November Current Affairs 2020 : International Relations (IR)

The Current Affairs will be useful for UPSC, UPPSC, and various examinations…

The 12th BRICS Summit held virtually and presided by Russian President Putin.

Location : Saint Petersburg, Russia but it was held virtually due to COVID-19 Pandemic.

Participants : Head of the Governments of the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Theme : “BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, Shared Security and Innovative Growth”

• India introduced ‘Self-reliant India’  (AtmaNirbhar Bharat) campaign to the BRICS.

• India believe that reforms must be in the UN Security Council (UNSC), various global bodies and expected support from BRICS nations.

• To combat against terrorism.

• Need to cooperation among the BRICS Countries to fight against COVID-19.

• To improve health sectors through the BRICS collaboration in digital health and traditional medicine.

The 15th G20 Leaders’ Summit was held virtually via a video conference on 21-22 November, 2020 due to COVID-19 Pandemic.

Hosted by : Saudi Arabia

Location : Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Virtually)

Participants : G20 Members (19 Members Countries and European Union)

Theme : “Realising Opportunities of 21st Century for All”

• Empowering People – To create the conditions in which all people, particularly women and youth, can live, work and thrive.

• Safeguarding the Planet – To collective efforts and take concrete actions for reducing carbon emissions, minimizing land degradation, conserve biodiversity, preserve Ocean ecosystems and meet climate goals.

• Shaping New Frontiers – To promote innovation, Space Cooperation and use of new and sustainable technology.

• G20 not limited for our need but also focus on preserving Planet Earth for sustainable society.

• There is need a new Global index for Post-Corona World that comprises Four elements-

• Now, the time to focus on Multi-Skilling and Re-Skilling to create a vast Human Talent Pool.

• ‘Work from Anywhere’ is a new normal in the Post-COVID world.

• The SDG Agenda 2030 – ‘leaving no one behind’, India following the same principle in the ‘Reform-Perform-Transform‘ strategy to move forward and inclusive development efforts that are participative.

• India introduced ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ in G20 Summit 2020.

Recently, 15 nations signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), but India exit from this trade agreement.

• It is free trade agreement between 15 Countries (originally 16 nations) across the Asia-Pacific region.

• It consist of 10 ASEAN (Association of South East Asian) nations and China, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan.

• To reduce the trade barriers (for goods & services both) between the members.

• Further trade relaxation can increase India’s trade deficit.

• The flow of Chinese goods and dairy products from Australia & New Zealand to Indian market could be hurting Domestic Interest.

• The increasing Chinese power towards South East Asian nations. This could impact the India’s security interest in Southeast Asia.

• India’s base year is 2014 for tariff reduction. It is also a cause of concern.

• This could be hampering ‘ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT’ mission.

Note : External Affairs Minister S. Jaisahankar criticised ‘unfair’ trade and manufacturing advantages “in name of Openess/Globalization”.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced to relaxes the Country’s Islamic Personal Laws.

Aim : To boost the country’s economic and social standing.

• UAE government allowing unmarried couples to Cohabitate.

• Loosening alcohol restrictions.

• Criminalising so-called “Honor Killing”.

The US (United State) formally exited the Paris Climate Agreement in November 2020.

• 189 countries remains committed to the Paris Accord, 2016.

• A common target to limit global warming to less than 2 degree Celsius from Pre-Industrial levels.

• According to climate scientists, the value of this limit will have disastrous consequences of exceeded.

• Mr. Trump criticised the agreement because US could lost 2.5 million jobs by 2025.

• He also said it gave major emitters, like China and India, a free pass.

Note : Newly elected US president Joe Biden (in his election campaign) has vowed to re-enter Paris Accord, a move that could take less than 6 months.

Under the new Peace Deal, both sides will now maintain positions in the areas that they currently hold, which will mean a significant gain for Azerbaijan.

• Its for territory dispute.

• The two countries that have been in a military conflict for over six weeks over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the south Caucasus.

• Over 1200 have lost their lives during the course of the conflict.

Intermediate : Russia brokered a new peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

• Both sides will maintain positions that they currently hold.

• A significant gain for Azerbaijan as it reclaimed over 15-20% of its lost territory.

• All military operations are suspended.

• The two sides displaced persons and refugees reach their places and the exchange of prisoners of wars.