International Institutions Additional Reading PDF

INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES International Organisations / Groupings 1. Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) The Global Partnership on...

INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES International Organisations / Groupings 1. Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) The Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit in New Delhi concluded with representatives from 28 countries and the European Union adopting the 'New Delhi Declaration.' 2. IOM launches Project PRAYAS The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has launched Project PRAYAS (Promoting Regular & Assisted Migration for Youth and Skilled Professionals) in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs. About Project Prayas: The project aims to facilitate safe, orderly, and regular migration for Indian workers and students. It consolidates state-level initiatives and focuses on improving coordination between state and central governments. The project involves studying migration trends, understanding migrants' needs, and launching initiatives to raise awareness about safe migration processes, with the goal of strengthening international migration governance. www.insightsonindia.com 22 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES About IMO: International Organization for Migration (founded 1951; HQ: Grand-Saconnex, Switzerland) is the principal United Nations agency working in the field of migration. The organization implements operational assistance programmes for migrants, including internally displaced persons, refugees, and migrant workers. According to the International Migration Outlook 2023 report Migration to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries has reached record levels, with over 6 million new permanent immigrants in 2022. 3. Paris Club group of creditors Sri Lanka has reached an "agreement in principle" with India and the Paris Club group of creditors, including Japan, on a debt treatment plan. Aim: This agreement is expected to facilitate the release of the next tranche of the International Monetary Fund's nearly $3 billion recovery package for Sri Lanka. At the height of last year's economic crisis, Sri Lanka defaulted on its nearly $51 billion foreign debt, leading to the need for comprehensive loan restructuring. What is the Paris Club? The Paris Club (est. 1956, HQ: Paris (France)) is a group of officials from major creditor countries whose role is to find coordinated and sustainable solutions to the payment difficulties experienced by debtor countries. It provided financial assurances to the International Monetary Fund on Sri Lanka’s debt Objective: To find sustainable debt-relief solutions for countries that are unable to repay their bilateral loans. Members: 22 permanent members (all are a member of the OECD) India and China are not members. India acts as an ad-hoc participant 4. International Energy Agency (IEA) Created in 1974 to ensure the security of oil supplies, the International Energy Agency has evolved over the years. The IEA was born with the 1973-1974 oil crisis, when industrialised countries found they were not adequately equipped to deal with the oil embargo imposed by major producers that pushed prices to historically high levels. Its mission is guided by four main areas of focus: energy security, economic development, environmental awareness and engagement worldwide. Headquarters (Secretariat): Paris, France. IEA’s mandate has expanded over time to include tracking and analyzing global key energy trends, promoting sound energy policy, and fostering multinational energy technology cooperation. A candidate country to the IEA must be a member country of the OECD. The IEA operates within the broader framework of the Organization for Economic Co- Operation and Development (OECD). IEA member nations are required to store the equivalent of at least 90 days’ worth of oil, measured according to their previous year’s net oil imports. Membership: 31 countries (India is not a member). India is part of the ‘association countries’ of IEA. World Energy Outlook is Published every year and provides critical analysis and insights on trends in energy demand and supply. www.insightsonindia.com 23 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES 5. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) The IAEA is the world’s centre for cooperation in the nuclear field. It was set up as the world’s “Atoms for Peace” organization in 1957. It was established as an autonomous organization in 1957 through its own international treaty, the IAEA Statute. Reports to both the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council. Headquarters in Vienna, Austria. The IAEA serves as an intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear technology and nuclear power worldwide. Works with its Member States and multiple partners worldwide to promote the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technologies. Seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. Functions: 1. Recommendations to the General Conference on IAEA activities and budget. 2. Responsible for publishing IAEA standards. 3. Responsible for making most of the policy of the IAEA. 4. Appoints the Director General subject to General Conference approval. Programs: Program of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT). Human Health Program. Water Availability Enhancement Project. International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles, 2000. IAEA safeguards: What are they? Safeguards are a set of technical measures applied by the IAEA on nuclear material and activities, through which the Agency seeks to independently verify that nuclear facilities are not misused and nuclear material not diverted from peaceful uses. States accept these measures through the conclusion of safeguards agreements. The objective of IAEA Safeguards is to deter the spread of nuclear weapons by the early detection of the misuse of nuclear material or technology. This provides credible assurances that States are honouring their legal obligations that nuclear material is being used only for peaceful purposes. Need and implementation: IAEA safeguards are an essential component of the international security system. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is the centrepiece of global efforts to prevent the further spread of nuclear weapons. Under the Treaty’s Article 3, each Non-Nuclear Weapon State is required to conclude a safeguards agreement with the IAEA. 6. International Criminal Court (ICC) The International Criminal Court (ICC), located in The Hague, is the court of last resort for prosecution of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. It is the first permanent, treaty based, international criminal court established to help end impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community. Its founding treaty, the Rome Statute, entered into force on July 1, 2002. Funding: Although the Court’s expenses are funded primarily by States Parties, it also receives voluntary contributions from governments, international organisations, individuals, corporations and other entities. www.insightsonindia.com 24 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES Composition and voting power: The Court’s management oversight and legislative body, the Assembly of States Parties, consists of one representative from each state party. Each state party has one vote and “every effort” has to be made to reach decisions by consensus. If consensus cannot be reached, decisions are made by vote. The Assembly is presided over by a president and two vice-presidents, who are elected by the members to three-year terms. The International Criminal Court (ICC) investigates and, where warranted, tries individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression. Jurisdiction: The ICC has the jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for the international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. The ICC is intended to complement existing national judicial systems and it may therefore only exercise its jurisdiction when certain conditions are met, such as when national courts are unwilling or unable to prosecute criminals or when the United Nations Security Council or individual states refer situations to the Court. It does not have the capacity to arrest suspects and depends on member states for their cooperation. The ICC lacks universal territorial jurisdiction, and may only investigate and prosecute crimes committed within member states, crimes committed by nationals of member states, or crimes in situations referred to the Court by the United Nations Security Council. The U.S. government has never been a member of the court. Some countries have neither signed nor acceded to the Rome Statute. Some of them, including China and India, are critical of the Court. 7. Alliance for Global Good- Gender Equity and Equality India launched the "Alliance for Global Good- Gender Equity and Equality" at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2024 in Davos. More about the initiative: Led by the Union Minister of Women & Child Development, the alliance aims to promote women-led development globally. The alliance focuses on global best practices, knowledge sharing, and investments in women's health, education, and enterprise. Aligned with G20 Leaders' Declaration, it reflects India's commitment to women-led development. Supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, anchored by the CII Centre for Women Leadership, WEF acts as a 'Network Partner,' and Invest India as an 'Institutional Partner.' The initiative reinforces India's commitment to global cooperation and the overarching WEF theme, 'Rebuilding Trust.' The launch was complemented by a women's leadership lounge (We Lead lounge) at WEF, featuring discussions and showcasing products by women entrepreneurs. 8. Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) The 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit was recently held in the Ugandan capital city Kampala. www.insightsonindia.com 25 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES Theme: 'Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence.' The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) stands as an alliance of developing nations established in 1961 during the Cold War, with roots traced back to the Bandung Conference held in Indonesia in 1955. Currently, NAM boasts a membership of 120 countries, including India, one of its founding members. Ranking as the second-largest grouping of nations globally, NAM operates without a permanent secretariat or a formal founding charter, act, or treaty. The movement convenes its summit approximately every three years. 9. Colombo Security Conclave 10. OPEC Angola has left OPEC. OPEC was established in 1960 at the Baghdad Conference by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela, is an intergovernmental organization with key members including Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Libya, Nigeria, the Republic of the Congo, and the United Arab Emirates. The organization's primary objective is to coordinate and unify petroleum policies among member countries, ensuring fair and stable prices for petroleum producers and maintaining an efficient, economic, and regular supply of petroleum to consuming nations. With its headquarters in Vienna, Austria, OPEC holds significant global influence, possessing over 80% of the world's total crude oil reserves. OPEC+ represents approximately 40% of world oil production, comprising OPEC and 10 other major oil-exporting nations, including Russia. The organization regulates crude oil prices through www.insightsonindia.com 26 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES mechanisms like spot or future sales, using Brent Crude as a benchmark for quality, with WTI (West Texas Intermediate) being another major Benchmark. 11. Belt and Road Initiative (One Belt One Road) Italy, the only major Western nation to join China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2019, leaves BRI. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a global infrastructure development strategy launched by China in 2013. It aims to invest in over 150 countries and international organizations, creating road, rail, and sea routes for trade and connectivity. The initiative, often referred to as "One Belt One Road" (OBOR), is a key part of China's foreign policy and has been compared to the American Marshall Plan. Objective of BRI: The BRI is seen as a way for China to transition to a global power and reshape the global economic order. It further aims to enhance global connectivity through infrastructure development and economic cooperation. BRI includes various infrastructure projects like ports, railways, roads, and power stations. It is set to be completed by 2049, coinciding with the centennial of the People's Republic of China. The initiative includes two principal components: the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road. Geographic Corridors for BRI Development: China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) New Eurasian Land Bridge Economic Corridor China-Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor China-Central Asia-West Asia Economic Corridor China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (Initially, BRI involved the BCIM Economic Corridor, but India's opposition to the CPEC led to its withdrawal from BRI and later BCIM was replaced by the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor) India’s Objection to BRI: www.insightsonindia.com 27 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES India opposes the BRI due to sovereignty and transparency concerns. It boycotted BRI summits in 2017 and 2019 and hasn't endorsed BRI joint statements by the SCO. The main objection is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) passing through the Gilgit Baltistan region of India, which India claims. 12. Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) The 2023 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit was held in San Francisco. 13. International Competition Network The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has achieved membership in the steering committee of the International Competition Network (ICN), a global body dedicated to competition law enforcement. The ICN includes 140 competition agencies and serves as an informal platform for antitrust authorities to foster regular communication and address practical competition concerns. The ICN's members comprise both national and multinational competition authorities, and they collaborate in project-oriented working groups to produce results in the realm of competition enforcement. www.insightsonindia.com 28 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES 14. Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) 15. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an intergovernmental economic organization that was established in 1961 (originally to administer American and Canadian aid under the Marshall Plan) The OECD is a forum where 38 governments (India is not a member) of democracies with market-based economies collaborate to: Develop policy standards to promote sustainable economic growth Find solutions to common challenges Develop global standards Share experiences and identify best practices 16. ASEAN Indian Prime Minister, in his address at the 20th ASEAN-India summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, emphasized that ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) plays a central role in India's Act East Policy. www.insightsonindia.com 29 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a regional organization which was established to promote political and social stability amid rising tensions among the Asia-Pacific’s post-colonial states. The motto of ASEAN is “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”. ASEAN Secretariat – Indonesia, Jakarta. Genesis: Established in 1967 with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by its founding fathers. Founding Fathers of ASEAN are: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Ten Members: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. India is part of the ASEAN Plus Six grouping, which includes China, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and Australia. India and ASEAN signed a Free Trade Agreement in 2010 and have seen trade growth, except during the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021. 17. G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration The 18th G20 Summit was hosted by India in New Delhi on September 9-10, 2023. The theme, "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," highlighted global unity. The G20 Leaders' New Delhi Declaration achieved unanimous consensus, addressing issues like Russia-Ukraine tensions, sustainable development, and food security. Other major outcomes of the G20 Summit: Outcome Description Admittance of the African The African Union became a permanent member of the G20, Union (G20 now G21) increasing the representation of developing countries. Global Biofuels Alliance India-led initiative promoting biofuels globally, contributing to (GBA) India's existing biofuels programs. India – Middle East – Europe A significant infrastructure project connecting India, the Middle Economic Corridor (IMEE- East, and Europe, aiming to provide an alternative to China's EC) Belt and Road Initiative. India-Mercosur Preferential Collaboration to expand economic ties through the India- Trade Agreement (PTA) Mercosur PTA. Handover of G20 chairmanship from India to Brazil. India’s Cultural Highlights: Cultural Highlights Description Bharat Mandapam An exhibition or showcase inspired by Anubhav Mandapam, a cultural platform in India. Bronze statue of Lord A bronze sculpture of Lord Nataraja in the Chola artistic style, Nataraja representing Lord Shiva's cosmic dance. Konark Chakra and Image of Displays of the Konark Chakra, a significant symbol from Nalanda University Odisha's Sun Temple, and images related to Nalanda University. Thanjavur Paintings and Exhibition of traditional Thanjavur paintings, known for Dhokra art intricate details and rich colours, and Dhokra art, a form of tribal metal casting. www.insightsonindia.com 30 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES A brass statue of Lord A brass sculpture of Lord Buddha in a meditative posture Buddha sitting under Bodhi beneath the Bodhi tree, symbolises his enlightenment. tree 18. G20 group G20 is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries, the European Union and the African Union. The G20 members represent around 85 per cent of the global GDP, over 75 per cent of global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population. The G20 Summit is held annually, under the leadership of a rotating presidency. India holds the Presidency of the G20 from December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2023. The G20 was founded in 1999 after the Asian financial crisis, as a forum for Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to discuss global economic and financial issues. India has been a member of the G20 since its inception in 1999. Its aim was to secure global financial stability by involving middle-income countries. The G20 was upgraded to the level of Heads of State/Government in the wake of the global economic and financial crisis of 2007, and, in 2009, was designated the “premier forum for international economic cooperation”. The presidency of the G20 rotates every year among members, and the country holding the presidency, together with the previous and next presidency-holder, forms the ‘Troika’ to ensure continuity of the G20 agenda. During India’s