International Relations

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his speech at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) discussed the economic and food supply crisis caused by the Corona epidemic and the Ukraine crisis. He also suggested ways to deal with it.

Prime Minister Modi had reached Samarkand on the night of Thursday, 15 September 2022 to participate in this conference. On Friday, 16 September 2022, he attended the conference and tweeted a picture with other leaders.

In this picture of eight leaders, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seen standing on the right and Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif is on the left.

Narendra Modi thanked the President of Uzbekistan Shaukat Mirziyoyev for his effective leadership of the SCO.

Modi said that today the whole world is trying to recover from the economic crisis after the pandemic.

The member countries of the SCO contribute about 30 percent to the global GDP. At the same time, 40 percent of the world's population resides in these countries. Therefore, the role of SCO countries in dealing with these crises is important.

Modi said that India's economy is expected to grow by 7.5 percent this year, which will be the highest among the world's largest economies.

Modi said that India is supporting innovation in every sector and today there are more than 70 thousand startups in the country, of which more than 100 are unicorns (billion dollar companies).

He said that this experience can also come in handy for many SCO members. For this purpose they are ready to share experiences with SCO countries by setting up a 'Special Working Group on Startups and Innovation'.

emphasis on cultivation of coarse cereals

He said that the world is facing the crisis of food security today. A possible solution to this problem is to promote the cultivation and consumption of coarse cereals.

It is a superfood that has been grown for thousands of years not only in SCO countries but in many parts of the world.

He said that 2023 will be celebrated as the 'UN International Year of Millets'. To promote this, organization of 'Millets Food Festival' under SCO should be considered.

Narendra Modi said that today India is one of the most affordable places for 'Medical and Wellness Tourism' in the world.

He said that cooperation on traditional medicine among SCO countries should be increased and India will initiate a new 'SCO Working Group on Traditional Medicine' for this.

What else did Modi say?

India supports greater cooperation and mutual trust among SCO member states.

The pandemic and the Ukraine crisis caused many disruptions in the global supply chain, causing the world to face energy and food crises.

SCO should make efforts to develop reliable, flexible and diverse chains for this. Along with connectivity, it is also important to give each other full rights of transit.

He said that progress is being made towards making India a 'manufacturing hub'.

India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has expressed concern on behalf of India over the US decision to give an economic package for F-16 fighter aircraft to Pakistan.

Rajnath Singh wrote in a tweet after a telephonic conversation with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, "I expressed India's concern over the recent US decision to provide a package for Pakistan's F-16 fleet. Further to the India-US partnership. Defense Secretary looks forward to continuing talks with Austin to strengthen it."

Earlier, on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, US State Department spokesman Ned Price defended the Biden government's decision, saying that Pakistan is an important US partner in the war on terrorism.

Ned Price said, "This assistance will help Pakistan to repair its F-16 fleet, so that it will be able to deal with the threat of terrorism."

On September 8, 2022, the Biden administration approved $450 million in aid to Pakistan for F-16 aircraft. This is the first major security aid given by Washington to Islamabad in the last four years.

In the midst of the fierce conflict on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, the Indian Foreign Ministry has appealed to both sides to stop it immediately.

Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi issued an official statement saying, "We have seen reports of attacks on the Armenia-Azbaijan border, including targeting civilian settlements and infrastructure, between 12 and 13 September. We urge the aggressive side to stop these attacks immediately."

"We believe that bilateral disputes should be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue. There can be no military solution to any conflict. We encourage both sides to engage in dialogue to arrive at a lasting and peaceful solution."

What is the matter?

A fierce conflict has started once again between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Peshinyan says 49 soldiers have died in fighting with Azerbaijan in the past two days.

Armenia's Defense Ministry has accused Azerbaijan of targeting military bases and residential areas. Armenia's Defense Ministry says Azerbaijani troops are trying to break into Armenia.

Azerbaijan has denied these claims. Azerbaijan says its action is in response to Armenia's subversive activities.

When did clashes happen?

Even in the year 2020, thousands of people lost their lives in the bloody conflict between the two sides, but due to international efforts, these clashes could not take a serious form.

At the local level, there have been frequent clashes between the two sides on the border of the area. The clash in April 2016 was the most serious. Many soldiers on both sides were killed in this.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has expressed displeasure over the lack of adequate cooperation from Germany in the midst of the war.

Dmytro Kuleba has asked many questions to Germany by tweeting.

In his tweet, Kuleba writes, "Where Ukraine now needs Leopard and Marters (German special tanks) to free the people and save them from genocide, there are disappointing signals from Germany. Not a single rational argument as to why these weapons cannot be supplied, only senseless fears and excuses. What is Berlin afraid of that Kiev is not afraid of?

Ukraine is urging Western countries to speed up arms deliveries to speed up its offensive against Russia.

In a video address late on Monday, September 12, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the West should accelerate the delivery of weapons systems. He called on allies of Ukraine to "further strengthen their cooperation to defeat Russian terrorism".

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukrainian military's retaliation against Russian forces is continuing. Ukrainian forces have recaptured other Russian positions.

President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that more than 6,000 square km (2,317 sq mi) of territory in eastern and southern Ukraine had been withdrawn from Russian control in September 2022. However, international media outlet BBC declined to confirm these figures.

The mayor of Ukraine's Kharkiv city says the Russian attacks on critical infrastructure have forced the city's electricity and water supplies to be cut off again.

