The African Union is a continental body encompassing 55 African member states that make up the countries of the African Continent. It was founded in 2002 as a successor to the Organization of African Unity(OAU)(founded in 1963). The organization focuses on greater unity, defending sovereignty, increasing cooperation, stability, and development within Africa. Note: Guinea, Burkina…
The European Union was founded after World War II in 1992 through the Treaty of Maastricht. It is a supranational organization where members have unanimously agreed to surrender some part of their sovereignty to European institutions, which have been formed unilaterally by them representing the collective interests of Europe. Membership: It is a political and…
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional organization formed by the governments of Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, and Singapore to promote economic growth, peace, social progress, security and cultural development in the Southeast Asian region. ASEAN was established on 8th August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration….
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an international, intergovernmental political, security, and economic organization that was formed in Shanghai on June 15, 2001. It encompasses ten countries: Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan, Iran (added in 2023) and Belarus (added in 2024). It includes two countries with observer status (Afghanistan…
The Quadrilateral Group consisting of India, Australia, Japan, and the U.S. was formed in 2017. It aims to strengthen the defence and security cooperation among the four countries. It was proposed by the former Japan’s Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe in 2007 to check China’s growing influence and assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. It has a…
BRICS is an acronym for five of the world’s largest developing economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Established as a bloc for economic cooperation and political dialogue, BRICS aims to promote mutual development, enhance trade, and provide a counterbalance to Western dominance in global governance and financial institutions. The BRICS countries represent around…
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional organization that was established on 06 June 1997 with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration. It was initially proposed by Thailand and was created in 1997 as BIST-EC (Bangladesh-India-Sri Lanka-Thailand Economic Cooperation). Later, the organisation came to be now known…
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an important regional organisation in South Asia. It was established on 8 December 1985. We have already discussed several issues in South Asia in the chapters in the previous section. It is clear that India needs a comprehensive South Asian policy to prosper in coherence with…
India’s South Asian policy has evolved significantly since its independence in 1947, shaped by changing regional dynamics, security concerns, and economic priorities. Initially, India adopted a more inward-focused approach, prioritizing domestic economic growth and nation-building. However, as the global and regional political landscape evolved, India’s strategy began to emphasize regional cooperation and security within South…
India shares profound historical and cultural ties with Myanmar. During the colonial period, both countries were under British India. After independence, the two countries cultivated a close relationship that culminated in the signing of the 1951 Treaty of Friendship. Jawahar Lal Nehru (India’s first Prime Minister) and Myanmar’s premier U Nu shared common views on…
