‘Young people are liberal and pro-European’. Think again. 36% of 18-24 year olds in France support Le Pen. Also strong for Wilders in Netherlands.

“After a life of living what I would now define as extreme luxury, I was humbled like never before seeing how other human beings live their day-to-day lives.”

“European firms — from German auto giants to French cognac-makers — have been appealing to their countries not to go down the path of a trade war with China, for fear of losing market access should the Chinese authorities take punitive action in retaliation.” 2/2

Looks like US calculations are that PM Modi is storming back to power and this is the only way it can improve traction in the bilateral relationship.

India's Foreign Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, was asked 'on what side India was' in the 'emerging China versus US Cold War'.

His answer;

'India is on India's side'.

Nigerian intellectuals can learn something from this - to not take sides in Western framed debates.

“The security and foreign affairs SGOS convener is Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra... The SGOS has firmed up a slew of ambitious 100-day and five-year plans, including holding a Global South Centre of Excellence Summit, opening over a dozen missions abroad..”

“The United States is concerned about Ukraine’s recent strikes against Russian ballistic missile early-warning sites,” said a U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the matter’s sensitivity.”

Tables turning? washingtonpost.com/national-secur…

“mining & processing of critical materials are geographically concentrated.. is particularly evident.. cobalt, graphite, nickel, lithium, dysprosium, neodymium, platinum, & iridium, for which one country — China — dominates at least 50% of the mining and/or processing activity.”

Growth in GDP (current prices) between 2003-2023.

🇨🇳 China: 966%
🇮🇳 India: 503%
🇮🇩 Indonesia: 455%
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia: 395%
🇷🇺 Russia: 303%
🇧🇷 Brazil: 281%
🇹🇷 Turkey: 265%
🇨🇦 Canada: 136%
🇺🇸 US: 135%
🇩🇪 Germany: 77%
🇫🇷 France: 65%
🇬🇧 UK: 61%
🇮🇹 Italy: 38%
🇯🇵 Japan: -6%

.Tanvi Madan is correct in highlighting that the Russia-China relationship is an important factor in calibrating Russia's approach to India. My two cents: Moscow will be loath to give up its flexibility (and warm relations with 🇮🇳), but it will if it is faced with a compulsion.

'In the final months of the USSR, there even was a ‘perceptible end of an era sense’ according to commentators about the bilateral relationship, with Rajiv Gandhi’s successor, VP Singh’s prime ministerial visit to the USSR in July 1990 ‘showing the emerging hints of stress'.'

'The Soviet press, freer after glasnost reforms, began to pay ‘critical attention’ to India and its opposition to the nuclear proliferation treaty, lease of a nuclear submarine and the soft currency trade and debt repayment arrangements.' 4/6

A small piece from my dissertation about this period:

'The final few years of the Soviet Union, however, saw a fizzling out of its relationship with India. In the late 1980s, Gorbachev’s attention was focused on ending the Cold War. ' 2/6