presidency, India, Indonesia and Brazil forms the troika. “This is the first time when the troika consist of three developing countries and emerging economies The G20 has no permanent secretariat. The agenda and work are coordinated by representatives of the G20 countries, known as ‘Sherpas’, who work together with the finance ministers and governors of the central banks. The G20 initially focused largely on broad macroeconomic issues, but it has since expanded its agenda to inter-alia include trade, climate change, sustainable development, health, agriculture, energy, environment, climate change and anti-corruption. The working of G20 is divided into two tracks: The finance track: It comprises all meetings with G20 finance ministers and central bank governors and their deputies. Meeting several times throughout the year they focus on monetary and fiscal issues, financial regulations, etc. The Sherpa track: It focuses on broader issues such as political engagement, anti-corruption, development, energy, etc. Each G20 country is represented by its Sherpa; who plans, guides, implements, etc. on behalf of the leader of their respective country. The work of G20 members is supported by several international organizations (Permanent guest invitees). These organizations include: The Financial Stability Board (FSB). The FSB, which was established by G20 leaders following the onset of the global financial crisis, The International Labour Organization (ILO). The International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) United Nations (UN) World Bank The World Trade Organization (WTO) 19. Group of Five (G5) countries The Group of Five (G5) encompasses five nations which have joined together for an active role in the rapidly evolving international order. www.insightsonindia.com 31 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES Individually and as a group, the G5 nations work to promote dialogue and understanding between developing and developed countries. The G5 seek to find common solutions to global challenges. The grouping includes Brazil, China, India, Mexico, and South Africa. 20. Group of Seven (G7) Countries It is an intergovernmental organization that was formed in 1975. The bloc meets annually to discuss issues of common interest like global economic governance, international security and energy policy. The G7 countries are the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US. All the G7 countries and India are a part of G20. The G7 does not have a formal constitution or a fixed headquarters. The decisions taken by leaders during annual summits are non-binding. How did G7 become G8? Russia was formally inducted as a member in the group in 1998, which led G7 to become G8. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s condemnable act of moving Russian troops into eastern Ukraine and conquering Crimea in 2014 drew heavy criticism from the other G8 nations. The other nations of the group decided to suspend Russia from the G8 as a consequence of its actions and the group became G7 again in 2014. 21. African Union (AU) The African Union (AU) became a new permanent member of the G20 during the 18th G20 Heads of State and Government Summit in New Delhi, just three months after India proposed its inclusion. About AU: Aspects Description About The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of 55 member states in Africa. Formation In 1963, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) was founded to promote cooperation among African states. In 2002, the OAU was succeeded by the AU with a goal to accelerate economic integration of the continent. Objectives of the AU The AU emphasizes greater unity and solidarity among African countries. It promotes political and socio-economic integration, peace, stability, security, and human rights. Achievements of AU African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): Established in 2018, it seeks to create a single continental market for goods and services. Diplomatic Achievement: AU established a mission in Beijing, strengthening ties with China, Africa's largest trading partner. It www.insightsonindia.com 32 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES played a key role in brokering a peace deal between the Ethiopian Government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. Women’s Economic Financial Inclusion: AU introduced a 10-year continental declaration for gender equality and women's empowerment. 22. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) What is SAARC? When was it established? The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established with the signing of the SAARC Charter in Dhaka on 8 December 1985. The Secretariat of the Association was set up in Kathmandu on 17 January 1987. SAARC comprises of eight Member States: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. SAARC maintains permanent diplomatic relations at the United Nations as an observer and has developed links with multilateral entities, including the European Union. Afghanistan became the member of SAARC at the 13th annual summit in 2005. Important objectives of the Association as outlined in the SAARC Charter are: o to promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their quality of life; o to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realize their full potentials; o to promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia. Importance of SAARC: 1. SAARC comprises 3% of the world’s area, 21% of the world’s population and 3.8% (US$2.9 trillion) of the global economy. 2. It is the world’s most densely populated region and one of the most fertile areas. 3. SAARC countries have common tradition, dress, food and culture and political aspects thereby synergizing their actions. 4. All the SAARC countries have common problems and issues like poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition, natural disasters, internal conflicts, industrial and technological backwardness, low GDP and poor socio-economic condition. 23. India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEE-EC) On the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, an MoU was signed between India, the US, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, the UAE, France, Germany, and Italy to establish the India- Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEE-EC). What is IMEC? The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEE-EC) is an infrastructure development project that aims to create connectivity through rail and shipping networks, energy cables, and data links. More about IMEC EC: www.insightsonindia.com 33 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEE-EC) NOTES Participating India, Saudi Arabia, UAE, France, Germany, Italy, Countries USA, EU Objectives IMEC seeks to boost trade, clean energy, and economic growth while providing an alternative to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Part of It is part of the Partnership for Rail and Shipping Corridors Global Infrastructure Investment (PGII) and focuses on enhancing global trade and cooperation through critical infrastructure development. Corridor Components Railway lines (make trade between India and Europe 40% faster). Electricity cable and a clean hydrogen pipeline to foster clean energy trade. High-speed data cable to link innovative digital ecosystems in the world and create business opportunities Corridor Segments Eastern Corridor connecting India to the Arabian Gulf, Northern Corridor connecting Arabian Gulf to Europe Benefits for India Enhancing food security, regional supply chains, trade accessibility, environmental considerations, economic cohesion, job creation, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Reliable cross-border ship-to-rail transit network connecting India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Europe. It offers India a crucial role in global commerce, digital communication, and energy networks vis-à- vis China’s BRI Geographical Advantage: It firmly positions India along the trade route spanning South East Asia to the Gulf, West Asia, and Europe. What is the PGII initiative? The PGII (Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment) initiative (announced in 2021 during the G7 summit in the UK) is a collaborative effort by G7 countries to fund infrastructure projects in developing nations. It serves as an alternative to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and aims to mobilize funds for critical infrastructure development, focusing on transparency, sustainability, and gender equality. www.insightsonindia.com 34 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES PGII emphasizes loans over charity, benefiting both lending and receiving countries. 24. Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC) The Eastern Maritime Corridor is a proposed sea route between Chennai, India, and Vladivostok, Russia, passing through the Sea of Japan, the South China Sea, and the Malacca Strait. Benefits for India include: Significant time reduction: It shortens the transportation time by up to 16 days, making it more efficient. Presence in Southeast Asia: Chennai Port's strategic location opens trade opportunities with Southeast Asian nations like Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Access to Russia's Far East: Vladivostok Port provides access to resource-rich regions, offering opportunities in sectors like energy, mining, and technology for Indian businesses. This initiative follows a Memorandum of Intent on the development of maritime communications exchanged between Vladivostok and Chennai in 2019. 25. International Organization of Legal Metrology India has achieved the distinction of becoming the 13th country in the world authorized to issue Internationally Accepted OIML (International Organization of Legal Metrology) Certificates. This accomplishment allows domestic manufacturers in India to have their weighing and measuring instruments tested within the country and then sell them in the international market. About OIML: The OIML is an intergovernmental organization established in 1955, with India becoming a member in 1956. It has 63 Member States and 64 Corresponding Members. Significance: www.insightsonindia.com 35 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES Benefits indigenous manufacturers as they can export their weighing and measuring instruments worldwide without incurring additional testing fees, resulting in cost savings. India can support foreign manufacturers by issuing OIML pattern approval certificates through its certified RRSLs, generating foreign exchange through fees and services. Influence OIML policies and provide input to the OIML Strategy. India now joins an exclusive group of nations, including Australia, Switzerland, China, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, France, United Kingdom, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, and Slovakia, as the 13th country worldwide authorized to issue OIML approval certificates. 26. Five Eyes Alliance Five Eyes Alliance: The Five Eyes Alliance refers to an intelligence-sharing partnership among five countries: the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. These nations collaborate closely on intelligence matters, sharing information to protect their shared national interests. Origins of the Alliance: The alliance traces its origins back to World War II when the UK and the US decided to share intelligence after successfully breaking German and Japanese codes. o It began as the Britain-USA (BRUSA) agreement, later evolving into the UK-USA (UKUSA) agreement, with Canada joining in 1949 and New Zealand and Australia in 1956. 27. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, or NATO, is a political and military alliance of 30 European countries and two countries in North America (United States and Canada). It was set up in 1949 by the US, Canada, and several western European nations to ensure their collective security against the Soviet Union. It was the US’s first peacetime military alliance outside the western hemisphere. It is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. Background: The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation came into being after World War II as a counter to the Soviet Union’s possible expansion attempts in Europe. Then-US President Harry S Truman signed the 12-member treaty on April 4, 1949. After the collapse of USSR in 1991, several eastern European nations previously members of the Soviet Union joined NATO. NATO membership is open to “any other European state in a position to further the principles of this Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area.” NATO is committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes. If diplomatic efforts fail, it has the military capacity needed to undertake crisis-management operations. These are carried out under the Washington Treaty - NATO’s founding treaty - or under a UN mandate, alone or in cooperation with other countries and international organizations. The NATO works on a collective defense principle and routinely undertakes exercises to strengthen their territorial, naval, and air forces. www.insightsonindia.com 36 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES NATO members also arm themselves to face evolving methods of attacks like cybercrimes, and have participated in military operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosova, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria, among others. Article 4 of the treaty mandates that the member nations consult each other when faced with threat. “The Parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened,” it reads. Meanwhile, Article 5 spells out the ‘one-for-all, all-for-one’ nature of the treaty. New Delhi held its first political dialogue with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in Brussels on December 12, 2019. 28. BRICS The 13th BRICS Summit was held under India’s Chairship in 2021. It was the third time that India hosted the BRICS Summit after 2012 and 2016. 15th BRICS summit was held in South Africa in 2023. BRICS is an acronym for the grouping of the world’s leading emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Originally the first four were grouped as "BRIC" (or "the BRICs"), before the induction of South Africa in 2010. Summits: Since 2009, the BRICS nations have met annually at formal summits with discussions representing spheres of political and socio-economic coordination, in which member countries have identified several business opportunities, economic complementarities and areas of cooperation. Chairship: The Chairship of the forum is rotated annually among the members. Cooperation among members is predicated on three levels or “tracks” of interaction, namely: o Track I: Formal diplomatic engagement between the national governments. o Track II: Engagement through government-affiliated institutions, e.g. state-owned enterprises and business councils. o Track III: Civil society and “people-to-people” engagement. During the Sixth BRICS Summit in Fortaleza (2014) the leaders signed the Agreement establishing the New Development Bank (NDB). They also signed the BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement. 29. Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional organization comprising of seven member states in South Asia and Southeast Asia lying in littoral and adjacent areas of Bay of Bengal constituting a contiguous regional unity. This sub-regional organisation came into being on June 6, 1997, through the Bangkok Declaration. It is headquartered in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It comprises of seven member countries: five deriving from South Asia — including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka — and two from Southeast Asia, including Myanmar and Thailand. It is not an FTA. IT is a sector-driven organization focussing on sharing best practices and help each other in agriculture, public health, poverty alleviation, counter-terrorism, environment, culture etc. Fourteen priority sectors of cooperation have been identified and several BIMSTEC centres have been established to focus on those sectors. These are trade and investment, transport and communication, energy, tourism, technology, fisheries, agriculture, public health, poverty alleviation, counter terrorism and transnational www.insightsonindia.com 37 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES crime, environment and disaster management, people-to-people contact, cultural cooperation and climate change. A Bay of Bengal Maritime Dialogue (BOBMD) organised recently by the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue and the Pathfinder Foundation brought together government officials, maritime experts, and representatives of prominent think tanks from Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and Indonesia. 30. World Economic Forum The World Economic Forum held its annual meeting in Davos. Why is WEF important? The WEF summit is attended by people from The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) is a across the political and corporate world, including non-profit organisation that hosts high- heads of state, policy makers, top executives, level forums for leaders from industrialists, media personalities and government, business and academia technocrats. in Asia and other continents to share Deliberations at the WEF influence public their vision on the most pressing issues sector and corporate decision-making, in this region and the world at large. particularly on issues of global importance BFA is modelled on the World such as poverty, social challenges, climate Economic Forum held annually change and global economic recovery. in Davos. The key mix of economic, corporate and political leadership at Swiss ski resorts provides the perfect opportunity to find solutions to the global challenges that emerge from time to time. How is WEF received outside? While the WEF sees large-scale participation from top industry, business leaders, civil society and international organizations each year, it has been criticized for being more of a networking hub than a nebula of wisdom or a platform to find effective solutions to global issues. The forum, which provides opportunities for collaboration through dialogue, has also been criticized for lack of representation from various sections of civil society and for lack of effective solutions. About the World Economic Forum: It is a Swiss nonprofit foundation established in 1971, based in Geneva, Switzerland. Some major reports published by WEF are: 1. Energy Transition Index. 2. Global Competitiveness Report. 3. Global IT Report. 4. Global Gender Gap Report. 5. Global Risk Report. 6. Global Travel and Tourism Report. 31. Financial Action Task Force (FATF) 1. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 on the initiative of the G7. 2. It is a “policy-making body” which works to generate the necessary political will to bring about national legislative and regulatory reforms in various areas. 3. The FATF Secretariat is housed at the OECD headquarters in Paris. Roles and functions: www.insightsonindia.com 38 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES Initially it was established to examine and develop measures to combat money laundering. In October 2001, the FATF expanded its mandate to incorporate efforts to combat terrorist financing, in addition to money laundering. In April 2012, it added efforts to counter the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. What is a blacklist and grey list? Black List: Countries known as Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories (NCCTs) are put in the blacklist. These countries support terror funding and money laundering activities. The FATF revises the blacklist regularly, adding or deleting entries. As of November 2022, only three countries were on the FATF blacklist: North Korea, Iran, and Myanmar. Grey List: Countries that are considered safe haven for supporting terror funding and money laundering are put in the FATF grey list. This inclusion serves as a warning to the country that it may enter the blacklist. To get out of the grey list, a country has to fulfil tasks recommended by the FATF, such as confiscating properties of individuals associated with terrorist groups. Considered in the grey list may face: Economic sanctions from IMF, World Bank, ADB. Problem in getting loans from IMF, World Bank, ADB and other countries. Reduction in international trade. International boycott. 32. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organization. It’s a Eurasian political, economic and military organization aiming to maintain peace, security and stability in the region. It was created in 2001. The SCO Charter was signed in 2002, and entered into force in 2003. Background: Prior to the creation of SCO in 2001, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan were members of the Shanghai Five. Shanghai Five (1996) emerged from a series of border demarcation and demilitarization talks which the four former Soviet republics held with China to ensure stability along the borders. Following the accession of Uzbekistan to the organization in 2001, the Shanghai Five was renamed the SCO. India and Pakistan became members in 2017. Objectives of SCO: Strengthening mutual trust and neighbourliness among the member states. Promoting their effective cooperation in politics, trade, the economy, research, technology and culture, as well as in education, energy, transport, tourism, environmental protection, and other areas. Making joint efforts to maintain and ensure peace, security and stability in the region. Moving towards the establishment of a democratic, fair and rational new international political and economic order. The SCO Heads of Government meet is held annually to focus on the trade and economic agenda of the organisation and approves the SCO’s annual budget. India hosted the SCO summit as a chairman of organisation in 2023. The bulk of India’s trade with SCO countries is with China. www.insightsonindia.com 39 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES 33. Interpol The Interpol, or International Criminal Police Organization, is an inter-governmental organisation comprising 196 member countries, which helps police forces in all these countries to better coordinate their actions. According to the Interpol website, the organisation enables member countries to share and access data on crimes and criminals, and offers a range of technical and operational support. headquartered in Lyon, France. Formed in 1923 as the International Criminal Police Commission, and started calling itself Interpol in 1956. India joined the organisation in 1949, and is one of its oldest members. The Interpol general secretariat coordinates the organisation’s day-to-day activities. It is run by a secretary general, with its headquarters in Lyon, France. Interpol’s declared global policing goals include: Countering terrorism, promoting border integrity worldwide, protection of vulnerable communities, providing a secure cyberspace for people and businesses, curbing illicit markets, supporting environment security, and promoting global integrity. What is the Interpol General Assembly? It is Interpol’s supreme governing body, and comprises representatives from all its member countries. It meets annually for a session lasting approximately four days, to vote on activities and policy. Each country is represented by one or more delegates at the Assembly, who are typically chiefs of law enforcement agencies. The Assembly also elects the members of the Interpol Executive Committee, the governing body which “provides guidance and direction in between sessions of the Assembly”. Interpol has a National Central Bureau (NCB) in each member country, which is the central point of contact for both the general secretariat and the other NCBs around the world. Each NCB is run by police officials of that country, and usually sits in the government ministry responsible for policing. (Home Ministry in India.) What is a Red Notice? Criminals or suspects often flee to other countries to evade facing justice. A Red Corner Notice, or Red Notice (RN) alerts police forces across the world about fugitives who are wanted internationally. Interpol says “Red Notices are issued for fugitives wanted either for prosecution or to serve a sentence. A Red Notice is a request to law www.insightsonindia.com 40 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.” RN is published by Interpol at the request of a member country. The fugitives may be wanted for prosecution or to serve a sentence. The country issuing the request need not be the home country of the fugitive; Interpol acts on the request of a country where the alleged crime has been committed. Is an RN a warrant of arrest? RN is only an international wanted persons’ notice; it is not an international arrest warrant. Interpol itself does not want individuals; they are wanted by a country or an international tribunal. www.insightsonindia.com 41 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES United Nations Organisations 1. UN General Assembly (UNGA) Popularly known as the parliament of the world, where all the 193 UN member states are represented, the UNGA is the deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the UN. Roles and functions: Takes a decision on important matters such as peace and security, discusses various global issues and budgetary matters. Decides on matters such as the admission of new members. Each of the 193 Member States in the Assembly has one vote. Votes taken on designated important issues – such as recommendations on peace and security, the election of Security Council and Economic and Social Council members, and budgetary questions – require a two-thirds majority of Member States, but other questions are decided by a simple majority. In recent years, an effort has been made to achieve consensus on issues, rather than deciding by a formal vote, thus strengthening support for the Assembly’s decisions. The President, after having consulted and reached agreement with delegations, can propose that a resolution be adopted without a vote. The Assembly has no binding votes or veto powers like the UN Security Council. The UNGA can express world opinion, promote international cooperation in various fields and make recommendations to the UNSC and elect the Security Council’s non-permanent members. General Assembly resolutions carry political weight but are not legally binding. Unlike the Security Council, no country has veto power in the General Assembly. Non-Member States of the United Nations, which are members of one or more specialized agencies, can apply for the status of Permanent Observer. The status of a Permanent Observer is based purely on practice, and there are no provisions for it in the United Nations Charter. Permanent Observers have free access to most meetings and relevant documentation. Many regional and international organizations are also observers in the work and annual sessions of the General Assembly. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR): The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) is a multilateral treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. The covenant commits its parties to respect the civil and political rights of individuals, including the right to life, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, electoral rights and rights to due process and a fair trial. The ICCPR is part of the International Bill of Human Rights, along with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The ICCPR is monitored by the United Nations Human Rights Committee. Due to military attacks in Gaza, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter to establish a ceasefire. Article 99 allows the Secretary-General to bring matters threatening international peace to the Security Council's attention. www.insightsonindia.com 42 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES The provision has been rarely invoked. Past examples include the upheaval in the Republic of the Congo in 1960 following the end of Belgium’s colonial rule and a complaint by Tunisia in 1961 against France’s naval and air forces launching an attack. 2. United Nations Security Council (UNSC) The Security Council was established by the UN Charter in 1945. It is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations. Its primary responsibility is to work to maintain international peace and security. The council is headquartered at New York. The council has 15 members: Five (5) permanent members Ten (10) non-permanent members elected for two-year terms Each year, the General Assembly elects five non-permanent members (out of ten in total) for a two-year term. The ten non-permanent seats are distributed on a regional basis. The council’s presidency is a capacity that rotates every month among its 15 members. Permanent members: United States, the Russian Federation, France, China and the United Kingdom About Security Council Presidency: 1. The presidency of the Council is held by each of India had assumed the rotating the members in turn for one month, following the Presidency of the United Nations English alphabetical order of the Member States Security Council for the month of names. August 2021. 