Webinar Link

Meeting No: 2517 144 2251
Password: geopolitics

Certificate of Participants

To recieve certificates, please register and attend

Abstract

The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has far-reaching implications for India and the global community. The conflict challenges international law and principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty, and non-interference in other nations' affairs. The annexation of Crimea and support for separatist movements raises concerns about global stability and established norms. The war disrupts energy supplies, particularly natural gas, as Ukraine serves as a vital transit country for Russian gas exports to Europe. This disruption can impact global energy markets and prices, including those in India, which heavily relies on energy imports. Relations between Russia and the West have strained, leading to economic sanctions with global economic repercussions. This can affect international trade and investment flows, including those involving India. Additionally, the conflict has fueled an arms race, posing security and non-proliferation challenges. Cyber warfare and disinformation campaigns have intensified, revealing vulnerabilities to cyber attacks and propaganda. This poses a significant challenge to India and other countries reliant on digital infrastructure and social media platforms. Diplomatically, the conflict has divided the international community, requiring India to carefully balance its relations with Russia and Ukraine based on historical ties, strategic interests, and commitment to international norms. Monitoring the situation, promoting dialogue and negotiation, and working towards a peaceful resolution that upholds international law and global stability is crucial for India and the international community.

About the Speakers

D.B.Venkatesh Varma

Ambassador D.B.Venkatesh Varma was a Member of the Indian Foreign Service from 1988 to 2021. During his diplomatic career, he has worked in the Ministry of External Affairs, in the Office of External Affairs Minister and in the Prime Minister’s Office. He served as India’s Ambassador to Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, to the Kingdom of Spain and to the Russian Federation, until October 2021.

Amb. Varma has vast experience in India’s Security and Defence policies, including its nuclear, missile, and space programs. He has more than 12 years of experience in the field of multilateral non-proliferation and disarmament—nuclear, chemical, biological and conventional weapons, having served three postings in the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva. He also served as Joint Secretary in charge of Disarmament and International Security in the Ministry of External Affairs between 2010-2013. He was a member of the UN Group of Government Experts on Missiles and on Disarmament and Nuclear NonProliferation Education. He was also a Member of the Indian Delegation to the UNGA in 1998-1999, 2003- 2005 and 2008-2016. He has attended 9 Sessions of the UN First Committee and 7 Sessions of the United Nations Disarmament Commission.

With three separate postings in Moscow, spanning three decades, Amb. Varma has vast experience in India’s strategic relations with Russia. As Ambassador, he was closely involved with developing India’s relations with Russia including Prime Minister Modi’s Act Far East Initiative, deepening of India’s Defence, Nuclear, Space, Energy, Commercial, Science & Technology and Cultural relations with Russia. He has spoken at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum and the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.

Amb. Varma was the first Recipient of the S.K.Singh Award for Excellence in the Indian Foreign Service in 2011 for his contribution to the negotiations of the Civil Nuclear Initiative.

Amb. Varma has an M.Phil in International Relations (Disarmament Studies) from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. He has spoken at numerous think-tanks in Geneva, Washington, New York, Monterey, Vienna, Brussels, London, Melbourne, The Hague, Seoul, Madrid and Moscow. He has lectured at the Russian Diplomatic Academy, the Russian General Staff Academy in Moscow, the National Defence College, Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses and Foreign Service Institute, New Delhi, and the College of Defence Management, Secunderabad.

Manjeev Singh Puri

Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1982 and has served as Ambassador of India to the European Union, Belgium, Luxembourg and Nepal. Earlier he had served as Ambassador/Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the UN during the time that India was on the Security Council. He retired on 31 December 2019 in the rank of Secretary, Government of India.

Ambassador Puri has also headed the division in the Ministry of External Affairs dealing with UN issues on the social and economic side and been involved as a lead member of the Indian delegation at numerous global negotiations on climate change, sustainable development, migration, human rights and UN reforms. In addition, he has served twice in Germany (in Bonn and Berlin), in Cape Town, Muscat, Bangkok and Caracas.

Major areas of his experience relate to multilateralism (UN), Europe and Nepal. His professional focus has been on issues relating to the environment, climate change and sustainable development. He was a lead negotiator for India at the UN on issues relating to the post 2015 development agenda, Sustainable Development Goals and at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 2012. He was a key member of India's delegation at various Climate Change negotiations, including the Conference of Parties of the UNFCCC in Copenhagen in December 2009 and before that at Montreal, Bali, Bonn and Poznan. Furthermore, he was involved with India's participation in the G8-G5 Summits from 2005 and was the point-person for the Major Economies Forum.

Ambassador Puri has a Master’s degree in Management and did his BA (Honours) in Economics from St. Stephen's College, Delhi. He is presently Distinguished Fellow at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and a Distinguished Visiting Fellow with the Ananta Centre.

Lt. Gen. (Dr) Rakesh Sharma (Retd.)

Lt Gen (Dr) Rakesh Sharma was commissioned in Gorkha Rifles in 1977, and had a career in the Army spanning forty years. He has had extensive operational experience in Jammu and Kashmir, North East and on the Western Borders. The officer had trained the Botswana Army for three years in Africa, and attended the National War College at Abuja, Nigeria. Lt Gen Rakesh Sharma attended the NDC at New Delhi. He was Research Fellow at IDSA and has done PhD in Defence Studies. General Rakesh Sharma commanded the Fire and Fury Corps in Ladakh, facing both Pakistan and China. The General was the Adjutant General responsible for the Human Resource Management of the Indian Army. He is regular participant in seminars, lectures in various institutions, and regularly writes for newspapers, military journals and contributes chapters in edited Books. He currently holds Gen Bipin Rawat Chair of Excellence at USI, New Delhi, is on the EXECUTIVE COUNCIL of MP-IDSA and is DISTINGUISHED FELLOW with Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) and Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS).