GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

Context:

India-South Korea bilateral defense deals and the recently held Korea-India Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue show the convergence between New Delhi and Seoul.

Historical Ties and Shifting Global Dynamics

• Strong Historical Roots: India and South Korea share a deep historical connection dating back to 48 BCE when Princess Suriratna from India married King Kim Suro in Korea, a cherished part of Korean folklore.
• Similar Security Challenges: India and South Korea face similar security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region due to the military growth of China and North Korea's nuclear capabilities.
• Quad and Global Dynamics: Both India and South Korea are part of the QUAD, a group of like-minded democracies in the Indo-Pacific, which plays a pivotal role in ensuring a Free and Open Indo-Pacific and a rules-based maritime order.

Economic Partnerships and Security Cooperation

• Economic Synergies: Both nations are exploring opportunities for economic collaboration, including in areas like semiconductor manufacturing and electric vehicles.
• Defense and Security Cooperation: Joint ventures like the production of the K9 Vajra artillery gun and potential collaboration in naval shipbuilding technologies showcase their commitment to enhancing defense ties.
• Trade Deficit Challenge: Despite growing economic engagement, India faces a rising trade deficit with South Korea. Negotiations are ongoing to open up Korean markets to Indian products.

Way Forward and Mutual Interests

• Alignment of Interests: Both India and South Korea share a substantial alignment of interests in a rapidly changing global landscape, including the ongoing power struggle between the US and China.
• Building Strong Connections: The two nations should work on building stronger bilateral, minilateral, and multilateral connections.
• Mutual Benefits: Trust and mutual benefit should be the pillars of their relationship. Collaborating on economic, defense, and strategic fronts can help both India and South Korea navigate the evolving global dynamics successfully.

Context:

As this week marks the third anniversary of the Abraham Accords, a historic agreement signed between Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Bahrain, with Morocco later joining. The agreement has improved not just regional ties but has also brought better opportunities for Indians.

Abraham Accords and Their Impact

• Milestone Anniversary: The primary goal of these accords was to promote stability in West Asia and North Africa.
• Increased Normalisation: The Accords have led to increased trade, tourism, and cultural exchanges among the signatory nations.
• Benefits for India: Accords have opened doors for India to engage in economic collaborations, especially in critical sectors like water, energy, transportation, space, health, and food security.

Regional Cooperation and Economic Opportunities

• Regional Cooperation: The Abraham Accords have laid the foundation for expanded regional and multinational cooperation. For example, the I2U2 Group, comprising Israel, India, the UAE, and the U.S., focuses on joint investments in various critical areas, benefiting all involved parties.
• Youth Initiatives: Recognizing the importance of youth engagement, the Accords have encouraged youth delegations to foster bonds between future leaders.
• Educational and Cultural Exchange: The Accords have also facilitated educational and cultural exchange programs, including student exchanges and Holocaust education.

Hope for a Better Future and Collaborative Efforts

• Unity for a Better Future: The Abraham Accords demonstrate the power of unity and cooperation.
• Invitation for More Nations: India plays a crucial role in these collaborative efforts, focusing on shared interests such as pandemic recovery, trade expansion, climate change mitigation, and international security.
• Commitment to Peace and Prosperity: Israel and its partners, including India, share a special bond and remain committed to realizing the full potential of the Abraham Accords.

Context:

The enormity of climate change is no excuse to resort to risky mitigation strategies.

Concerns of Solar Radiation Management (SRM)

• Driest August in a Century: India experienced an unusually dry August this year, which highlights the growing concerns about unpredictable weather patterns and their economic impact. While scientists have not yet linked this anomaly to climate change, it underscores the need for climate mitigation.
• Solar Radiation Management (SRM): SRM is a controversial proposal to block some of the incoming solar radiation to cool the Earth's surface. However, it poses significant dangers as it interferes with natural mechanisms and can have planet-wide consequences, affecting weather systems and agriculture in unforeseen ways.
• Lack of Accountability: One of the main concerns with SRM is the lack of mechanisms to hold a country engaged in geo-engineering accountable for the consequences beyond its borders. There is also limited research on how different weather systems affect each other and their sensitivity to interventions like SRM.

Climate Overshoot Commission's Report

• The Climate Overshoot Commission: A report from the Climate Overshoot Commission, composed of geo-engineering researchers, was released recently. The commission aims to explore ways to accelerate emission reductions and assesses the feasibility of SRM-like technologies.
• Calls for More Research: The report highlights the need for extensive research to address scientific and governance gaps before considering the implementation of SRM technologies. It acknowledges that the scientific community does not yet fully understand the implications of SRM and the potential consequences.
• Challenges of SRM: While the report suggests retaining SRM as a potential climate mitigation solution, it raises concerns about diverting resources, focus, and political will away from more effective strategies like emission reduction. SRM, if pursued, could dilute efforts to combat climate change effectively.

Need for Caution and Climate Justice

• Urgency of Climate Change: There is an urgency of addressing climate change against pursuing high-risk solutions like SRM when more viable alternatives, such as carbon capture, exist.
• Questionable Interests: The commission's assertion that it acts in the interests of developing countries is questioned, as corporate and political actors often prioritize economic growth over climate justice
• Balancing Risk and Responsibility: Climate change is a pressing issue, but also emphasizes the need to balance the urgency of action with responsible decision-making.

Context:

After the success of space mission like Chandrayaan-3 by India, the other countries are also trying to reach out the places unexplored in outer space, especially on moon like what we did with Antarctica. Hence, it raises question on human political instinct to remain first and its ethics.

Territorial Claims in Antarctica

• Human Instinct for Exploration: There is a human instinct for exploration and the desire to claim territories before others, highlighting its political significance.
• Race to the South Pole: As previously we saw the historical race to the South Pole in the early 20th century between British naval officer Robert Scott and Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen.
• Territorial Claims in Antarctica: Presently, several countries, including Norway and Britain, claimed territories in Antarctica after these explorations. Additionally, it questions the purpose of these claims on an inhospitable continent.

The Antarctic Treaty and Regulation

• The Antarctic Treaty: The International Geophysical Year (IGY) in 1958 has led to concerns about Cold War rivalry and the need for regulation in Antarctica.
• Provisions of the Treaty: It prohibited nuclear testing, military operations, economic exploitation, and further territorial claims. Currently, 54 parties, including India, are part of the Treaty.
• Challenges in Maintaining Ecological Integrity: It raises questions about whether the benefits of scientific research justify the ecological footprint on the continent.

Need for Ethical Standards

• Exploration of Outer Space: It highlights the race to explore the moon, with India's Chandrayaan-3 being one of the missions.
• The Moon Agreement: It is the time to overview the Moon Agreement, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1979, which emphasizes peaceful use of the moon, the common heritage of mankind, and the need for international regulation of resource exploitation.
• Crafting a New Ethical Framework: There is a need for a new ethical framework for human activity in outer space, aligning with the moral responsibility to protect outer space from militarization and debris.