2. It rotates among the 15 member-states of the This was India's tenth tenure. council monthly. This was also India's first 3. The head of the country's delegation is known as presidency in the UNSC during its the President of the United Nations Security 2021-22 tenure as a non- Council. permanent member of the UNSC. 4. The president serves to coordinate actions of the council, decide policy disputes, and sometimes functions as a diplomat or intermediary between conflicting groups. How will membership change? Amendment: Changing the membership of the Council requires amending the Charter. Two-third of total membership: It involves consent of two-thirds of the total membership of the UN, including the concurring votes of P-5. Veto power: Each of the five permanent members has a veto. Non-permanent seats: The Charter was amended once in the 1960s to enlarge the Council by additional non-permanent seats. Decisions taken under Chapter VII, such as economic sanctions or other sections like international security, are binding on UN members; the Security Council is the only UN body with the authority to issue binding resolutions. The UNGA can only make recommendations in this regard. Decisions that are vetoed by the P-5 cannot be submitted for the review of the UNGA. Also, the UNSC is the authority under the UN charter to take action in situations threatening international peace and security. www.insightsonindia.com 43 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES The Counter-Terrorism Committee is a subsidiary body of the United Nations Security Council. It was formed in September 2001 soon after the tragic terrorist attack of 9/11 in New York. India had chaired this committee in the Security Council in 2011-12. India was the Chair of the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee for the year 2022. 3. International Court of Justice (ICJ) The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) is an international human rights non- governmental organization. ICJ was established in 1945 by the United Nations charter and started working in April 1946. The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Its seat is at the Peace Palace in the Hague (Netherlands). It is the only one of the six principal organs of the United Nations not located in New York (United States of America). The Court’s role is to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States and to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized United Nations organs and specialized agencies. The International Court of Justice functions in accordance with its Statute. Structure: The Court is composed of 15 judges, who are elected for terms of office of nine years by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council. In order to ensure a measure of continuity, one third of the Court is elected every three years. It is a standing group of 60 eminent jurists—including senior judges, attorneys and academics—who work to develop national and international human rights standards through the law. Commissioners are known for their experience, knowledge and fundamental commitment to human rights. The composition of the Commission aims to reflect the geographical diversity of the world and its many legal systems. The 15 judges of the Court are distributed in following regions: 1. Three from Africa. 2. Two from Latin America and Caribbean. 3. Three from Asia. 4. Five from Western Europe and other states. 5. Two from Eastern Europe. Independence of judges: Unlike other organs of international organizations, the Court is not composed of representatives of governments. Members of the Court are independent judges whose first task, before taking up www.insightsonindia.com 44 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES their duties, is to make a solemn declaration in open court that they will exercise their powers impartially and conscientiously. Jurisdiction and Functioning: The ICJ is not a supreme court to which national courts can turn; it does not act as a court of last resort for individuals. Nor is it an appeal court for any international tribunal. It can, however, rule on the validity of arbitral awards. The Court can only hear a dispute when requested to do so by one or more States. It cannot deal with a dispute on its own initiative. Neither is it permitted, under its Statute, to investigate and rule on acts of sovereign States as it chooses. Judgments are final and without appeal. If there is a dispute about the meaning or scope of a judgment, the only possibility is for one of the parties to make a request to the Court for an interpretation. In the event of the discovery of a fact hitherto unknown to the Court which might be a decisive factor, either party may apply for revision of the judgment. United Nations Charter authorizes the UN Security Council to enforce Court rulings. However, such enforcement is subject to the veto power of the five permanent members of the council. 4. International Maritime Organisation (IMO) The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) assembly for the 2024–25 biennium, India was re-elected to the IMO Council with the highest vote tally. India falls under the Category of 10 states with the largest interest in international seaborne trade, alongside countries like Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the United Arab Emirates. The IMO Council, which India has been re-elected to, serves as the executive organ of the organization and is responsible for supervising its work. Under the Maritime India Vision 2030 (MIV 2030), India aims to enhance its representation at the IMO by appointing permanent representatives and nominating candidates for the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Program. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is a United Nations specialized agency that works to improve the safety and security of international shipping. The IMO's mission is to promote sustainable, efficient, environmentally sound, and safe shipping through cooperation. 5. United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crimes (UNTOC) The Minister of State for Home Affairs attended a two-day conference in Palermo, Italy, marking the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crimes (UNTOC). The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) is a global and legally binding instrument adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2000 and enforced in 2003. It is the first comprehensive treaty aimed at combatting transnational organized crime including human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and illicit firearms trafficking. Currently, there are 191 parties to the Convention, including India (who joined it in 2002 and ratified it in 2011). Central Bureau of Investigation as the national Nodal Authority from India. India also enacted the Criminal Law Amendment Act in 2013, which specifically defines human trafficking. About Transnational Organized Crime: www.insightsonindia.com 45 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES Transnational organized crime refers to criminal activities that operate across national borders, involving organized groups engaged in various illegal activities such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, and cybercrime. 6. United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) India hosted the inaugural United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) South Asia Conference recently. The conference aimed to strengthen India's engagement with UNCITRAL and encourage interaction between UNCITRAL, the judiciary, bureaucracy, academia, and the legal fraternity. It was organized jointly by the Ministry of External Affairs, UNCITRAL, and the organization's national coordination committee for India. The conference covered various topics, including the digital economy, MSMEs and access to credit, insolvency, investor-state dispute settlement reform, international commercial arbitration, and mediation. The event also highlighted India's potential as a hub for international arbitration. About UNCITRAL: UNCITRAL stands for the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law. It is the principal legal entity within the United Nations system dedicated to international trade law. UNCITRAL is a legal body with universal membership that specializes in commercial law reform worldwide. It has been working for over 50 years to modernize and harmonize rules on international business. UNCITRAL's primary goal is to facilitate international trade by creating legal frameworks and instruments that promote fairness, transparency, and efficiency in cross- border commercial transactions. 7. India-UN Capacity Building Initiative India and the United Nations have jointly launched the "India-UN Capacity Building Initiative," which aims to share India's development experiences, best practices, and expertise with partner countries in the Global South through capacity-building and training programs. This initiative builds upon India's extensive cooperation in development and capacity building with partner countries. The initiative complements the existing India-UN partnership through the "India-UN Development Partnership Fund”. The initiative will operationalize the development-related goals of India's G20 Presidency, including the G20 Action Plan for Accelerating Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and building Digital Public Infrastructure. 