ISDP Voices

United Nations peacekeeping operations (UNPKOs) represent the most visible and tangible symbol of the UN’s core prerogative in maintaining international peace and security. However, like its authorizing body – the UN Security Council (UNSC) – the UN peacekeeping enterprise has, in recent years, come under sharp criticism associated with its failure to bring lasting peace […]

A recent, widely commented upon essay in Foreign Affairs by Ashley Tellis, an acclaimed strategic analyst on India-U.S. relations, argues that Washington’s more than two-decade long bet on India as a key strategic partner that would come to U.S.’ help in its contest with China, has been a bad one. The article, which is “meant […]

The content of the Hiroshima G7 summit (May 19-23) of leaders of the Group of Seven industrialized countries has attracted much global media attention for its main focus which requires Beijing to abide by the “international rules-based order” and stop “use of economic coercion” around the world. China, on the other hand, as was expected […]

“A journey in search of the Malwatu Oya is a journey to the heart of an ancient civilization” in Sri Lanka, says Dr. SinhaRaja Tammita-Delgoda, who discovered the historical context and brought out the beauty of Malwatu Oya in his documentary. Unfortunately, in the present day, her beauty and its surrounding environment will all be destroyed. […]

This past week has seen Canada’s Conference of Defence Associations Institute publish a letter signed by more than 60 former top security officials, including the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, two Deputy Prime Ministers, five former Liberal and five former Conservative Defence Ministers, and nine former Chiefs of Defence Staff, calling on the […]

A new momentum seems to be visible in South Korea-Japan relations since the Yoon administration assumed office in Seoul last year. President Yoon Seok-youl had stated his intention to re-establish cooperation with Tokyo during his presidential campaign itself, and the controversy regarding compensation to Korean workers forced to do hard labor in Japanese factories and […]

During their 4th Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) and 2nd Service-to-Service (STS) Meeting recently, the Philippines and India stated their mutual commitment to strengthening the capacity of their defense partnership. It was also reported that Manila and New Delhi are in talks for the potential deployment of an Indian defense attaché to the Southeast Asian […]

India recently announced it would send a consignment of 20,000 metric tons of wheat to the Taliban-led Afghanistan through Chabahar port in Iran. This wheat is part of India’s humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people after the Taliban takeover in August 2021. India, a friendly country to Afghanistan, has been sending wheat consignments to the […]

Key Takeaways Sweden should voice support for Taiwan’s inclusion in the upcoming WHA. Statehood is not at the center of WHO/WHA membership; Taiwan was a WHA observer for eight years as Chinese Taipei. Taiwan’s participation in the WHA is a global health issue. Taiwan’s inclusion in the WHA can improve Cross-Strait relations. Taiwan has made […]

At the Munich Security Conference in February, Wang Yi, China’s highest-ranking diplomat and member of the Politburo, stated that China should not be perceived as a rival but rather as a partner of Europe. The EU, however, designated China a “systemic rival” in 2019. In January this year, Sweden assumed the presidency of the European […]