.
region.
• The Coordination council meeting
• The meeting aims to finalize protocol
happened amidst the times of US’s
to harmonize transit, roads, customs,
Sanctions on Iran.
consular matters that was shared by
• Detailed discussions were held
the Indian side at the meeting for
between the three sides on full
making the route attractive, decrease
operationalization of the trilateral

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 logistic costs and pave the way for get trapped into the bipolar
smooth implementation of the geopolitics.
Trilateral Chabahar Agreement. • As a solution, the Non-Alignment

What lies ahead for India? Movement was conceptualized in

which India was one of the leaders.
• India is a nation more favorably
• India has always refrained from
situated than most to benefit from the
choosing or aligning completely with
maritime economy and the
one side or the other.
globalization of Central Asian trade.
• This gave India a much-needed
• India must exploit the current
maneuvering capability to build
momentum and place greater urgency
strong ties with almost all major
on leveraging its robust bilateral
powers in the international system.
relationships with Central Asian
• For instance, recently both the US
states, particularly Uzbekistan, to
and Iran were looking for India’s
solicit a symbolic stakeholder in
support during their tussle after the
Chabahar.
scrapping of the Iran Nuclear deal by
• This would confirm, unequivocally,
the Trump administration. India for
the port’s Central Asian orientation
its part refused to choose sides.
and eliminate a contradiction absent
from other regional connectivity What multipolar world expect from

initiatives India?

8. INDIA’S NON-ALIGNMENT IN • The international system today is

MULTIPOLAR WORLD vastly different from what it used to

be back in the Cold War period.
What is the issue?
• Post-Cold War, when the international
• United States agreed to grant India a
system has become multipolar, the
special waiver from the trade
relevance of India’s non-aligned
sanctions on Iran.
credentials have come under question.
• This instance is seen has a victory for
• The global community expects India to
India’s skillful policy of non-alignment
take strong stands on global issues
in the times of multipolar world.
(often third-party issues), and even
What is India’s deft diplomacy about? choose sides if needed.

• Indian foreign policy has been • The great powers like the US and
primarily non-aligned in character. Russia don’t want India to have the

• During the Cold War, when the luxury of maneuvering itself in global

international system was largely politics.

bipolar in nature, India’s skillful

diplomacy made sure that it doesn’t

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What is the significance of India’s of non-alignment was taken out of a
diplomacy? conscious ‘choice’ or out of ‘necessity’

• Indo-US diplomatic relations are in a to balance the bipolarity of the Cold

tense situation due to India’s refusal War politics with the US on one side

to bring down its Iranian oil imports and Soviet Union on the other.

to zero. • Many experts on international

• Amidst of these tensions India relations consider the non-

managed to win its stand over the theorization of non-alignment policy

Iran’s Chabahar port, by protecting its as a missed opportunity on India’s

own sovereignty, Click here to know part as it would have solidified the

more. Indian foreign policy even more

• India has always carved out a middle concretely as well as making it well-

path (‘madhyammarg’) for itself and defined and nuanced.

has avoided getting into the ‘Us vs • Apart from this the question before

Them’ debate. India’s foreign policy makers is

• This can be seen through many whether non-alignment is serving

examples, be it choosing between the India’s self-interests as the non-

US and Russia, Israel and Palestine, alignment policy was product of a

or Saudi Arabia and Iran. India’s particular context and time.

track record has been to keep itself 9. AZOV SEA DISPUTE

out of a position where it has to Why in news?
choose sides.
• Russia had captured three Ukrainian
What are the doubts prevailing on India’s naval ships in the disputed Azov Sea
diplomacy? creating tremors in the region.
• When a country’s power and What is the conflict behind Russia and
reputation rises in the international Ukraine?
order, the international community
• Ukraine was one of the republics
starts expecting differently from that
within the USSR during the cold war
state and wants it to assume greater
days, and has remained a strong ally
responsibility.
of Russia ever since, till 2013.
• Till now, Indian diplomacy has been
• While it was planning to sing an
fairly successful in doing that but the
association agreement with the
question is for how long can India
European Union in 2013, Russia
continue to move on this tried and
sternly objected to it, leading to
tested path of deft diplomacy.
tensions.
• The question about India’s foreign
policy framework is whether the path

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 • Russia subsequently annexed Kerch to the Black Sea, and it is
“Crimea” (Russian speaking province sometimes regarded as a northern
in Ukraine) by force and declared its extension of the Black Sea.
sovereignty over it with people’s • The Sea of Azov is the shallowest sea
support. in the world, with the depth varying
• The resultant conflict has so far between 0.9 and 14 meters.
claimed about 10,000 lives and • The sea is bounded in the north and
displaced millions with no lasting in the west by Ukraine, in the east by
resolution in sight. Russia.
• Though the 2014-15 Minsk peace • Russia has controlled the Kerch strait
accords prohibited air strikes and since annexing Crimea in 2014, which
heavy artillery firing, the dispute still has made traffic significantly more
prevails as a low-intensity combat. difficult for Ukrainian ships.

What is the significance of Sea of Azov • In May 2018, Russian opened a 12-

for Russia? mile-long bridge over the Kerch Strait,

which has also become the physical
• Sea of Azov is a sea in Eastern Europe
gateway to the Sea of Azov.
it is linked by the narrow Strait of

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What are the recent tensions in the • Ukraine insists on freedom of
Kerch Strait? movement in the Kerch Strait and the

• The Kerch Strait is the only Sea of Azov in accordance with this

connection between the Black Sea and agreement, while the Russian side is

the Sea of Azov, and the only way to trying to draw territorial borders.

reach two important Ukrainian ports, • The countries also have a bilateral

Mariupol and Berdiansk. agreement on the free use of the

• To prevent the Ukrainian boats from Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov, an

passing under the bridge, Russia accord that Russia has never called

placed a cargo ship below it. into question.

• In late September, two Ukrainian What lies ahead?

vessels had successfully travelled • UN Security Council and NATO called
from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov, on both Russia and Ukraine to de-
exercising Ukraine's maritime rights escalate tensions.
under international law. • Russia has not softened its stance,
• Recently, three more Ukrainian despite the hardships from the
vessels attempted to make the same economic sanctions since its Crimea’s
journey. occupation.
• But the Russian coast guard • Thus, greater diplomatic engagement
intercepted the Ukrainians saying that between the two sides and the
unlike the previous passage, the preference for dialogue over
Ukrainian vessels had failed to confrontation should be made for a
request permission and ignored orders speedy resolution of the conflict.
to stop.
• Ukraine and Russia accuse each other
of violating international maritime
law, they refer to the 1982 UN
Convention on the Law of the Sea,
which both states joined in the 1990s.

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