Thread by @seshanm

#InAnUncertainWorld
As Lines Between Security, Politics, And Economics Blur, India Navigates Through Waters Of Uncertainty swarajyamag.com/world/as-lines…

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been consistent in alerting Indians that the world order will change after Covid. But most of us, who didn’t see the World War, couldn’t relate to the sentiment. The bigger picture is now emerging, and it's scary."

"In the past, we saw crises on select fronts. Now all fronts are open, and all rules are meant to be broken. We are neither unipolar nor a multipolar world. No one knows where we are. It is time to hedge every risk from political, defence, and food to loan defaults"

"Now when China is fumbling, others are watching from the sidelines. Like the typical e-commerce rush to burn cash in the hope of emerging as the last man standing; all prominent powers in the world are in a race to protect or enhance the political hegemony."

"The RCEP agreement came into force in January. But this week, Australia, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam joined the 13-member US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF)."

"Clearly, many members of RCEP and IPEF will be working at cross-purposes, if not in letter, then in spirit. The more crucial question is: if security groupings start promoting trade and investment what will be the future of trade blocks?"

"The world is looking for a new growth anchor that can help reduce dependence on China. The immediate task for India is to claim a leadership position in terms of growth and investment, without compromising its fiscal balance."

"It would have been good if the Opposition sided with the government in this critical period. If that doesn’t come and India can survive the test, the Opposition will lose all claim to have contributed to India’s growth."