| 27 April 2010
| 28 March 2010
There are two Dolphin-type Israeli submarines in service. The first is patrolling in the Mediterranean and the second in the Persian Gulf. The submarine in the Persian Gulf, according to expert Bharat Karnad (Research Professor in National Security Studies, Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi, member of the First National Security Advisory Board of the National Security Council, Government of India) navigates in the nearby Strait of Hormuz in order to closely monitor Iranian military objectives.
The Israeli submarine patrols, albeit in a negative perspective, perfectly illustrate the inter-connectivity between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Today, it is in the strategic theatre of the Indian Ocean that intertwines the two big conflicts which can alter global order: the tension between China and India for energy supplies and that of the USA and the Islamic world over the control of energy production.
In fact more than 15% of the world’s oil supply is transited through the Strait of Hormuz. Furthermore, the Strait of Hormuz serves the increasing Chinese energy demand. No wonder that the Strait plays host to the American fleet, the Indian aircraft carrier and, now as we also know, the second submarine of Israel.
| 16 March 2010
The trial of former Bosnian Serb General Zdravko Tolimir started on 26 February 2010. At first, it seemed that the long anticipated trial will be covered with a lot of media attention in Bosnia as well as in the neighbouring countries. Instead, the following events threw Tolimir trial in the shadow as if it were never important.
General Zdravko Tolimir was a former high ranking official of the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS) and was one of seven Assistant Commanders who reported directly to the commander of the General Staff, General Ratko Mladic. According to the indictment, Tolimir is charged with genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war committed between July and November 1995 against Bosnian Muslims in Srebrenica and Zepa, eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina.
| 02 March 2010
The year 2009 was one of renaissance in Russia’s foreign policy. After the Georgian crisis of August 2008, Russia faced isolation in the international community. Russia’s relations with the United States, NATO and EU went into a freeze. Even the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) refrained from fully supporting domination by Russia.
Russia is once again being wooed by all. Several factors have contributed to this. The United States and NATO are entangled in a costly and seemingly unwinnable war in Afghanistan. They had to approach Russia for help in transferring military and non-military supplies to Afghanistan. The global financial crisis hit the developed countries hard. Russia was also hit, but managed to come out of it relatively less hurt thanks to its large foreign exchange reserves. Russia has played the energy card deftly to bolster its position. The West also needs Russian support in the UN Security Council on Iran and North Korea.