19 June 2025 : Indian Express Editorial Analysis
1. Playing with Fire
(Source: Editorial Page, The Indian Express)
| Topic: GS2 – International Relations, GS3 – Internal Security |
| Context |
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Nuclear Risks in Warzones
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In both Iran and Ukraine, nuclear facilities have become targets during military offensives, risking regional fallout.
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Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant remains vulnerable under Russian military presence.
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In Iran, tensions have escalated over nuclear enrichment concerns, with the potential for Israel targeting these sites.
Geopolitical Implications
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Targeting nuclear infrastructure marks a dangerous precedent in military norms, risking global conventions.
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These actions threaten the credibility of international nuclear safeguards and oversight mechanisms like IAEA.
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The editorial warns that deterrence-based calculations are being replaced by reckless unilateral actions.
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Power asymmetries between nuclear and non-nuclear states add a new layer of insecurity to regional conflicts.
Energy Transition and Strategic Instability
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With fragile transitions to renewable energy, nuclear energy remains critical to energy security.
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Attacks on such installations can disrupt not just regional security but global energy markets.
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The risk is magnified in regions where state actors defy international safeguards or operate outside NPT frameworks.
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It undermines future diplomatic solutions based on compliance and verification regimes.
Conclusion / Way Forward:
- The editorial calls for a reaffirmation of global nuclear norms and stricter safeguards.
- Multilateral frameworks like the IAEA and NPT must be empowered to hold violators accountable.
- India, as a responsible nuclear state, must also assert its commitment to nuclear restraint and diplomacy.
| Practice Question: (GS-3 | 15 Marks | 250 Words)
Critically examine the risks of targeting nuclear infrastructure in contemporary armed conflicts. What safeguards should the international community adopt? |
Also Read: The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 19 June 2025
2. Pointed & Needed
(Source: Editorial Page, The Indian Express)
| Topic: GS2 – International Relations, GS1 – Post-Independence Indian Politics |
| Context |
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India’s Firm Diplomatic Posture
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Modi’s statement during the G7 that “India charts its own course” underscores strategic autonomy.
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India has rebuffed third-party mediation, especially in sensitive bilateral issues like India-Pakistan ties.
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This reflects a maturing foreign policy stance rooted in sovereign decision-making.
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India’s increasing participation in minilateral and multilateral forums also strengthens this approach.
India-Canada Relations and G7 Engagement
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Modi’s meeting with Canadian PM Trudeau signaled efforts to stabilize strained ties after the Nijjar controversy.
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India’s G7 participation also focused on pushing for Global South issues, including debt relief and development finance.
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India is seen as a constructive player in managing North-South divides, especially in climate diplomacy.
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Backchannel negotiations may redefine future India–Canada dynamics without escalating tensions.
Strategic Autonomy in Global Affairs
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India refuses to be clubbed in rigid alliances and prefers issue-based cooperation.
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Whether in the Indo-Pacific, West Asia, or trade, India’s diplomacy balances Western ties and southern solidarity.
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This is evident in India’s independent stance on Ukraine, trade disputes with the US, and its oil policy.
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It strengthens India’s claim as a civilizational power with an independent voice.
Conclusion / Way Forward:
- India’s policy of “no third-party mediation” and sovereign foreign policy positions align with a multipolar world order.
- Future diplomacy should continue to combine pragmatism with non-alignment principles to secure India’s strategic interests.
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Practice Question: (GS-2 | 10 Marks | 150 Words) |
Read more – 18 June 2025 : Indian Express Editorial Analysis
