THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 18 March 2020 (Defense Diplomacy (Mint))

Defense Diplomacy (Mint)

Mains Paper 2:International Relations
Prelims level: Defense Diplomacy
Mains level:Role of India in Defense Diplomacy

Context:

India is currently facing international criticism for some of its actions.
The “defence diplomacy” which is at the centre stage in the pursuit of its foreign policy, has helped India to stay afloat.

About defence diplomacy:

Defence diplomacy is a term used in international politics.
It refers to the pursuit of foreign policy objectives through the peaceful employment of defence resources and capabilities.
In earlier years, India hardly looked at military interactions as a means to further the national interest. But, this has changed.

Benefits from defence diplomacy to India:

India is currently under international criticism, especially from the muslim world, for some of its actions.
At the same time, its economy has also been sliding.
Defence diplomacy has helped India to stay afloat in this worrying environment.
It has taken the form of frequent and ambitious joint exercises with militaries of the region and beyond, port visits by warships, and so on.
While with most countries this has been not very significant, with the US in particular, and with Japan, the interface has been substantial.

India’s defence diplomacy strategy:

The Indo-Pacific has been repeatedly proclaimed as a region of mutual interest and our understanding of the term is different.
The precise purpose of the term...........................................

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How should India’s diplomacy be?

With China, India share disputed borders and a tense security relationship.
With Russia, a defence interface that goes back six decades stands in some difficulty now.
In the Muslim world, Iran cannot be easily ignored, nor Indonesia in the ASEAN, or Bangladesh next door.
With these countries, India needs to increase its defence interactions so long as India recognises its limitations.

Impact of defence diplomacy:

India’s profile as seen from outside is now increasingly getting predicated on domestic issues within its borders.
As India is seeking to emerge as a major power, its domestic issues must mesh holistically with the desired international image.
Defence diplomacy can only take India thus far. But, it cannot, by itself, overcome the negatives.
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General Studies Pre. Cum Mains Study Materials

Prelims Questions:

Q.1) With reference to the Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), consider the following statements:
1. Every year, February 6 is observed as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
2. WHO classifies four types of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both
(d) None