8. World Trade Organization (WTO) World Trade Organization, as an institution, was established in 1995. It replaced General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT) which was in place since 1946. The WTO officially commenced on 1 January 1995 under the Marrakesh Agreement, signed by 123 nations on 15 April 1994. India has been a member of GATT since 1948; hence it was party to Uruguay Round and a founding member of WTO. While WTO came in to existence in 1995, GATT didn’t cease to exist. It continues as WTO’s umbrella treaty for trade in goods. The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. www.insightsonindia.com 46 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES The WTO’s goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers conduct their business. The WTO Ministerial Conference is the highest decision-making body of the World Trade Organization. This conference is attended by the Trade Ministers and other officials from the organization’s 164 members. WTO is a consensus-based, members-driven organization. The main advantage of this approach is that the decision taken is acceptable to all members. Under the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO, the Ministerial Conference is to meet at least once every two years. Structure of WTO: The WTO is headed by the Ministerial Conference, while the daily operations are carried out by three administrative bodies: 1. The General Council comprises the representatives of all member countries and acts as the representative of the Ministerial Conference when it comes to daily operations. Its job is to carry out the implementation and monitoring function of the WTO. 2. The Dispute Settlement Body is a part of the General Council and is responsible for settling trade disputes between member states. There is also an Appellate Body, where member states can appeal any decisions made against them during a dispute settlement. 3. The Trade Policy Review Body is also a part of the General Council and is responsible for ensuring the trade policies of member states are in line with the goals of the WTO. Member countries are required to inform the WTO about changes in their laws and trade policies. Roles and functions of Director General of WTO: The director-general of the World Trade Organization is the officer of the World Trade Organization responsible for supervising and directing the organization's administrative operations. The Director-General has little power over matters of policy - the role is primarily advisory and managerial. The Director-General supervises the WTO secretariat of about 700 staff and is appointed by WTO members for a term of four years. Developing Country Status in WTO: There are no WTO definitions of “developed” and “developing” countries. Members announce for themselves whether they are “developed” or “developing” countries. However, other members can challenge the decision of a member to make use of provisions available to developing countries. What are the benefits of ‘developing country’ tag? Certain WTO agreements give developing countries special rights through ‘special and differential treatment’ (S&DT) provisions, which can grant developing countries longer timeframes to implement the agreements and even commitments to raise trading opportunities for such countries. The “developing country” status allows a member of the WTO to seek temporary exception from the commitments under various multilateral trade agreements ratified by the organisation. They can continue to impose tariffs and quotas on goods and services in order to limit imports and promote domestic producers who may otherwise be affected adversely by imports that are lower in price or better in quality. However, Exports by developing countries are not exempted from import duties in developed countries www.insightsonindia.com 47 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES WTO pacts are often aimed at reduction in government support to certain industries over time and set more lenient target for developing nations and grant them more time to achieve these targets compared to developed ones. The classification also allows other countries to offer preferential treatment. Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are often exempted from certain provisions of WTO pacts. A country classified as an LDC, receives zero duty, zero quota access for most of its exports to developed countries. Dispute settlement: Resolving trade disputes is one of the core activities of the WTO. A dispute arises when a member government believes another member government is violating an agreement or a commitment that it has made in the WTO. The WTO has one of the most active international dispute settlement mechanisms in the world. There are three main stages to the WTO dispute settlement process: (i) consultations between the parties. (ii) adjudication by panels and, if applicable, by the Appellate Body. (iii) the implementation of the ruling, which includes the possibility of countermeasures in the event of failure by the losing party to implement the ruling. WTO’s Appellate Body: The International Plant Protection The Appellate Body, set up in 1995, is a standing Convention (IPPC) is one of the "Three committee that presides over appeals against Sisters" recognized by the World Trade judgments passed in trade-related disputes Organization's (WTO) Sanitary and brought by WTO members. Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) Countries involved in a dispute over measures Agreement, along with the Codex purported to break a WTO agreement or Alimentarius Commission for food obligation can approach the Appellate Body if they safety standards and the World feel the report of the panel set up to examine the Organization for Animal Health (OIE) issue needs to be reviewed on points of law. for animal health standards. However, existing evidence is not re-examined but legal interpretations are reviewed. The Appellate Body can uphold, modify, or reverse the legal findings of the panel that heard the dispute. Countries on either or both sides of the dispute can appeal. WTO’s Agreement on Agriculture: The Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) is an international treaty of the World Trade Organization. It was negotiated during the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and entered into force with the establishment of the WTO on January 1, 1995. It is aimed to remove trade barriers and to promote transparent market access and integration of global markets. The WTO’s Agriculture Committee oversees implementation of the Agreement and provides a forum for members to address related concerns. 9. United Nations Peacekeeping United Nations Peacekeeping is a joint effort between the Department of Peace Operations and the Department of Operational Support. Every peacekeeping mission is authorized by the Security Council. The U.N. began its Peacekeeping efforts in 1948 when it deployed military observers to West www.insightsonindia.com 48 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES Asia. The Peacekeeping mission’s role was to monitor the Armistice Agreement between Israel and its Arab neighbours. U.N. Peacekeepers provide security as well as political and peacebuilding support to conflict-ridden countries. The three basic principles that guide U.N.’s Peacekeeping missions are: Consent of the parties Impartiality Non-use of force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate Composition: UN peacekeepers (often referred to as Blue Berets or Blue Helmets because of their light blue berets or helmets) can include soldiers, police officers, and civilian personnel. Peacekeeping forces are contributed by member states on a voluntary basis. Civilian staff of peace operations are international civil servants, recruited and deployed by the UN Secretariat. How are UN Peacekeeping operations funded? While decisions about establishing, maintaining or expanding a peacekeeping operation are taken by the Security Council, the financing of UN Peacekeeping operations is the collective responsibility of all UN Member States. Every Member State is legally obligated to pay their respective share towards peacekeeping. This is in accordance with the provisions of Article 17 of the Charter of the United Nations. India has a long history of service in UN Peacekeeping, having contributed more personnel than any other country. India’s contribution to UN Peacekeeping began with its participation in the UN operation in Korea in the 1950s, where India’s mediatory role in resolving the stalemate over prisoners of war in Korea led to the signing of the armistice that ended the Korean War. India also served as Chair of the three international commissions for supervision and control for Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos established by the 1954 Geneva Accords on Indochina. India has been sending women personnel on UN Peacekeeping Missions. In 2007, India became the first country to deploy an all-women contingent to a UN Peacekeeping Mission. Medical care is among the many services Indian Peacekeepers provide to the communities in which they serve on behalf of the Organization. They also perform specialised tasks such as veterinary support and engineering services. India was the first country to contribute to the Trust Fund on sexual exploitation and abuse, which was set up in 2016. 10. Blue Helmets Blue Helmets are the military personnel of the U.N. that work alongside the U.N. Police and civilian colleagues to promote “stability, security, and peace processes”. The personnel get the name from the iconic blue helmets or berets they wear. All military personnel under Blue Helmets are members of their national armies first who are seconded to work under the U.N. command. www.insightsonindia.com 49 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES Currently, there are more than 70,000 military personnel enlisted as Blue Helmets. African and Asian countries outnumber their western counterparts in contributing soldiers to Blue Helmets. How are Blue Helmets enlisted? Qualified military officers from U.N. member states are recruited to serve as individual staff officers, military observers, or as part of units from an individual troop-contributing country, by the United Nations Office of Military Affairs. Staff officers are also deployed at the U.N. headquarters from where they monitor all aspects related to deployment of troops on the ground. Blue Helmets are seconded to work under the U.N. flag for periods normally of up to one year in the field, or two or three years at the headquarters. www.insightsonindia.com 50 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES International Banks / International Financial Institutions 1. Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) What is SWIFT? It is a messaging network that financial institutions use to securely transmit information and instructions through a standardized system of codes. Under SWIFT, each financial organization has a unique code which is used to send and receive payments. SWIFT does not facilitate funds transfer: rather, it sends payment orders, which must be settled by correspondent accounts that the institutions have with each other. The SWIFT is a secure financial message carrier — in other words, it transports messages from one bank to its intended bank recipient. Its core role is to provide a secure transmission channel so that Bank A knows that its message to Bank B goes to Bank B and no one else. Bank B, in turn, knows that Bank A, and no one other than Bank A, sent, read or altered the message en route. Banks, of course, need to have checks in place before actually sending messages. Where is it located? The Belgium-headquartered SWIFT connects more than 11,000 banking and securities organizations in over 200 countries and territories. SWIFT India: SWIFT India is a joint venture of top Indian public and private sector banks and SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication). The company was created to deliver high quality domestic financial messaging services to the Indian financial community. Bhattacharya said the venture has a huge potential to contribute significantly to the financial community in many domains. Significance of SWIFT: Messages sent by SWIFT’s customers are authenticated using its specialised security and identification technology. Encryption is added as the messages leave the customer environment and enter the SWIFT Environment. Messages remain in the protected SWIFT environment, subject to all its confidentiality and integrity commitments, throughout the transmission process while they are transmitted to the operating centres (OPCs) where they are processed — until they are safely delivered to the receiver. 2. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a multilateral development bank with a mission to improve social and economic outcomes in Asia and beyond. The Parties (57 founding members) to agreement comprise the Membership of the Bank. It is headquartered in Beijing. The bank started operation after the agreement entered into force on 25 December 2015, after ratifications were received from 10 member states holding a total number of 50% of the initial subscriptions of the Authorized Capital Stock. Aim: By investing in sustainable infrastructure and other productive sectors today, it aims to connect people, services and markets that over time will impact the lives of billions and build a better future. Membership: www.insightsonindia.com 51 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES There are more than 100 members now. Voting Rights: China is the largest voting shares in the bank followed by India and Russia. Various organs of AIIB: Board of Governors: The Board of Governors consists of one Governor and one Alternate Governor appointed by each member country. Governors and Alternate Governors serve at the pleasure of the appointing member. Board of Directors: Non-resident Board of Directors is responsible for the direction of the Bank’s general operations, exercising all powers delegated to it by the Board of Governors. International Advisory Panel: The Bank has established an International Advisory Panel (IAP) to support the President and Senior Management on the Bank’s strategies and policies as well as on general operational issues. 3. Asian Development Bank (ADB) ADB is a regional development bank. established on 19 December 1966. headquartered — Manila, Philippines. official United Nations Observer. Who can be its members? The bank admits the members of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP, formerly the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East or ECAFE) and non-regional developed countries. ADB now has 68 members. Voting rights: It is modeled closely on the World Bank, and has a similar weighted voting system where votes are distributed in proportion with members’ capital subscriptions. As of 31 December 2020, ADB’s five largest shareholders are Japan and the United States (each with 15.6% of total shares), the People’s Republic of China (6.4%), India (6.3%), and Australia (5.77%). Roles and functions: Dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. This is carried out through investments – in the form of loans, grants and information sharing – in infrastructure, health care services, financial and public administration systems, helping nations prepare for the impact of climate change or better manage their natural resources, as well as other areas. 4. New Development Bank (NDB) It is a multilateral development bank operated by the BRICS states (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). It was agreed to by BRICS leaders at the 5th BRICS summit held in Durban, South Africa in 2013. It was established in 2014, at the 6th BRICS Summit at Fortaleza, Brazil. The bank is set up to foster greater financial and development cooperation among the five emerging markets. Headquartered in Shanghai, China. In 2018, the NDB received observer status in the United Nations General Assembly, establishing a firm basis for active and fruitful cooperation with the UN. www.insightsonindia.com 52 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES Members: The five founding members of the Bank include Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. In September 2021, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay joined the NDB. In December 2021, the NDB admitted Egypt as a new member. Voting: Unlike the World Bank, which assigns votes based on capital share, in the New Development Bank each participant country will be assigned one vote, and none of the countries will have veto power. Roles and functions: The Bank will mobilise resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging economies and developing countries, to supplement existing efforts of multilateral and regional financial institutions for global growth and development. Significance: The BRICS brings together five of the largest developing countries of the world, representing 41% of the global population, 24% of the global GDP and 16% of the global trade. 5. Bank for International Settlements BIS is an international financial organisation owned by 63 member central banks, representing countries from around the world including India. It fosters international monetary and financial cooperation and serves as a bank for central banks. It carries out its work through its meetings, programmes and through the Basel Process – hosting international groups pursuing global financial stability and facilitating their interaction. Its headquarter is in Basel, Switzerland. The BIS was established in 1930 by an intergovernmental agreement between Germany, Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, the United States, and Switzerland. 6. International Finance Corporation (IFC) It is an international financial institution that offers investment, advisory, and asset management services to encourage private sector development in developing countries. It is a member of the World Bank Group and is headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States. It was established in 1956 as the private sector arm of the World Bank Group to advance economic development by investing in strictly for-profit and commercial projects that purport to reduce poverty and promote development. The IFC is owned and governed by its member countries, but has its own executive leadership and staff that conduct its normal business operations. It is a corporation whose shareholders are member governments that provide paid-in capital and which have the right to vote on its matters. Roles and functions: 1. Since 2009, the IFC has focused on a set of development goals that its projects are expected to target. Its goals are to increase sustainable agriculture opportunities, improve healthcare and education, increase access to financing for microfinance and business clients, advance infrastructure, help small businesses grow revenues, and invest in climate health. 2. It offers an array of debt and equity financing services and helps companies face their risk exposures while refraining from participating in a management capacity. www.insightsonindia.com 53 InsightsIAS  INSTA PT 2024 EXCLUSIVE (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) NOTES 3. It advises governments on building infrastructure and partnerships to further support private sector development. 7. International Monetary and Financial Committee Composition: The IMFC has 24 members, drawn from the pool of 190 governors. Its structure mirrors that of the Executive Board and its 24 constituencies. As such, the IMFC represents all the member countries of the Fund. Functions: The IMFC meets twice a year, during the Spring and Annual Meetings. The Committee discusses matters of common concern affecting the global economy and also advises the IMF on the direction its work. At the end of the Meetings, the Committee issues a joint communiqué summarizing its views. These communiqués provide guidance for the IMF’s work program during the six months leading up to the next Spring or Annual Meetings. There is no formal voting at the IMFC, which operates by consensus. Significance: The IMFC advises and reports to the IMF Board of Governors on the supervision and management of the international monetary and financial system, including on responses to unfolding events that may disrupt the system. It also considers proposals by the Executive Board to amend the Articles of Agreement and advises on any other matters that may be referred to it by the Board of Governors. Although the IMFC has no formal decision-making powers, in practice, it has become a key instrument for providing strategic direction to the work and policies of the Fund. www.insightsonindia.com 54 InsightsIAS