A joint seminar on India – Russia relations was organized by the VIF and IDSA on May 14, 2012. Amb. Prabhat Shukla, Jt. Director, VIF, (Former Ambassador to Russia) in his Key Note address emphasized that India and Russia should resort
Representatives from Monitor 360, a US-based consultancy firm executing a project for the US Department of Defence and engaged in research and study of global strategic and analytical challenges, visited VIF on Feb 14, 2012.
H.E. Mr. Wenchyi Ong, Representative, Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre, New Delhi, held an informal interaction on Feb 07, 2012 with a panel of eminent strategic experts at VIF.
The recently concluded Tenth Summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Kazakh capital Astana was the focal point of a Round Table Discussion (RTD), held at Vivekananda International Foundation on Jun 20, 2011. The discussion revolved around India’s prospects of becoming a full member of SCO.
Dr Klaus Lange and Dr Klara Knapp, both from the Institute of Transnational Studies, Munich, visited Vivekananda International Foundation on Jun 22, 2011 for an informal discussion on the evolving dynamics in Af-Pak region, especially from an European perspective. They interacted with senior faculty members of VIF which included among others Mr. Ajit Doval, Director, Lt Gen RK Sawhney, and Brig Vinod Anand. The views presented by Dr. Klaus Lange underscored Europe’s declining interests in managing global affairs, largely because of its increasingly fragile economy.
A Congressional Staff Delegation from the United States, comprising Kevin Fitzpatrick, Director, Subcommittee on Middle East and South Asia, Mr. Jeremy Haldeman, Staff Director on Oversight and Investigations and Mr. Ed Stein, Professional Staff Member, Subcommittee on Middle East and South Asia visited Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) for a closed door interaction on India-Afghanistan/Pakistan and regional affairs on June 8, 2011. The VIF team which interacted with the Congressional delegation was led by Mr. Ajit Doval KC, Director. Among others who interacted with the delegation included Mr. CD Sahay, Lt Gen (retd.) RK Sawhney, Mr. Sushant Sareen, and Brig (retd.) Vinod Ananad.
A delegation from the prestigious Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS), London, comprising senior defence and civil service officers from countries including UK, France, Germany and Brazil etc. visited VIF on May 09, 2011.The visiting RCDS delegation was welcomed and briefed on contemporary global and regional issues. Shri Satish Chandra, former Deputy National Security Advisor and Distinguished Fellow VIF, briefed the visiting delegates on India’s perspective of global and regional settings, with specific references to countries in India’s neighbourhood, Southeast Asia, West Asia and the United states.
Professor Michimi Muranushi, Department of Law, Gakushuin University, Tokyo spoke on 'The Weakness of Japanese Diplomacy and the prospects of Indian-Japanese Ties?' on Monday, 28 March 2011 at Vivekananda International Foundation. While he was talking about the weakness of Japanese diplomacy, Professor Michimi took the case of Senkaku island dispute to explain it.
A British defence delegation from Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre of Ministry of Defence led by Capt (RN) Ken Taylor visited VIF on 10th March 2011. During the hour long interaction with the faculty at VIF, Captain Taylor explained the nature of work being undertaken by his DCDC office especially the forecasting of strategic trends and research that has been done by his Centre on the nature of future conflict. The delegation was also apprised of the research areas being addressed by the VIF especially in the areas of strategic, military and security issues. Evaluation of strategic trends based on the drivers and critical uncertainties it was possible work out future scenarios that may give us terms of reference for development of our future military capabilities Preliminary discussion also took place on the possibility of collaboration and broadening the interaction between the think tanks of the two nations
US Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Andrew J. Shapiro visited VIF on February 11, 2011 for an interaction with senior members of the Foundation. A range of issues, including the strategic dimension of the India-US bilateral relations, defence trade between the two countries, relations between the two militaries and the regional and global strategic perceptions of the two great democracies, were discussed in a free and frank manner during the interaction.