Regional Geopolitics – Page 4

Factum Special Perspective: Houthis, the Red Sea, and Sri Lankan Politics

Maritime Security, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsJanuary 9, 20242KViews 2Likes 0Comments

By Rear Admiral Y. N. Jayarathna (Retd) Naval assets are tools through which a country’s geopolitical standing is constantly being tested – especially in contested waters. After Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, the US promptly dispatched two carrier battle groups to the Gulf and the Mediterranean. The purpose was to…

Factum Perspective: Narratives of Genocide in Gaza

Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsDecember 30, 2023505Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Nithu Ardithya In delving into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it is essential to scrutinize accusations of genocide through the lens of international instruments and established criteria. This comprehensive exploration aims to unravel the complexities, particularly examining how these criteria manifest in the ongoing conflict. International Humanitarian Law (IHL), rooted in the Geneva Conventions of 1949…

Factum Perspective: The Geopolitics of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

History and Culture, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsNovember 18, 2023584Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Britney Martil A comprehensive assessment of the Azerbaijan-Armenia war over Nagorno-Karabakh uncovers a complex and deeply ingrained geopolitical history in the Caucasus area. Originating in the aftermath of World War I and the subsequent collapse of the Russian Empire, the resultant power vacuum afforded Azerbaijan and Armenia the opportunity to declare their independence. The…

Factum Perspective: Gaza and “R2P” in a Multipolar World Order

Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsNovember 11, 2023827Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Lakmali Bhagya Manamperi The responsibility of the international community for the protection of innocent civilians during times of humanitarian crisis has come to light with the recent escalation of the conflict in Palestine. The attacks targeting civilians and civilian objects are a clear violation of international humanitarian norms and can no better be named…

Factum Perspective: India’s calculation on the UNGA resolution on Gaza goes awry

Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsNovember 5, 2023711Views 0Likes 0Comments

By P. K. Balachandran India’s abstention from the UN General Assembly (UNGA) vote late last month on a Jordanian resolution calling for a humanitarian pause in the war in Gaza has put it in an awkward position vis-à-vis the Global South and its neighbours, which are its core constituencies. Finding itself isolated New Delhi issued…

Factum Special Perspective: Global Scholarships, Geopolitical Strife

Health and Economic Cooperation, International Development, Regional GeopoliticsOctober 25, 2023568Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Vinod Moonesinghe Growing US security concerns about China's rapid technological progress have led to increased scrutiny of academic programs involving China or Chinese scholars. This has led to the resignation of experts such as Denis Simon from the University of North Carolina, who left due to restrictive government policies. Simon complains about university fears…

Factum Perspective: “Fair Multipolarity” gains momentum at the 20th Valdai Conference

Health and Economic Cooperation, International Development, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsOctober 21, 2023629Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Sanja de Silva Jayatilleka The Valdai Discussion Club, established in 2004, held its 20th meeting in Sochi, Russia from October 2 to 5, seeing over 140 “leading experts” from 42 countries attending the conference despite ongoing hostilities between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin attended the conference for the plenary session on…

Factum Perspective: When a book by a Mossad Officer led to a Commission of Inquiry in Sri Lanka

History and Culture, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsOctober 15, 20231KViews 1Like 0Comments

By Chandani Kirinde While successive Sri Lankan governments have recognised the right of the Palestinian people to independent statehood, based on relevant United Nations resolutions, its relations with the State of Israel have been less than consistent. Sri Lanka established diplomatic ties with Israel in 2000, but relations between the two have historically vacillated depending…

Factum Special Perspective: How Hamas pummeled Israeli intelligence

Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsOctober 12, 2023726Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Rathindra Kuruwita On October 7, Hamas launched a rocket barrage of at least 3,000 missiles against Israel. This was followed by an invasion by land and on air. Militants broke through the Gaza-Israel barrier and forced their way through the Gaza border, entering and attacking Israeli communities and military installations, and killing at…

Factum Perspective: The Indo-Canada spat

Belt Road Initiative and Indo-Pacific Policy, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsSeptember 30, 2023620Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Aavin Abeydeera In September this year, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed the Canadian House of Commons. His speech included statements that went on to spark one of the most consequential diplomatic crises in the world today. Trudeau essentially accused Indian intelligence of being behind the assassination of one Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a…

Factum Perspective: The President in New York

Belt Road Initiative and Indo-Pacific Policy, Health and Economic Cooperation, International Development, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsSeptember 23, 2023839Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Uditha Devapriya The last week has been very busy for President Ranil Wickremesinghe. First he travelled to Cuba, in time for the G77 Plus China Heads of State Summit in Havana from September 15 to 16. Largely dismissed by the Western press, the Summit saw the participation of delegations from more than a…

Factum Perspective: The BRICS, SCO, and the emerging Multipolar order

Belt Road Initiative and Indo-Pacific Policy, Health and Economic Cooperation, International Development, Regional GeopoliticsSeptember 8, 2023646Views 1Like 0Comments

By Shakthi de Silva Of late, headlines have been dominated by news of the BRICS deciding, at its 15th Summit in Johannesburg, to add six new members from 2024. The news should not necessarily come as a surprise, as the original members, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, agreed during the 14th BRICS…