Earlier on Sunday, September 11, 2022, a power plant was damaged in a shooting.

After which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia wants to deprive the Ukrainian people of "light and heat" by cutting power. Russia is doing all this to avenge the retaliatory attacks of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian army is fighting against the Russian army to defend its land in the Kharkiv region. In recent days, the Ukrainian army has retaken many areas under Russian occupation.

According to the latest information, Ukraine has claimed that its army has recaptured 20 more villages.

At the same time, the Russian army says that the cities of Izyum and Kupiyansk are its targets. Until last week these areas were occupied by Russia.

Russia has said that its war against Ukraine will continue until it achieves its objectives.

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said in Saudi Arabia that India should get permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council.

The Indian External Affairs Minister said that there should be a change in the United Nations Security Council in the changing global situation. S Jaishankar said that this change is necessary for international security and the relevance of the United Nations Security Council.

S Jaishankar went on a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia on Saturday, 10 September 2022. This is the first visit of Indian External Affairs Minister to Saudi Arabia.

India has been demanding reform of the United Nations Security Council for years. Jaishankar said that the time has come for India to get permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council. The Indian External Affairs Minister said that the present structure of the UN Security Council does not reflect the geopolitical reality of the 21st century.

The Indian External Affairs Minister said that there is a broad consensus on the reform of the United Nations Security Council at the global level. S Jaishankar said that the expansion of the UN Security Council is not only in India's favor but is also good for those who are still deprived of representation.

In an interview to Saudi Gazette, S Jaishankar said, "India is the largest democracy in the world. It is the fifth largest economy in the world. Technology hub. Apart from this, India has traditionally been active in global affairs. All these things make India eligible for a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.''

S Jaishankar also met the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, on Sunday, September 11, 2022. S Jaishankar said that he has handed over a written message from PM Modi to the Crown Prince. S Jaishankar said that talks have taken place at many levels to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

Saudi Arabia is an important player in the global economy. Not only because Saudi Arabia is the dominant figure in the global economy, but Saudi Arabia also dominates the global energy market. Jaishankar said that Saudi Arabia is an important partner of India. Between April 2021 and March 2022, there was a trade of $ 42.86 billion between the two countries.

S Jaishankar said, “Energy is an important sector between the two countries. Apart from this, both the countries are also working on renewable energy. The two countries are also cooperating with each other on Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.''

China has strongly objected to America's statement that it was supplying weapons keeping in mind the defense of Taiwan.

The Foreign Minister of China said on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, "Taiwan is a province of China. What does America mean by defense?

Under the One China Policy, China considers Taiwan as its integral part and China does not want any country internationally to recognize Taiwan as an independent nation.

Recently, US Congress President Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, on which China had lodged a strong objection, saying that America would have to bear the brunt.

After America, many European countries have started speaking openly in favor of Taiwan.

After Russia's attack on Ukraine, there is a fear in some countries that China may also do something to Taiwan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized Western sanctions due to the war in Ukraine. He has called these restrictions such a fever, which has posed a threat to the whole world. In his speech during a meeting of the Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin called it an economic attack by Western countries on Russia.

He warned that Europeans were sacrificing their quality of life because of the restrictions, while the poorer countries were facing a food crisis.

Referring to Ukraine's grain, he said that Europe is deceiving the poor countries on this pretext. The port there was closed by Russian troops for several months due to the Ukraine war.

Putin says that it is wrong to say that only two ships of grain have gone to Africa since exports started in August 2022. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. At present, it also controls many areas of Ukraine.

Six months later, Russian forces have retreated from areas around the Ukrainian capital Kiev and the northern part of Ukraine, while Russian troops are also facing Ukrainian retaliation from the southern and eastern sides.

Due to the attack on Ukraine, Western countries have imposed various sanctions on Russia. In response, the supply of gas from Russia to Europe has also been affected. Russian President Putin says it is impossible to isolate Russia.

Putin has criticized the proposal of European countries to set price limits on Russian gas. He said that if this was done, Russia would stop the supply of oil and gas to these countries.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is on a visit to India. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Hyderabad House in Delhi announced that an agreement has been reached between the two countries on sharing of waters of Kushiyara river.

Announcing this, PM Modi said, "Today we have signed an important agreement on sharing of water from Kushiyara river. This will benefit southern Assam in India and Sylhet region in Bangladesh.''

However, no statement has come about sharing the waters of Teesta river between the two countries. There is no final agreement between the two countries on the Teesta river due to the objections of the West Bengal government.

PM Modi at Hyderabad House said, "There are 54 rivers that pass through the India-Bangladesh border, and have been linked to the livelihood of the people of both the countries for centuries."

Apart from this, Prime Minister Modi has said that cooperation against terrorism and fundamentalism has also been discussed between the two countries.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has launched a scheme to provide financial benefits to people leaving Ukraine.

According to this plan, those who were forced to leave Ukraine after February 18, 2022, will be given a pension of 10 thousand rubles, or $170 per month.

Disabled people have also been made part of this pension. Apart from this, one-time assistance will be given to pregnant women.

According to the plan, its benefits will be given to the people of Ukraine, Donetsk and Lohansk. Donetsk and Lohansk were recognized by Russia as independent states in February 2022.

Ukraine and Western countries have condemned this move of Russia, calling it illegal.

On February 18, 2022, President Putin ordered 10,000 rubles to be given to people coming to Russia from Donetsk and Lohansk.