Articles By Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja
FDI in Defence Manufacturing-26-49-100 Percent
By: Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja | Issue: Vol. 34.1 Jan-Mar 2019 | Date: 06 Nov , 2020
There are times when a nation is blessed with decisive leadership, which can take bold policy initiatives that would benefit future generations. In the budget of 2014, Foreign Direct Investment...
Oil - The Black Gold: Is it Losing its Sheen?
By: Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 03 Oct , 2020
Introduction Oil was the ‘Black Gold’ of the 20th century, fuelling vehicles, wars, the world economy and, hence, its geopolitics. Today, the world is in the midst of an energy shock that...
Attack on Saudi Oil Facilities: An Assessment
By: Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja | Issue: Vol. 34.4 Oct-Dec 2019 | Date: 10 Dec , 2019
The attacks on Saudi Aramco are a reminder of India’s dependence on a very volatile and unstable region of the world. The attack appears to fit a pattern of Iran targeting Saudi Arabia’s oil...
After Baghdadi What ?
By: Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 14 Nov , 2019
For 1300 years or so, the caliphs, or the “successors”, took pride in developing the Islamic community that the Prophet Muhammad had left behind. The Caliphs were far from being rigid and...
The Rafale is finally on IAF inventory
By: Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 11 Oct , 2019
The Indian Air Force had issued a “Request for Information” (RFI) for 126 MMRCA in 2001. After much dilly-dallying, for almost two years beyond the planned December 2005 issue date, the MoD...
Iran Stepping out of JCPOA : Repercussions
By: Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 17 Sep , 2019
President Donald Trump was elected president of USA in 2016, the year that the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed after hectic negotiations...
The US – Iran Imbroglio
By: Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja | Issue: Vol. 33.4 Oct-Dec 2018 | Date: 24 Nov , 2018
The US exit from the deal and intensification of economic pressure, confronts both Iran and the US with an uncertain end-game, complicated by the appearance, at least of divisions within the...
India-Japan: A Relationship Strengthens
By: Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 02 Nov , 2018
It was in May 2014 that Prime Minister Modi met his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, for bilateral talks; since then the two leaders have met each other 12 times in a period of a little over...
Oil – S 400 – CAATSA : A Test of Diplomacy for India
By: Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 16 Oct , 2018
There is never a dull moment in world politics. International relations are in a constant state of flux with many an extraneous factor causing shift in alliances, changes in priorities and even...
Maldives : Is it exit China - Enter India ?
By: Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 28 Sep , 2018
China’s spending and influence were a hot topic in the recent election in the Maldives; in the region, where China has loaned billions of dollars on easy terms, and gained strategic footholds...
Self Reliance in Defence Production: A Mirage
By: Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja | Issue: Vol. 33.2 Apr-Jun 2018 | Date: 03 Sep , 2018
Understandably, India does not wish to be a 70 per cent import-dependent nation. Yet, at the same time we cannot be 100 per cent self-sufficient nation. It is just not feasible to be an...
The Korean-US Muddle
By: Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 01 Jun , 2018
In an announcement that was somewhat on expected lines, President Donald Trump cancelled the planned summit with the North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un, scheduled for June 12. In a letter...
US withdrawal from Iran Nuclear Agreement – An Analysis
By: Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 24 May , 2018
It was in June 2013 that the maverick President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, relinquished office after the present incumbent, Hassan Rouhani, was elected in a surprisingly low-key election...
Kim Jong-Un Springs A Surprise
By: Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 04 Apr , 2018
The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un (Kim), accompanied by his wife, visited China during the week 26-31 March; that the formal acceptance of Kim Jong-un’s surprise visit to China was confirmed...
China Revisited
By: Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 26 Mar , 2018
Not a single day passes with some mention of China in Indian newspapers, whether it is about China’s internal policies and struggles, an impending trade-war with USA, or China’s geo-political...
Maldives: A Challenge for India
By: Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 23 Feb , 2018
Any talk of Maldives and the images conjured are of luxurious resorts and hotels in the ocean, each trying to woo customers through advertisements promising peace and tranquillity. Yet, a nation...
Make in India – Indian Style
By: Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja | Issue: Vol. 32.2 Apr-Jun 2017 | Date: 25 Jan , 2018
The vibrant defence industrial base of DPSUs, OFs and R&D that has existed for decades has not produced the desired results; though there has been success in many fields, predominantly in space...
Indian Military Muscle Degradation
By: Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 27 Dec , 2017
Approaching the end of the year, it is time to make a report card for the Indian Military muscle power. The calendar year 2017 began with many promising statements and happenings at the...
Oil – Is It a Dying Resource?
By: Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja | Issue: Vol. 32.4 Oct-Dec 2017 | Date: 11 Dec , 2017
Countries that consume large amounts of energy have been coping with oil prices hovering around $110 per barrel since the beginning of 2011, as most of the developed and developing nations have...
Special Operations and Intelligence Agencies: India’s Incapability
By: Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 27 Sep , 2017
Wikipedia defines Special Operations as “military operations that are ‘special’ or unconventional and carried out by dedicated special-force units using unconventional methods and...