Lakshya UPSC PT 2022 - International Relation Lecture 2 Complete 1 year current affairs

Table of Contents

Topic 9 – Resolution 2593 on Taliban: UNSC

United Nations Security Council Resolution 2593 was adopted on August 30, 2021, following the fall of Kabul and the subsequent Taliban takeover in

About resolution 2593

It was put forward by US, UK, and France and adopted after 13 council members voted in favour.
The permanent members Russia and China abstained from voting (not veto).
India voted in favour.

Topic 9 – Resolution 2593 on Taliban: UNSC

Russia and China’s Abstention

Demand of inclusion of groups like Islamic State (ISIL) and Uighur East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) in the document
Non inclusion of freezing Afghan financial assets in the document

The UNSC 1267 Committee (also known as al-Qaida and Taliban Sanctions Committee) was established as a result of resolution 1267 in 1999.
If an individual/organisation is included in the 1267 list, it helps in restricting their movement, financial penalties, and assets freeze among others.

Topic 10 – Financial Action Task Force (FATF)

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has retained Pakistan on its ‘grey list’ or ‘increased monitoring list’.
There are 17 countries on the grey list of the FATF.
Zimbabwe has been excluded from the list.

About FATF

It is the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog.
FATF is an inter-governmental body, established in 1989 during the G7 summit in Paris, France.
Secretariat: located at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) headquarters in Paris.
Organizational composition: It currently comprises 37 member jurisdictions and 2 regional organizations. It also has observers and associate members.
India is a member of the organization since June 2010. It had earlier acquired ‘Observer’ status at FATF in 2006.
The FATF Plenary: is the decision-making body of the FATF which meets thrice a year.

FATF prepares two lists

Grey List: Countries that are considered safe-haven for supporting terror funding and money laundering are put in the FATF grey list.
Black List: Countries known as Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories (NCCTs) are put on the blacklist. These countries support terror funding and money laundering activities.

Topic 11- New Quad

The first virtual summit of the foreign ministers of the US, India, Israel, and UAE was recently held.
The four nations agreed to form a new international economic forum to utilise the “unique array of capabilities, knowledge and experience” that each oﬀers.

Topic 11- New Quad

About the group

The group is already being dubbed the ‘New Quad’ or the ‘Middle-Eastern Quad’ on the lines of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD).

Abraham Accord

The new grouping is possible after the resumption of formal diplomatic relations between Israel and the UAE, through the Abraham Accord.
Abraham Accords are a joint statement made between Israel, the United States and the United Arab Emirates on August 13, 2020

Significance for India

Over the years, India has built vibrant bilateral ties with all the countries in the new
It is a member of the Quad with the US, Australia and Japan, which have common concerns and shared interests in East Asia.
Israel is one of India’s top defence suppliers.
The UAE is vital for India’s energy security and hosts millions of Indian workers.

Topic 12 – Black Sea

S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin urged more defence cooperation among Black Sea allies ahead of a NATO Ministers summit.

About

Lying between Europe and Asia.
It is bordered by Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine.
It is supplied by major rivers, principally the Danube, Dnieper, and Don.
The Black Sea ultimately drains into the Mediterranean Sea, via the Turkish Straits and the Aegean Sea.

The Bosporus Strait connects it to the small Sea of Marmara which in turn is connected to the Aegean Sea via the Strait of the
To the north, the Black Sea is connected to the

Sea of Azov by the Kerch Strait.

The Black Sea covers 436,400 km2 (not including the Sea of Azov), making it the world’s largest inland body of water.
It is an important crossroads and strategic intersection for the entire region.

Topic 12 – Black Sea

Russian Interest in Black Sea

Close historical ties with Russia.
Trade via mediterranean.
Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014 and carved oﬀ the strategically vital

peninsula of Crimea.
US Interest in Black Sea

The Black Sea is bordered by Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine.
All these countries are NATO countries.

Topic 13 – Rail Link between Nepal and India

The rail link between Nepal and India is ready to resume on the neighbouring country’s first-ever broad gauge passenger service (Jainagar-Bijalpura- Bardibas railway project).

First Stretch

A 34-km line between Bihar’s Jainagar and Nepal’s Kurtha, with the Hindu pilgrimage city of Janakpur Dham (in Nepal) in between.

Topic 13 – Rail Link between Nepal and India

Second Stretch

A 17 km of the railway line from Kurtha to Bijalpura is also getting the finishing touches.

Managing Body

The Konkan Railway Corporation Limited has got the contract for operations and maintenance of the line.

Topic 14 – One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG)

Recently, an initiative was announced by India and the United Kingdom to tap solar energy and have it travel seamlessly across
They call for ‘One Sun, One World, One Grid’ to improve the viability of solar power.

About

It was announced on the second day of the COP26.
This brings together the International Solar Alliance and the UK’s green grid initiative and complements India’s focus on harnessing the sun’s energy.
The grid will be set up over the next few years by the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
It includes a group of governments called the Green Grids Initiative — One Sun One World One Grid group — and was announced at COP26 by summit host United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Three Phases of the Plan

First Phase: It will entail interconnectivity within the Asian continent.
Second Phase: It will add Africa.
Third Phase: It is about global interconnection.

Topic 15 – China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

Pakistan signed a new agreement with China to begin the second phase of the USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Pakistan has discussed Taliban-led Afghanistan joining the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

About

Launched in 2015, the CPEC is the flagship project of the multi- billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
A pet project of Chinese President Xi Jinping, aimed at enhancing Beijing’s influence around the world through China-funded infrastructure projects.
The 3,000 km-long China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

consists of highways, railways, and pipelines.

CPEC eventually aims at linking the city of Gwadar in South Western Pakistan to China’s North Western region Xinjiang.

India’s Concerns on Afghanistan joining CPEC

The primary concern with Afghanistan joining CPEC is that India is apprehensive of its investment in Chabahar port in Iran.
India has been the biggest regional donor to Afghanistan investing more than US$2 billion.
China trying to take over the Bagram air force base in Afghanistan.
The Bagram airport is the biggest airport and technically well-equipped as the Americans kept it for their use till the end, instead of the Kabul airport.

Topic 16 – Build Back Better World (B3W) Initiative

It was launched by the G7 countries.
The initiative was launched to counter the BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) of China.

About

Led by the United States.
Aims to address 40 trillion USD worth of infrastructure

that is needed by the developing countries.

To be achieved by 2035.
The B3W will catalyze funding from the private sector.
It supports those investors who are interested in climate, digital technology, and health.

Blue Dot Network

Build Back Better World (B3W) Initiative was built over the Blue Dot Network.
The Blue Dot Network was formed by Japan, the USA, and Australia.
The Blue Dot Network provides assessment and certification of infrastructural projects.
It was launched in 2019.
It was launched at the Indo-Pacific Business Forum held in Bangkok.
It aims to build a network that lends to build bridges, roads, ports, airports, and power plants.

Components of B3W

Climate,
Health and health security, Digital technology, 4.Gender equity and equality

Belt and Road Initiative

The BRI project was launched in 2013
It broadly aims to facilitate cross-border transportation of goods, and access to energy, creating demand for existing excess capacity in Chinese industries.
China had an overall exposure of investment of around $750 billion between 2013 to mid-2020.